Where to buy hemp oil and what to look for

Want to buy hemp oil but are confused about which type to buy? This article will explain the differences so you can avoid getting ripped off and make an informed buying decision.

There are three main types of hemp oil you can buy, cold pressed hemp oil for cooking and as a nutritional supplement, refined hemp oil used in beauty products and medicinal hemp oil made from the flowers and stems of the industrial hemp plant and often containing high levels of the cannabinoid CBD. Medicinal hemp oil is also often called CBD Oil or Cannabis Oil since the hemp plant is from the species Cannabis Sativa.

Hemp Oil pressed from seeds

Hemp oil is produced by pressing or crushing the seeds and then extracting the oil. Some methods use heat and chemicals to get as much of the oil out as possible. Others use more natural methods similar to the way extra virgin olive oil is made

Extra virgin hemp oil means the oil is “cold pressed” the hemp oils come from the seed that are extracted using a mechanical process that don’t involve the use of heat or chemicals.

Cold pressed unrefined hemp oil has nutty flavour and a dark to clear light green color. It should be stored in a dark bottle out of sunlight. Cold pressed hemp oil is high in Omega 3 and & fatty acids and is a natural antioxidant.

Most health food shops and many supermarkets will stock Extra Virgin hemp oil.

Refined Hemp Oil

Refined hemp oil lacks a lot of the antioxidants, nutrients and vitamins found in cold pressed hemp oil. It is used in body care and beauty products and can also be found in shampoos and detergents. It is generally colourless and has little taste.

Medicinal Hemp Oil

Medicinal hemp oil is produced from the flowers and stems of the industrial hemp plant. It’s medicinal properties come from the high levels of CBD (Cannabidiol) found in hemp. Normal Cold pressed hemp oil only contains trace amounts of CBD.

If you want to buy hemp oil for medicinal purposes the extraction method is very important. The best way is using supercritical CO2 extraction. This produces a very pure oil that is high in cannabinoids like CBD and CBDa.

Another extraction methods is using a solvent like isopropyl alcohol to remove the oils from the plant material and then evaporating the liquid leaving behind the hemp oil.

Good quality medicinal hemp oil will be lab tested so you know exactly what percentage of CBD is contained and so that it doesn’t contain pesticides, heavy metals and other impurities.

A lot of companies are offering cheap hemp oil that is sourced in China is a by product of the hemp fibre industry. If you buy hemp oil from these companies you are putting your health at risk since they have not been properly tested and often contain dangerous contaminants since they were never meant for human consumption.

Organic Hemp Oil vs Non Organic Hemp Oil

If you want to buy hemp oil we always suggest you ensure that it is is sourced from organic hemp plants. Hemp is renowned for it’s ability to pull up nutrients from the soil and if the soil and production methods have not been certified as organic it may contain residues of harmful chemicals, mycotoxins and fungi.

Is it legal to Buy Hemp Oil?

Hemp oil extracted by pressing hemp seeds that contain low levels of CBD is completely legal to buy in most parts of the world.

Hemp Oil that is high in CBD (Cannabidiol) may or may not be legal depending on where you live. Always check with your local authorities.

If the hemp oil contains more than 0.3% THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) then many countries and states consider this to be illegal or only available on prescription from a doctor since THC is the cannabinoid that gets you high.

Hemp Oil Admixtures

A lot of companies are now selling hemp oil admixtures. These are often large bottles of normal hemp oil with a small amount of CBD (cannabidiol) added to make it seem like you are getting a lot for your money when in fact you are just getting a highly diluted product.  If you want to buy hemp oil that contains CBD, the total milligrams of CBD is the number to look for, not the percentage. Adding a few drops of 30% CBD oil doesn’t really make much of an impact when it’s diluted in 1litre of hemp oil. Many consumers are getting mislead by false advertising and bad labelling practices.

Where to buy Hemp Oil that is high in CBD ?

Eternal plants produce a range of hemp oil you can buy. We have pure hemp extracts and hemp oil that is high in CBD. All our products have been produced organically and to GMP (Good manufacturing practice) as well as being lab tested for purity. For more information check out our hemp oil products on our webshop