THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CBD OIL & HEMP SUSTAINABILITY

CBD oil is a chemical substance extracted from cannabis plants, specifically hemp and marijuana. For many years, different states had had movements pushing for hemp legalization, which finally bore frits in 2018 when the Farm Bill was passed, making industrial hemp and CBD oil with less than 0.3% THC federally legal. It is worth noting that other than the claimed health benefits of CBD oil, the cannabinoid boasts environmental sustainability. Growing hemp requires little space and water, and the hemp plants are pest-resistant, eliminating the need to use pesticides. Peer into this article to understand more about CBD oil and hemp and how they contribute to environmental; sustainability.

Understanding Hemp and CBD Oil

Although many people think of marijuana at the slightest mention of hemp or CBD oil, it is worth noting that all three are different. Hemp is a strain of cannabis plant with less than 0.3% THC, but when the plant's THC concentration exceeds 0.3% THC, it ceases being called hemp and becomes marijuana. As such, marijuana and hemp are cousins, with the main difference being in the THC concentrations. CBD oil is an extract from the cannabis plant, marijuana, or hemp, although most brands use hemp plants to manufacture their CBD oil. According to the 2018 farm Bill, CBD oil is deemed legal at federal levels if its THC levels are less than 0.3%. People take CBD oil to manage pain, stress, depression, anxiety, and other health problems, but more studies are needed to prove that it can help with these challenges.

Is Hemp and CBD Oil Production Eco-friendly?

Environmental sustainability is a critical concern globally, as seen in the many multi-lateral agreements and conferences that steer environmental stewardship. Like global warming, ozone depletion, and climate change keep lowering the quality of life, meeting such as the Conference of Parties (COP) are held annually to push for sustainability. As a CBD fan and an environmental steward, you may wonder whether hemp production and CBD oil manufacturing are eco-friendly. For the most part, hemp and CBD oil production are environmentally sustainable, from hemp cultivation to CBD extraction and the use of waste products. See below for details.

Hemp Cultivation Requires Little Water

Global warming and climate change are menaces affecting all the world’s continents. We need sustainable plants in the long run, and hemp requires little water. Because of this unique property, hemp grows and thrives in areas where plants require excess water. Learn more The Science Behind CBD Oil

Hemp Plants Are Pest-Resistant

While global warming and climate change are taking a toll on the world, using farm inputs like herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides lowers the quality of the environment. Thankfully, industrial hemp is pest-resistant and needs no pesticides during the growing cycle. Reputable brands that exercise pesticide-free farming practices have pesticide-free extracts.

Hemp Plants Make Good Fuel

Fuel issues and fossil fuel burning have been a major global problem for the longest time. The developed, developing, and under-developed countries generate fossil fuels in one way or another, ending up in the environment and contributing to environmental degradation. When the developed world invented and embraced biodiesel, we thought this would provide a viable solution. However, biodiesel production has proved challenging, primarily because it requires large spaces. Meanwhile, hemp requires little water and spatial resources to grow, and it still makes great fuel. Growing industrial hemp is among the best industrial investment a country can make.

Hemp for Insulation and Eco-Friendly Practices

Did you know that hemp makes a great insulation material? Hempcrete is a hemp product that many countries are now investing in for insulation, and they are attesting to b its benefits. It proves to be more sustainable than fiberglass. Besides, environmental pollution is controlled when hemp seeds are used for energy production. 

There Are Sustainable Methods of Extracting CBD Oil that Prove to Be Eco-Friendly

Hemp growing and its cycle are sustainable, and so is CBD extraction; there are many methods of stripping CBD oil, with some being more environmentally sustainable than others. For instance, CO₂ extraction, the gold standard in CBD extraction, proves friendly to the environment since the gas is recycled in the three chambers and can be channeled elsewhere for other industrial processes. Besides, the process starts with CO₂ as a solid and ends with it in gaseous form, which can be purified and used elsewhere or recycled for another extraction phase. Besides, food-grade ethanol extraction also proves eco-friendly since it does not pollute the environment despite its relative safety, effectiveness, and efficiency.

Hemp Plants Make Good Carbon Sinks

Vapor, carbon (IV) oxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases contribute to ozone depletion. They trap heat in the lower layers of the atmosphere, preventing it from returning to space and concentrating on earth, where it proves harmful. Plants provide good carbon sinks, and industrial hemp ticks the box. Learn more about Can CBD Oil Help with Eye Inflammation?

Conclusion

Hemp growing and CBD production have proved eco-friendly in the long run. Hemp plants are used for CBD production, but their seeds, stems, and stalks make good renewable energy sources that do not pollute the environment. Besides, hemp plants make good carbon sinks, lowering the risk of greenhouse concentration, ozone depletion, climate change, and global warming.