You can purchase all types of cannabidiol (CBD) products across the country in almost any location. While it might be ubiquitous at this point and appear at nearly street corner, you might be wondering how and where this substance is grown. 

CBD offers many benefits, with the substance gaining a reputation as an exceptional treatment for everything from physical pain to anxiety and depression. At the same time, the plant from which it’s derived has been on the planet for thousands of years alongside us.

If you’re curious to know how and where CBD is grown, here we’ll explore its origins and the methods used to grow and harvest these products.

What Exactly Is CBD?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the hemp plant’s active ingredients, the other main cannabinoid being tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive ingredient responsible for the plant’s intoxicating effects.

While CBD doesn’t cause any intoxicating effects like THC, it offers numerous health benefits that make it popular among many cannabis users. It’s possible to apply CBD products orally using oil tinctures or tablets, but it’s also possible to apply it topically using either oil or cream.

How and Where CBD Is Grown

Farmers tend to grow CBD using indoor farms and hemp seeds that they specifically select based on their CBD and THC content. CBD products tend to feature more CBD than THC, making it necessary for CBD farmers to seek seeds bred with high amounts of CBD and minimal amounts of THC.

Once planted, hemp seeds blossom into their vegetative state, when they reach about a foot tall. Farmers then plant them in soil outside, where they can continue growing in most climates. Hemp plants tend to flourish in environments with plenty of sun and warmth, and they have a root that reaches deep underground.

Hemp plants tend to do particularly well in well-drained soil that contains plenty of organic material that’s sufficiently dry and devoid of weeds. It’s also best to plant hemp flowers after the final frost of the year, considering their ideal growth cycle is around 108 to 120 days. Additionally, the early summer months when it’s not too hot or too cold are best for planting. Once planted, regular watering is required for the six weeks.

Once the female hemp plants, or flowers, fully bloom, they will begin to secrete CBD along with resin, both of which draw pollen from their male counterparts to create more hemp seeds.

On hemp farms, farmers typically remove all of the male plants to ensure the hemp flower produces enough CBD to harvest. Once a period of around 100 days has passed, it’s time to harvest the flower and extract its CBD.

Why Farmers Choose Indoor Growing

Growing CBD indoors is easier for the plants and farmers. The environment is more controlled which leads to a higher quality product. Outdoor greenhouse farms can also produce a similar quality as indoor plants.

The Extraction Process

Some products such as vape cartridges use CBD isolate, but the most popular method of CBD consumption is via capsules, tinctures, or topical oils and creams. To extract CBD oil from the hemp flower, the next step is the extraction process. 

This involves separating the CBD oil from the plant material, typically through CO2 extraction, which is the most effective way to maximize the potency of the extracted CBD. This particular method entails subjecting carbon dioxide to high pressure levels at low temperatures. This converts the CO2 into a liquid before forcing it through the plant material. In the process, extraction results in cannabidiol oil that’s of the highest purity.

Find the Right CBD Products for You

With a better idea of how CBD products are grown and produced, you can determine which CBD products are best to purchase. You may look for products that are locally grown and manufactured, in which case you can also check to see if farmers use sustainable processes to maximize efficiency. In addition, look for products that are third-party tested and with organic practices, which will help you find top-quality products that you can trust.