Where is CBD derived from?

The short answer to this question would be “from cannabis.” However, the cannabis plant can take on different forms which are generally grouped into two: hemp and marijuana. The main difference between the two groups is their genetic profile. Hemp (or industrial hemp) refers to cannabis plants that are typically farmed for their fiber; they have long stalks, fewer buds, and are used in making rope, paper, and natural plastic. The cannabinoid profile of industrial hemp shows that most of its cannabinoid content is CBD. They only have trace amounts of THC.

However, industrial hemp plants can be bred to yield more buds that have a very high CBD percentage. The buds or flowers are the part of the cannabis plant that has the highest concentration of cannabinoids. Marijuana, on the other hand, can be one of three species: cannabis sativa, cannabis Indica, or cannabis ruderalis plants. Medical marijuana plants naturally have a high number of buds. The amount of CBD and THC in the buds vary greatly, depending on the species and strain of the plant. Indica strains usually have a higher concentration of CBD than hybrids or sativa strains. On the other hand, Sativa typically has more THC than CBD. While this is a good rule of thumb, it isn’t always true: a cannabis plant’s cannabinoid profile still depends on how it is bred regardless of its species.

It is easy to visually differentiate an Indica strain from a sativa strain: Indica plants tend to be shorter and bushier, while sativa plants are tall and lanky. Indica’s have short, wide leaves with fat blades, compared to the long, slender leaves of sativa plants. Marijuana is the most common source of CBD and THC products, but a few companies like CBDHOUSE source CBD from specially-bred industrial hemp plants