CBD from somewhere other than hemp: what the science says

Cannabinoids are a family of lipid molecules produced by trichomes, the resinous glands of hemp. More than 100 phytocannabinoids have been identified in this plant, including CBD, CBG, CBN and CBC. No other known plant species carries out the same biosynthesis pathway from cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). The human body, for its part, produces its own structurally similar molecules, the endocannabinoids (anandamide, 2-AG), which interact with the endocannabinoid system. It is this biochemical kinship, and not any real presence of CBD, that explains why some plants are sometimes wrongly presented as “alternative sources”.

Several plants come up regularly in discussions about CBD without actually containing any. Echinacea contains alkylamides that bind to certain receptors of the immune system, with no direct link to CBD. Black pepper contains beta-caryophyllene, a terpene also present in hemp, which acts on the CB2 receptor but which is not a cannabinoid. Hops share a closely related botanical family with hemp (the Cannabaceae) and some terpenes, without producing cannabinoids. These partial biochemical overlaps explain part of the confusion, sustained by sometimes loose marketing of food supplements “based on related plants”.

Since the late 2010s, several research teams and biotechnology companies have developed fermentation processes using genetically modified yeasts or bacteria to produce “bio-identical” cannabidiol, that is to say chemically identical to the molecule extracted from the plant. The principle consists in inserting into the micro-organism the genes coding for the enzymes of the hemp biosynthesis pathway, then culturing it in a bioreactor, as is done for certain synthetic flavourings or vitamins. The industrial argument put forward is more stable production, less dependent on agricultural hazards and on natural variation between harvests.

In France as in the European Union, the status of an ingredient depends on its chemical nature and its use, not solely on its botanical origin. CBD obtained through biosynthesis remains subject to the Novel Food Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 for any ingested use, in the same way as a plant extract. Since 15 May 2026, the DGAL has been withdrawing from the French market ingested CBD products that lack European authorisation, whatever the production method. No health claim is any more permitted for a CBD of biotechnological synthesis than for a CBD extracted from hemp: the EFSA has validated none of these claims to date. To understand the classic origin of the CBD sold in shops, see our article on where CBD comes from.

A serious certificate of analysis (CoA) generally specifies the extraction or production method, and not only the CBD content. For a hemp-derived product, you will find wording such as “supercritical CO2 extraction” or “ethanol”. A biosynthetic product remains rare on the current French consumer market but should, strictly speaking, be mentioned explicitly, since the wording “CBD of biotechnological synthesis” is not equivalent to a plant extract in the eyes of some consumers. In case of doubt, the certificate of analysis and the manufacturer's product sheet remain the best sources of information.

Are there really plants other than hemp that contain CBD?

No, no plant known to date produces cannabidiol in the strict chemical sense. Some contain compounds with related mechanisms of action, such as the beta-caryophyllene in black pepper, but these are not cannabinoids.

Is CBD produced by biosynthesis different from plant CBD?

Chemically no, provided it really is the same molecule (cannabidiol). Its production method differs, but the regulatory status remains identical in France: Novel Food for any ingested use.

Can you buy biosynthetic CBD in France today?

This type of product remains marginal on the French consumer market to date. Its sale for ingestion follows the same Novel Food rules as CBD extracted from hemp.

Does synthetic CBD present more risks?

No public data allows that to be asserted at this stage. As with any CBD product, an independent certificate of analysis remains the most reliable quality marker, whatever the origin.