Short answer
Hemp sourced cannabinoids are compounds extracted from Cannabis sativa plants that contain 0.3 percent or less delta-9 THC by dry weight. The 2018 Farm Bill set that limit. Hemp plants make more than 100 cannabinoids. CBD is the most abundant. CBG, CBN, CBC, CBDV, and THCV appear at lower levels. Trace THC stays under the federal cap.
Hemp Derived Cannabinoids: Types, Legality, and Safe Buying
Hemp and marijuana share one species
Both are Cannabis sativa L. The legal difference is THC concentration. A plant above 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis is not hemp under federal law. State agriculture agencies test crops before harvest. USDA-approved plans set a 30-day testing window. A crop that tests above the limit must be destroyed or remediated under state rules.
Cannabinoids found in hemp
- CBD (cannabidiol). The main compound in hemp. Cultivars bred for CBD test between 6 and 15 percent by dry flower weight.
- CBDA and CBGA. Acid forms. Heat or time removes the acid group and converts them to CBD and CBG.
- CBG (cannabigerol). Levels sit below 1 percent in most hemp cultivars.
- CBN (cannabinol). A breakdown product of THC. Levels rise with age, heat, and light.
- CBC, CBDV, THCV. Minor cannabinoids. Each sits below 1 percent in most plants.
- Delta-9 THC. Allowed at 0.3 percent or less by dry weight.
- Delta-8 THC. Forms when CBD is treated with acid or heat. It is not a high-level natural compound in hemp. State rules on delta-8 vary.
Extraction methods
CO2 extraction uses pressurized carbon dioxide. It runs at low temperature, so terpenes survive. Ethanol extraction costs less and scales up. It also pulls chlorophyll, waxes, and sugars, so the oil needs more cleanup. Hydrocarbon extraction uses butane or propane and needs a purge step to remove solvent. After extraction, the crude oil goes through winterization, decarboxylation, and distillation. Distillation separates compounds by boiling point. The result is a distillate with a set cannabinoid ratio.
Full spectrum, broad spectrum, isolate
Full spectrum extract keeps the plant's cannabinoids, terpenes, and trace THC. Broad spectrum extract removes THC and keeps the other compounds. Isolate is CBD alone at 99 percent purity or higher. A 30 mL bottle of full spectrum oil at 1,000 mg total cannabinoids holds about 33 mg per mL. The label should state which type the product is.
Testing: what a COA covers
A certificate of analysis (COA) reports third-party lab results for one batch. A full panel covers cannabinoid potency, pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, microbials, and mycotoxins. The COA should show a batch or lot number that matches the package. Look for labs accredited to ISO 17025. Products sold without a COA have unknown cannabinoid content.
Federal and state rules
Federal law allows hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoids under the 2018 Farm Bill. States write their own rules. Some states restrict delta-8 THC and other intoxicating cannabinoids. The FDA has not approved CBD as a dietary supplement or a food additive. The agency has approved one CBD prescription drug, Epidiolex, for two rare seizure disorders. Rules for hemp-derived intoxicating compounds are unsettled as of 2025.
Checklist before you buy
- COA with a matching batch number.
- Cannabinoid content in milligrams per serving and per container.
- Delta-9 THC content, in case of drug testing.
- Extraction method, when the label lists it.
- Manufacture or harvest date.