Frequently Asked Common Questions About CBD Oil

In the nano-emulsification process, CBD is dissolved in a suitable carrier oil which remains liquid at a wide temperature range, including room temperature. The mixture of CBD and oil is blended with emulsifiers. These work at the interface of the oil and water to stabilise the droplet (emulsifiers are also referred to as surfactants, i.e. Surface Active Agents). This oil phase is added to water and mixed to form a coarse emulsion (stabilised droplets of oil dispersed in water). The coarse emulsion is then nano-emulsified with a high pressure emulsifier to create very small droplets (~250nm) which are stable over long periods of time without agglomerating (recombining), creaming (floating to the top) or sedimenting (sinking to the bottom).

Water and oil do not mix, and this also remains true of CBD oil. As a result, when consumed in its normal form, this oil is not as easy for the body to absorb as water is. So, the body will absorb a water soluble CBD easily absorbed which will help deliver the therapeutic effects faster.

The composition of our body is largely water which means that water soluble CBD has a large pool in which to dissolve into. Thus, it has much more bioavailability, how much of the compound actually makes it into the body, than CBD oil. Most put the bioavailability of CBD oil between 13% to 19%. How much bioavailability does water-soluble CBD have? We simply have no studies to say as of right now. What we do know it’s the percentage is considerably higher up to 8x more effective than for traditional CBD oil based on the online reports of enthusiasts.

Because CBD is a compound from the cannabis plant, there is still a large number of people who think that driving after taking CBD oil would be the same as driving while under the influence.

However, the high commonly associated with cannabis use is caused by Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, a psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant.

CBD, on the other hand, is non-psychoactive, so provided your CBD oil meets the legal requirement of containing less than 1mg of THC then yes, it is safe to drive after taking CBD oil.

The official definition for bioavailability is:

“the proportion of a drug or other substance which enters the circulation when introduced into the body and so is able to have an active effect”

A 1500mg 10ml tincture, where a full dropper provides a serving size of 120mg of CBD, may actually deliver 15.6mg to 42mg of CBD, that would be 13-35% bioavailable.

The bioavailability of CBD oil largely depends on the method of administration you use to administer it—in other words, how you consume the CBD. There are many ways to take CBD, from gummies and edibles to vapes and topical products. Each of these methods has a different bioavailability.

When administered sublingually (via drops held beneath the tongue), CBD oil has a sublingual bioavailability of 13% to 19%, with some studies putting it as high as 35%. Holding the CBD beneath your tongue allows it to be absorbed by your sublingual gland, through which it can enter the bloodstream and begin working its effects. Sublingual administration of CBD still produces effects fairly quickly, within 20 minutes or so. This may sound low, but don’t be alarmed – they are still effective which is a testament to the power of the ingredients.

Of course, the trick here is to hold the CBD in the appropriate place (beneath the tongue) for an appropriate amount of time (30 to 60 seconds). If you swallow too soon, or apply the drops above your tongue and swallow quickly, you may as well be taking the CBD orally which offers significantly lower bioavailability.

Oral ingestion is popular because it’s a method people are already familiar with, from eating food, drinking beverages, and swallowing daily vitamin. Unfortunately, while oral ingestion may be common, it’s also the least effective method for taking CBD. The oral bioavailability of CBD is between 10% to 20%, although some studies have found it to be as low as 6%.

CBD is a legal ingredient, so is not screened for in tests used to detect illegal drugs. CBD products are made from industrial hemp, which has naturally low levels of THC. The purification process further removes any THC present, but as CBD is derived from cannabis, there will always be minute traces of THC remaining. THC is the cannabinoid that is targeted in drug tests. These tests look for the metabolic products of THC and begin with a simple urine test sample (for example). The test uses antibodies to detect THC and the metabolite it produces. The THC levels in Hemp Point CBD products are within Home Office guidelines (<1mg per container), and the product is legal to possess and consume.

However, for people in special circumstances, such as athletes operating under WADA guidelines or those in professions where workplace drug testing takes place, it is advisable to check with the relevant testing facility whether the consumption of CBD capsules or droppers would put you at risk of a false positive.

In some people, CBD oil can interact with certain prescription medications, so it is advised to speak to your doctor if you are already taking prescription drugs before you add CBD oil to your lifestyle. It is vitally important to be sure as to how CBD products might affect you and your current treatment programme if you have health problems.

Some drugs, but not all, in these types of medication may interact with CBD. Please check with your pharmacist to see if they interact with ‘Cytochrome P450 enzymes/CYP 450’

The CYP450 family of enzymes is responsible for metabolising several cannabinoids, including CBD, research shows. Specifically, CYP3A4, an important enzyme within the CYP450 family, does the task. But during this process, CBD also interferes with CYP3A4.

The CYP3A4 enzyme is in charge of metabolising about 60 percent of clinically prescribed medications. But if CBD is inhibiting CYP3A4, it can’t work as effectively to break down the medications in your system.

The reverse can happen, too. Many medications inhibit CYP3A4. If you then take CBD while on these medications, your body can’t work to process the CBD as effectively.

