Table of Contents
[ez-toc]Marijuana oil (CBD or THC) is hardly a new thing on the scene. It’s been around awhile, but from all the hype lately, you would think it was the latest, greatest thing. Now, you may be a seasoned pro at the cannabis oil thing and know how to order just the right type for your needs. But if you’re completely uninitiated and wondering what all the brouhaha is about, your Cliff’s Notes version is below.
Cannabis oil products are revolutionizing the way that people look at marijuana. In its basic form, cannabis oil is concentrated cannabis. Much like a bottle of essential oil can pack a punch, so can a cannabis oil product. The major differences are in what method is used to draw out the good stuff. Here are the most common types:
Butane Hash Oil (BHO)
Simply put, BHO is a way of making cannabis oil utilizing butane. It is made by putting marijuana trimmings in a container and pushing butane through the container. The marijuana inside the container is stripped of cannabinoids by the butane. Then the mix is cooked to drive off the butane, leaving behind the oil. BHO is often used to alleviate chronic pain.
CO2 Oil
CO2 oil is newer and hotter than BHO, which has been around awhile. It’s an expensive process that utilizes botanical extractors, pressure, and carbon dioxide to separate the oil from the plant material. Though expensive, it is one of the most effective ways of reducing cannabis down to its essential compounds. It results in a clean product. CO2 Oil is particularly popular among the e-pen style vaporizer users.
Rick Simpson Oil (RSO)
Back in 2005, Rick Simpson allegedly cured his skin cancer using a homemade cannabis-based remedy quite similar to making tinctures. Soaking cannabis in pure naphtha or isopropyl alcohol will extract out the plant oils. It resembles a tar-like substance known as RSO or Phoenix Tears. It can be taken orally or applied directly to the skin.
CBD vs. THC
Besides different extraction methods, there are also post-processing methods and cannabis strain selection methods to cause a difference in cannabinoid levels. THC, also known as tetrahydrocannabinol, and CBD, also known as cannabidiol, are two of the main compounds found in the cannabis plant. The both affect the cannabinoid receptors in our brains but in wholly different ways.
For starters, CBD is more often used in medical treatments. That said, THC does have its valid effects: relaxation, fatigue, increasing appetite, alleviating nausea. Unlike CBD, THC is what gives you that “high” feeling when you ingest cannabis.
CBD has the same chemical makeup as THC, but the atoms are formed together differently. As such, CBD doesn’t react psychoactively as much as THC. It has many uses, including seizure relief, nausea relief, and relief of psychotic symptoms. It can also reduce anxiety and inflammation, a common cause of many types of chronic pain.
Thus, depending on the effect you’re going for, you need to make sure your oil selection has the right levels of the right cannabinoids, Whatever you call them and whichever kind you prefer, concentrates are growing in popularity. Hopefully, this short and sweet guide will aid you in your selection.
Author
Michael Jacobs is a marketing and creative content specialist at GotVape.com with primary focus on customer satisfaction. Technology and fitness combined healthy lifestyle obsession are his main talking points.
Further Reading:
Everything You Need to Know About CBD Gummies
50 States, So Where is Cannabis Legal in the United States?
How Is Good Commercial Cannabis Grown?
