CBD oil is one of the most common hemp products in Europe, but it is not always easy to know what you are actually buying. This guide explains what CBD oil is, how it is made, the difference between full spectrum, broad spectrum and isolate, how to read the label and what research says about safety and side effects.
At a glance
- CBD oil is a hemp extract dissolved in a carrier oil, usually MCT oil.
- CBD is not intoxicating. The WHO has concluded that it has no potential for abuse or dependence.
- Rules on THC in CBD oil differ between European countries.
- Strength is given as a percentage or in milligrams. 10 percent equals 100 mg of CBD per ml.
- A lab report from an independent laboratory shows what the bottle actually contains.
What is CBD oil?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of more than a hundred cannabinoids found in hemp. A CBD oil consists of a hemp extract containing CBD dissolved in a carrier oil. The carrier oil makes the extract easier to handle, and the oil is usually sold in a glass bottle with a dropper.
Unlike THC, CBD is not intoxicating. The World Health Organization reviewed CBD in 2018 and concluded that it has no potential for abuse or dependence. To learn more about CBD in general, read our beginner’s guide to CBD, and for more on the body’s own signalling system, see our article on the endocannabinoid system.
How CBD oil is made
CBD oil is made from industrial hemp, meaning approved hemp varieties with a very low THC content. Flowers and leaves are extracted, usually with carbon dioxide under high pressure, and the extract is then refined in several steps. It is then blended with a carrier oil to the desired strength. The most common carrier oils are MCT oil, hemp seed oil and olive oil. If you want to blend your own, we explain how in our guide on how to make CBD oil at home.
Full spectrum, broad spectrum or isolate
CBD oils are grouped by what the extract contains besides CBD:
- Full spectrum contains all the compounds from the plant, including small amounts of THC. Whether it is allowed depends on the country.
- Broad spectrum contains several cannabinoids and terpenes from the hemp, but the THC has been removed.
- Isolate is almost pure CBD without other cannabinoids or terpenes.
Many people prefer broad spectrum because of the so-called entourage effect, the theory that the different compounds in hemp work together. Research in this area is still ongoing. Rules on THC in CBD oil vary across Europe: some countries accept trace amounts, while others, such as Sweden, allow none. We go through the differences in Is CBD oil legal in Europe?
CBD oil or hemp oil?
The terms are often confused. Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seeds of the hemp plant and is used as a cooking oil or in skincare. It contains healthy fatty acids but almost no CBD, because CBD forms in the flowers and not in the seeds. A CBD oil is instead made from an extract of the flowers and leaves. Some products labelled hemp oil are in fact CBD oils, so always check how much CBD a product contains. We compare the two in more detail in CBD oil vs hemp seed oil.
How to read the label
Strength is given either as a percentage or in milligrams. The percentage shows how much of the oil is CBD: 10 percent equals 100 mg of CBD per ml, so a 10 ml bottle contains 1,000 mg. An oil at 20 percent contains twice as much per ml and one at 40 percent four times as much, like our CBD oil 40%.
The most important document is the lab report, also called a COA. It should come from an independent laboratory and show the content of CBD and other cannabinoids and that the product is free from THC. A study in the journal JAMA in 2017 showed why this matters: of 84 CBD products bought online, only around 31 percent had a CBD content that matched the label, and about one in five contained THC. It is also worth comparing the price per milligram of CBD rather than the price per bottle, as we explain in our guide to the best value CBD oils.
What does research say?
Research on CBD is growing quickly but is still at an early stage. According to the Swedish Medical Products Agency, CBD has so far only been shown to be effective for certain specific conditions, and there are approved prescription medicines that contain CBD. CBD oils sold in shops are not medicines, and we make no claims that they treat, relieve or prevent any disease. You can read about how the body absorbs CBD in different ways in our article on CBD bioavailability.
Side effects and safety
The WHO review from 2018 describes CBD as generally well tolerated with a good safety profile. Side effects do still occur. In a clinical trial of a medicine with high doses of CBD, diarrhoea, vomiting, fatigue, fever, drowsiness and altered liver values were more common than with placebo.
CBD is broken down in the liver by the same enzymes as many medicines, and the WHO notes that some reported side effects may be due to interactions with other medicines. If you take medication, are pregnant or are breastfeeding, you should therefore talk to a doctor before using CBD.
Does CBD show up on a drug test?
Standard drug tests look for THC and its breakdown products, not for CBD. An oil that is genuinely free from THC should therefore not cause a positive result. The risk arises if a product contains THC that is not stated on the label, which is one more reason to choose oils with an up-to-date lab report.
Storage and shelf life
Store CBD oil dark, cool and with the cap tightly closed, because light, heat and oxygen break down both CBD and terpenes. An unopened bottle usually keeps for at least a year, and an opened bottle should be used within about six months. Why oils can smell so different is explained in why some CBD oils smell like grass.
How to choose a CBD oil
- Choose an oil that is free from THC and has an up-to-date lab report from an independent laboratory.
- Decide between broad spectrum and isolate.
- Compare the strength in milligrams per ml and the price per milligram of CBD.
- Check the carrier oil and whether the hemp is grown in the EU.
- Choose a dark glass bottle with a dropper that protects the oil from light.
Our oils are free from THC and tested by an independent laboratory. You will find them in the CBD oil category.
What is CBD oil?
CBD oil is a hemp extract containing cannabidiol, CBD, dissolved in a carrier oil such as MCT oil. It is usually sold in a glass bottle with a dropper.
Does CBD oil get you high?
No. CBD is not intoxicating, and the WHO has concluded that it has no potential for abuse or dependence. An oil without THC does not cause a high.
Is CBD oil legal in Europe?
CBD oil is sold in most European countries, but the rules on THC differ. Some countries accept trace amounts of THC, while others, such as Sweden, only allow oils that are completely free from THC.
What is the difference between CBD oil and hemp seed oil?
Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seeds and contains almost no CBD. CBD oil is made from an extract of the flowers and leaves and contains a stated amount of CBD.
Can CBD oil cause a positive drug test?
Drug tests look for THC, not CBD. An oil that is free from THC should not cause a positive result, but products with THC that is not stated on the label can. Choose an oil with a lab report.
CBD oil is not a medicine or food. If you take medication, are pregnant or are breastfeeding, you should consult a doctor. How you use our products is your own responsibility.
Sources
- Swedish Medical Products Agency (Läkemedelsverket). Cannabidiol (CBD).
- World Health Organization (2018). Cannabidiol (CBD) Critical Review Report. Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, 40th meeting.
- World Health Organization (2018). Q&A: WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence review of cannabis.
- Bonn-Miller MO et al. (2017). Labeling Accuracy of Cannabidiol Extracts Sold Online. JAMA, 318(17), 1708–1709.
- Devinsky O et al. (2017). Trial of Cannabidiol for Drug-Resistant Seizures in the Dravet Syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine, 376(21), 2011–2020.