If your body is metabolising a medication too slowly, you may have more medication in your system at one time than intended — even if you’ve stuck to your normal dose. An increased level of a medication in your system could exaggerate its effects, including unwanted or harmful side effects.

Some substances also speed up the work of the CYP450 enzyme family. If your body is metabolising a medication too fast because another substance is inducing the enzymes, you may not have enough of the medication in your system at one time to treat a health issue.

Currently, CBD oil is legal in the UK. So why all the confusion? There’s a lot of confusion surrounding the legality of CBD oil because of its murky past, but in reality, CBD is 100% legal in the UK.

CBD UK law requires that growers of low-THC cannabis plants like industrial hemp need a license from the Home Office. The license covers both the cultivation and possession of cannabis. Each grower requires a licence.

The license lasts three years with all licenses expiring on 31st December of the applicable year. Each license application needs to define the commercial end-use for the crop, such as extracting oil from the seeds. The terms of the license include lawfully destroying the leaves and flowers as these are controlled parts of the plant. Under EU Laws, hemp strains must contain less than 0.2% THC to be defined as industrial hemp.

For the sale of CBD products, it is again the amounts of controlled cannabinoids, such as Δ9- Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or Cannabinol (CBN) that determines whether the product is legal to sell.

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 covers the controlled cannabinoids. These controlled cannabinoids are unlawful to possess or supply unless they are in a product that meets certain criteria a.k.a. an ‘exempted product’.

There is a common misconception within the CBD industry that a product is legal to sell if it contains no more than 0.2% THC.

To be legal to sell, CBD UK Law states the amount of controlled cannabinoids (THCV, THC and CBN) cannot exceed 1mg per container. Reputable CBD brands will include a batch test to show the percentages of different cannabinoid levels. Look at measured THCV, THC or CBN percentages are below limit of < 0.01% w/w. [This equates to 0.1mg/g for THC or 0.0934%mg/ml {using a measured density for CBD OIL of 0.934g/ml}. This could also be expressed as 0.934mg per 10ml container in this case, well below 1mg per container threshold].

This means that, regardless of container size, no CBD product may contain more than 1mg of THC: a 10ml bottle may only contain 1mg and a 25ml bottle may only contain 1mg.

Hemp Point Full Spectrum CBD Oils contain 1mg per 10ml container of controlled cannabinoids.

Both CBD oil and hemp oil are typically derived from the hemp plant, especially since marijuana is still illegal in the UK. This means that both CBD and hemp oil don’t contain any THC (or only small traces) and they won’t get you high. In addition, hemp seed oil doesn’t contain any CBD (or very little).

As stated previously, CBD oil is extracted from the trichomes of the flowers or leaves. Hemp oil is extracted from the hemp seeds, which is why it’s often called “hemp seed oil”.

Hemp seeds don’t contain any cannabinoids, or only in trace amounts. It’s high in the essential fatty acids omega 3 and omega 6, which is why most people consume hemp seed oil as a dietary supplement and a beauty product.

CBD oils on the other hand contain a far greater array of different compounds. The trichomes are where all the major cannabinoids are synthesised, as well as flavonoids and terpenes. CBD oil is essentially a concentrated solvent extract made from cannabis flowers or leaves that is dissolved in an edible oil such as HEMP seed or MCT oil.

All of Hemp Point Full Spectrum CBD Oils contain 20% water extracted Hemp extract blended with 80% Organic Hemp seed carrier oil.

If you’re looking for a nutritious, healthy oil then hemp seed oil is the way to go, but if you’re looking to experience the full nature of the hemp plant, then you’re after a CBD oil. Hemp seed oils do not contain CBD in more than trace amounts.

When cannabinoids and terpenes exist together, their respective attributes are enhanced thanks to a phenomenon known as the entourage effect.

The entourage effect is unique to the Cannabis sativa species and the compounds that exist within. And, while all of these elements (including CBD) show promise on their own, it’s when using a Full-spectrum formula ( and not a Broad spectrum or CBD isolate) that oils provide the most significant beneficial benefit.

Fortunately, all of our oils use a full-spectrum blend of these essential components, including the following minor cannabinoids:

• CBN
• CBG
• CBC
• CBDV
• CBDA

Alongside the cannabinoids listed above, terpenes and flavonoids complement our full-spectrum formula. They play a crucial role in the entourage effect, while also having several beneficial properties of their own.

All of Hemp Point CBD/CBG oils use a full-spectrum formula to maximise their benefit. However, to guarantee outstanding quality and safety, we expertly remove harmful concentrations of THC to be well below UK legal limit of 1mg per container of controlled cannabinoids. All of our oils are non-toxic and non-psychoactive.

The “Entourage Effect” describes the process where all parts of the Cannabis plant work together to increase effectiveness. It is well documented that when single compounds (such as CBD isolate – pure CBD) are used, or an extract too heavily refined, the effectiveness is dramatically reduced.

This differs with each person, taking into account weight, height, and reasons for taking CBD. Initially, we recommend taking 2-4 drops per use and building your dose up gradually. For optimal results, best taken at regular intervals throughout the day. Do not exceed the FSA recommended maximum daily dose of 70mg of CBD. Following this guidance, you can then manage daily dosage based on what works best for you, including combining with other CBD products.