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First and foremost, it is important to note that not all CBD tinctures are, in fact, made the same. The strain of the hemp plant selected for harvest, the method of extraction, and the efficiency of the producer, all impact just how potent, reliable, and long-lasting a CBD tincture can be.
In a market such as the one that exists today, there is an ever-increasing number of growers and producers looking for their share of this fast-growing market. Although CBD hemp products are legal at the federal level as long as the THC count remains below .3%, the market remains largely unregulated when it comes to process and testing.
More often than not, consumers who purchase from less reliable producers will find that the CBD concentration on the label often doesn’t match with the actual product. Many experienced producers know how to create a product that follows precise concentrations and ratios of CBD to THC.
That said, true CBD tinctures are created through the ethanol extraction process. This process involves immersing the plant into an ethanol solution which dissolves and separates the oils from the rest of the plant, and then dissolving the alcohol (ethanol) from the oil. This concentrated oil is then placed into an additional mixture, often either coconut oil or hemp oil, depending on the producer and their preference and product.
Although tinctures in general (not specifically CBD) are more commonly recognized as an older, more traditional method of receiving medication, it’s increased in popularity as a CBD product.
One of the benefits to CBD tinctures results in the fact that its process is always the ethanol extraction method. This method of extraction is often preferred by many producers because it’s highly efficient, it’s cost effective, it maintains the purity of the CBD, maintains extremely low toxicity levels, it requires less energy to produce. One of the downsides of ethanol extraction is that it takes longer than other methods, although if it is more cost-effective and more efficient, many producers are willing to take the time.
Many different factors come into play when it comes to the process, and many of them impact the quality or potency of the product. Higher heat levels during extraction might speed up the process but might also decrease the potency. By the same token, lower heat levels might slow down the process but maintain a stronger and more potent tincture.
When a producer is knowledgeable with their product and their extraction process, they can use the heat factors to create a more or less potent product by choice, providing their consumers with a wider selection of choices and concentrations to choose from. Bodyweight, size, intention, and method of consumption are just some of the factors impacting a consumer’s decision regarding the potency of their desired CBD product.