CBD without THC: does it exist?

Yes, CBD (cannabidiol) without THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) exists. CBD , extracted from the hemp plant, can be separated from THC , the main psychoactive compound in hemp and responsible for psychotropic effects such as euphoria and altered perception.

Why consume CBD without THC?

Consuming CBD without THC helps prevent any positive results on drug tests.

To avoid the risk of addiction:

Although the risk of THC addiction is considered low, some people are very sensitive to the psychotropic effects of even small amounts, or simply prefer to avoid any potentially addictive substance . In this case, THC-free CBD is the safest option.

For road safety:

Driving after consuming THC is illegal and can lead to serious legal consequences : six penalty points, up to two years in prison, and a fine of €4,500. Consuming your CBD products without THC eliminates this risk.

What are the benefits of CBD without THC?

Although research is still being conducted to support its effects, THC-free CBD is already recognized for its many proven benefits .

Pain relief:

THC-free CBD has the ability to alleviate pain by acting on the body's endocannabinoid system. It regulates various physiological processes related to pain and acts on its receptors in the nervous system, thus reducing its perception.

The reduction of inflammation by THC-free CBD is due to its anti-inflammatory properties. THC-free CBD is said to increase the amount of anti-inflammatory cytokines and reduce the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines*. In addition, it activates TRPV1 receptors, involved in sensory perception and pain, to desensitize them to any new stimulation and reduce chronic inflammatory pain **. THC-free CBD is said to inhibit an eicosanoid enzyme called COX2, just as some medications such as Advil and Aspirin also target COX2 in their method of action*.

THC-free CBD interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain, which play an important role in regulating mood and anxiety . By increasing serotonin levels, THC-free CBD may help reduce anxiety and stress . Additionally, THC-free CBD has anxiolytic and relaxing effects that may contribute to a state of calm and relaxation . Finally, by acting on the endocannabinoid system, THC-free CBD also regulates stress and anxiety responses.

One study found that participants who received CBD experienced a significant improvement in sleep quality compared to the placebo group. It showed a 79.2% increase in sleep quality perception scores, as well as a 53.9% improvement in wake quality . This is because CBD may impact sleep cycles by increasing the duration of deep sleep , which may help improve wake quality.

THC-free CBD has anxiolytic and antidepressant properties that may help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression . THC-free CBD has also been shown to have neuroprotective effects that may help prevent oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain, which may benefit people with neurological and psychiatric disorders.

The anti-inflammatory , antioxidant , and regenerative properties of THC-free CBD may help improve skin health . THC-free CBD interferes with receptors in the skin that help regulate sebum production and maintain moisture balance. Additionally, its anti-inflammatory properties may reduce skin inflammation, thereby alleviating symptoms of acne, eczema, and psoriasis. THC-free CBD may also act as a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin and helps reduce the appearance of signs of aging. Finally, THC-free CBD may accelerate the healing of skin injuries and irritations because it improves cell regeneration.

How to get CBD without THC?

There are several methods to obtain CBD without THC but, although expensive, the most used is supercritical CO2. This technique is considered safe because it allows the extraction of compounds without impurities or solvent residues. In addition, the supercritical CO2 method is precise and can specifically target the molecules to be extracted such as CBD , while removing unwanted compounds such as THC here. In addition, it is a method that has proven reliable thanks to well-established settings. The extraction process consists of placing the hemp flowers in a tank, then CO2 is injected into the tank under vacuum to eliminate plant residues to obtain a lipophilic result (said of a chemical substance very soluble in fatty substances). This natural extract contains not only CBD , but also other cannabinoids such as CBG and CBN . Then, a filtration step is carried out to eliminate all traces of THC . For this, a chromatography isolation technique is used. No solvents are added throughout the process, which guarantees its purity as well as safety.

How are our THC-free CBD oils produced?

When producing our hovie CBD oils, we attach particular importance to the quality of our THC-free CBD . This is why we rigorously follow this supercritical CO2 method ourselves. Our THC-free CBD comes from a French extractor based in Savoie, and we strive to use hemp flowers from France whenever possible. Thus, 50% of our flowers are French and 50% come from Europe . After the supercritical CO2 extraction process, all our raw materials are sent to our laboratory , where they are carefully mixed. The mixture is made by slightly heating everything, staying below 40 degrees, before being sampled and analyzed to guarantee the quality and conformity of our products. All our hovie oils are therefore certified THC-free and are analyzed by physicochemical analysis to guarantee a THC level of 0.0% . Additionally, each bottle contains a combination of hemp seed oil made in Brittany, olive oil that comes from Provence and carefully selected essential oils such as bergamot and chamomile .

How to choose your CBD?

When choosing the right CBD for you, there are several factors to consider, including the three main spectrums: full spectrum , broad spectrum, and isolate.

• Full spectrum CBD is suitable for you if you are looking to have all the compounds naturally present in the hemp plant, including a small amount of THC (required to contain less than 0.3% in France).

• Broad spectrum CBD will be the ideal choice for you if you prefer to avoid all traces of THC while benefiting from the other cannabinoids present in the hemp plant. Broad spectrum CBD contains all the natural compounds of hemp except THC . Thus, it offers all the benefits of the entourage effect without the psychoactive effects of THC . Broad spectrum CBD is often chosen by anyone who wants to avoid having any traces of THC in their system , particularly due to sensitivity to the effects of THC or to avoid testing positive during roadside checks. By opting for broad spectrum CBD, you can benefit from the benefits of different cannabinoids while avoiding the adverse effects of THC, which is why we favor this CBD for our products. You will therefore also find CBN and CBG .

• CBD Isolate: CBD isolate can also be a good option if you want to avoid any other compounds in the hemp plant. This is because the isolate is made of 100% pure CBD . CBD isolate is also guaranteed to be free of any traces of THC, but it does not have any entourage effects. However, it remains a good relaxant.

What is the entourage effect?

The entourage effect is the combination of different compounds found in the hemp plant to produce therapeutic effects . Cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other compounds work together to enhance the benefits of THC-free CBD . For example, some terpenes may enhance the effects of THC-free CBD on pain , while others may help reduce anxiety or improve mood. Thus, the entourage effect is often used to explain why full-spectrum and broad -spectrum CBD may offer greater therapeutic benefits than CBD isolate.

The combination of plants and CBD without THC

Combining THC-free CBD with certain herbs can provide enhanced therapeutic benefits . That's why we incorporate various specific herbs into our oils to enhance the effects of THC-free CBD . For example, bergamot present in our relax oil is known for its anxiolytic properties , making it an ideal complement to THC-free CBD for anyone looking to reduce stress and anxiety . Chamomile , present in our sleep oil , is known for its calming effects and can thus relieve nervous agitation and minor insomnia in addition to THC-free CBD . Turmeric, with its powerful anti-inflammatory properties used in our pain oil , also perfectly complements THC-free CBD in the management of inflammation.

* MARTINEZ NAYA N. & al. Molecular and Cellular mechanisms of action of cannabidiol. Academic Editor (2023)

** JONES NA & al. Antiseizure properties of cannabidiol (CBD) are attenuated in the absence of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptors (S53.004). Neurology (2018)