The cannabis cultivating industry has shown exponential growth over the past decade due to legalization changes in the United States. This means many new cannabis businesses have come into the market to grow and manufacture CBD products, which mainly consist of popular oils.
That said, the entire process involved in farming and producing CBD oils can be complex due to the delicate nature of the plants and the efforts required to generate a high-quality yield. Nevertheless, the agricultural, technological and science industries work alongside cannabis businesses to produce cannabis products from first stages of planting to the final production stage of bottling before they’re sold off to consumers.
Here’s a quick rundown on how CBD oil is made:
Soil Preparation And Planting
The first process in creating CBD oil is preparing the soil to support the fibrous hemp plant that it comes from. Fortunately, the hemp plant is versatile enough to be grown in several soil types, but the most effective is loam soil that’s loose and full of organic matter and doesn’t contain excess water. The plants also germinate better in warm and light conditions.
Furthermore, the seeds are placed in a firm seedbed at least one inch deep during the spring after undergoing tillage to prevent and remove weeds. For better hemp production, the seeds are planted closer together in narrow rows of up to four inches to produce the tall sprouting fibrous plants that can be processed into eventual CBD oil.
Harvesting The Hemp Plant
It takes about 120 days for the growth cycle of the hemp plant to mature. This is when it’ll start producing the cannabis flowers with small resin glands on its surface called the trichomes. These trichomes are where most cannabinoids, terpenes and THC are situated.
The hemp plant is therefore harvested using commercial cannabis cultivation methods, such as laborers using tobacco shears, knives and other tools to cut the stalks. From here, the buds can be sorted and trimmed down using automation or machines such as Mobius to streamline the harvesting process while preserving the trichome count and high-quality condition. At the final stages of harvesting, the flowers will then be dried for about three to four weeks in a well-ventilated facility. After the designated time, the flowers will be ready to be sent to the cannabis manufacturers for extraction.
CBD Extraction
The extraction stage involves removing the cannabinoids from the dried hemp plant to develop it into ingestible products that come in many forms, such as oils, creams, and edibles. For making CBD oil, the most common extraction methods are using ethanol, CO2, or carrier oil. The most widely used and cost-effective technique is food-grade ethanol as a solvent.
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Thus, in a manufacturing lab, the hemp flower is soaked in alcohol within a centrifuge basket that will begin mixing them. After a day, the ethanol separates and dissolves the unwanted soluble components from the wanted biomass. Nevertheless, once the extract is contained, it will be distilled to remove impurities and create a full-spectrum oil used as the main cannabinoid ingredient in CBD products.
Lab Testing
While most regulations aren’t compulsory or formalized yet, businesses who voluntarily send their extracts for third-party or state department testing help to foster regulatory alliance and standards in the industry. This then helps build brand trust, credibility and assurance when mostly traditional advertising can be used to acquire future customers.
Thus, the extract is tested for purity, THC levels are less than 0.3% and potency levels for accurate dosage volumes. The extract is also tested for contaminants and heavy metal testing to ensure the products don’t contain pesticides or toxins and that it’s safe for human consumption and comes from a clean environment.
Creating And Bottling CBD Oil
Once the labs have tested and cleared the extracts, the final process of creating CBD oil products can begin. Cannabis businesses use product design and development and research to choose what ingredients and carrier oils to include in their product recipe.
These can be oil or water-soluble and fruit-based flavorings and extracts, such as blackberry, peppermint and citrus fruit such as lemon. The most widely used carrier oils for blending are olive oil and hemp seed oil, for instance. From here, the full-spectrum or isolate CBD oil product is sent for packaging. Most CBD oils are poured into glass bottles with droppers or rollerballs attached to the cap or top. Once the bottles have been labeled, the production process is complete and they can be sent to dispensaries for selling.
Conclusion
CBD oil is made using methods beginning with agriculture. Cannabis farmers grow and harvest hemp plants to land up with flowers that contain cannabinoid properties. These flowers are put through an extraction process where the CBD in the plant is separated and purified from other unwanted substance.
When the oil is finally in a reasonable condition, it can be taken to a lab for testing to ensure its high quality and to determine the accurate dosages. Finally, the CBD oil as a product is made and bottled as packaging. Therefore, the entire process involves agriculture, manufacturing and product design stages to create the CBD ready for consumption.
