The hemp revolution

Hemp seed oil is being touted as a revolutionary new natural beauty and healthcare product. But is the hype about hemp for real?

Hemp seed oil is derived from the hemp plant, which is the same plant genus as marijuana (Cannabis sativa). They are close cousins, but unlike marijuana, eating the seeds or ingesting the oil derived from them won’t make you high.

The difference between the two is the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels. Plants with more than 0.3 per cent THC are of the marijuana variety. According to Lara Lagano, author of The CBD Oil Miracle, there are over 400 chemicals in cannabis, including more than 100 phytocannabinoids such as THC and cannabidiol (CBD).

Just to add another layer of complexity to the hemp conundrum, there is some confusion over hemp oil (which is also called CBD oil) and hemp seed oil. They are two different things, although they are often mistakenly referred to as one and the same.

Hemp or CBD oil is derived from the crushed leaves and stalks of the hemp plant, whereas hemp seed oil is derived by crushing