Q & A

*Please know that we are in the process of adding to this list of common concerns, and are always happy to answer any specific questions in the meantime. Just send us an email through our Contact Us page.*

• What is the difference between cannabis, hemp, and marijuana? 

Technically, the word “cannabis” refers to the entire genus of flowering plants that includes both hemp and marijuana. The word “hemp” has become the standard and legal nomenclature for Cannabis sativa L. plants which have been bred to contain less than 0.3 percent Tetrahdyrocannabinol (THC); this psychoactive compound is found in much larger amounts in marijuana and causes intoxication, or the famous “high”. Thus the distinction between hemp and marijuana is essentially a chemical and legal one.

• What is the difference between hemp oil and CBD (cannabidiol) Oil? 

Hemp oil, or hempseed oil, refers to oil that is derived from the highly nutritious SEEDS of the cannabis plant, rich in omega fatty acids, vitamin E, and protein, but containing no cannabinoids. What we know as CBD oil is made from the flower, leaves, and sometimes stem and stalk of the hemp plant, which contains significant amounts of cannabidiol, one of many beneficial phytocannabinoids shown to have specific therapeutic qualities. 

• What does Full Spectrum mean? 

Within the many different CBD products on the market currently, you see mostly two main forms of CBD: Full Spectrum and CBD Isolate. Also referred to as Whole Plant extraction, a Full Spectrum CBD product contains the entire host of beneficial compounds that comprise the hemp plant’s complex chemistry — not just the one phytocannabinoid known as CBD. Full Spectrum CBD hemp oil includes many other cannabinoids like CBDV, CBG, CBN, THCV, THCA, and CBDA, as well as different terpenes (active aromatic compounds with their own therapeutic qualities), flavonoids, and chlorophyll. Many people believe (as we do!) that there is an important integrity and synergy at play here, and following the ancient tradition of using plant medicine in its whole form is the healthiest and most effective choice. 

• What is CBD Isolate?

CBD Isolate follows the lead of modern, conventional Western medicine in that it is the “isolated” cannabidiol compound in its most concentrated form, containing none of the other compounds found in the hemp plant. In this way every trace of THC can be eliminated, for instance, and for some people that is a selling point. CBD Isolate is first typically extracted using solvents (butane, pentane, propane, hexane, or acetone — not recommended!), alcohol, or the CO2 method. Then, it must undergo various refinement processes to become 99% pure CBD, in crystallized form. 

• What does Organically-grown mean?

When we say that our hemp is “organically-grown”, first we mean that our approach to farming is vastly different from the “conventional” farming that has sadly replaced so many historical traditions. With the rise of industrial agriculture, applying extremely toxic substances onto plants, into the soil (which finds it way into all water sources), and onto targeted “pests” has become the norm, at the expense of our entire planet's health and in turn, our own.  In contrast, we only use non-toxic, safe and natural alternative methods to deter pests, manage weeds, and fertilize. It is our goal to help heal, rebuild, and ultimately regenerate the soil -- and by extension the ecosystem at large -- where we farm.  Although there are now EPA approved pesticides that are legal to use on hemp crops in the US, we will never use chemicals or synthetic fertilizers. The link below is a wonderful resource explaining what Organically-grown means to small farmers, and why many (like us) choose not to be Certified Organic by the US government.  https://farmtoblog.wordpress.com/2014/11/09/certified-organic-vs-organically-grown/