CBD distillate is stealing the green show.
Consumer demand is on the roll and companies hung-up on being the first to meet it. But, what is this product exactly and what’s all the fuss about?
Well, it’s a finely refined CBD extract derived from a mature cannabis plant.
You shouldn’t confuse it with other types of products flooding the market, such as isolates and edibles.
The common thread with all of them is they promise amazing health benefits without the intoxicating effects of THC.
People use them to treat everything from stress and anxiety to chronic pain and inflammation.
These products are also completely legal since 2018, but they aren’t created equal. Here is everything you need to know about distillates in order to maximize your experience.
Cutting-Edge Extraction: A Game-Changer
The market is booming and the array of products expanding.
While this is a good thing, we have to overcome the choice overload. Therefore, we want to make things easier and focus on the key question: what makes distillates special?
The answer lies in the post-extraction and refinement processes used to treat the low-grade biomass.
Crude extraction is the first stage. Solvents are used to do away with THC and many other materials. The plant matter is refined and prepared for the next step.
This step is called winterization. It entails mixing the crude extract and solvent and then leaving the substance at an extremely cold temperature. After a day or two, congealment and separation processes are complete.
The last stage is the decarboxylation. Cannabis is heated and CBD activated much like in a joint. Then, it’s ready for distillation and purification.
The goal is to eliminate any remaining unwanted compounds and impurities.
Consumption Methods
The end product of extractions sequence is extremely versatile.
The distillate is liquid in form and has a honey-like consistency. But, what to do with it?
First off, you can add it to topicals and beauty products to treat muscle pain and soreness. This is a new and rapidly-booming CBD frontier that warrants more research.
The second possibility is to consume distillate through vaping. You just need to put it in a vape pen or e-cigarette and you’re ready to go. This is the most convenient and straightforward method of all.
Effects are instantaneous and since vapor is odorless, the affair is very discrete.
Finally, distillates are easy to infuse in edibles. They are already activated through decarboxylation, so you don’t have to worry about that. Most consumers prefer to use distillates that are tasteless and lack that robust hemp flavor.
Low doses of 5mg or less do the trick.
The Chemical Profile
Distillates aren’t any lightweight contenders.
They pack quite a cannabinoid punch with around 60-90% CBD. This is leagues ahead of most other consumer products.
And that’s not all.
Distillates are balanced with other ingredients and components. The list includes various cannabinoids (besides CBD), terpenes, flavonoids, vitamins, fatty acids, plant oils, and extracts.
According to their exact content, distillates are either classified as broad-spectrum or full-spectrum CBD products. Both types hold an array of components beyond the base cannabinoid.
Among those, one can sometimes find THC. As you probably know, this cannabinoid is psychoactive, unlike CBD. It’s also not legal in all states.
So, if a distillate has no more than 0.3% THC, it’s in the legal zone. In case it surpasses that limit, it no longer qualifies as a hemp product under federal law.
Yet, a small amount of THC can be beneficial. It contributes to the entourage effect, a biochemical synergy of various compounds that exist in the whole plant. This interplay is the key to modulating various effects of the product.
Full-Spectrum vs. Broad-Spectrum Distillates
If you want to play it safe and go for THC-free distillates, that’s fine.
You can, for instance, find many broad-spectrum products that contain zero THC. Here, the THC has been removed with the help of techniques called chromatography and selective distillation.
These are some time-consuming processes that depend on highly-specialized equipment. That means THC-free distillates are typically more expensive than regular (full spectrum) distillates.
They also contain terpenes and other elements that are associated with health benefits, meaning they are broad-spectrum products.
They usually have 80% cannabinoid content, 60% of which belongs to CBD. So, the difference from full-spectrum is they don’t include THC and miss some other elements from the plant material.
Their chemical profile is narrower, despite being rich in minor cannabinoids.
As for full-spectrum CBD products, they often come in the form of tan oil, commonly used for vaping. But, one can also find full-spectrum distillates too.
You can recognize them by a longer list of ingredients, such as aromatic terpenes and hemp compounds. The main advantage of full-spectrum is a stronger entourage effect.
A Few Pieces of Advice
You may be a bit overwhelmed with data at this point but stick with us.
Things are complicated because the products aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is no official approval or recommendation for CBD as a healing source.
As a result, standards are still fickle and vary wildly across the states. Not all vendors have been properly vetted.
Nevertheless, science has spoken and the studies so far are encouraging. Your job is to do your research and cherry-pick the best distillate for your needs.
We would recommend checking out wholesale CBD distillate selection from licensed manufacturing and processing companies. You can’t go wrong here.
Reputable sellers tend to use third-party testing, which is displayed on the label. It’s the most reliable proof of the product’s quality.
Lastly, remember that you don’t need a big dose to reap the benefits of distillates. After all, they deliver high cannabinoid concentrations. With all that in mind, you can embark on a shopping adventure.
CBD Distillate is the Present and Future of Cannabis
CBD distillate is a rising star in the cannabis market.
It offers the great health and therapeutic benefits of the cannabis plant without any psychoactive effects. That’s a win-win scenario for many users out there. If you want a taste of soothing relief, be our guest.
Just make sure to proceed carefully. Take into account your own preferences and unique needs. See what other compounds and cannabinoids you want to take along with CBD.
Navigate all the options in the market and make well-informed buying decisions.
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