Where does CBD come from? From the hemp plant to the bottle

Hemp belongs to the species Cannabis sativa L., the same as marijuana. What distinguishes them is the THC concentration: less than 0.30% for the authorised variety intended for CBD, far more for recreational cannabis. In France, only varieties listed in the official French catalogue or the common European catalogue may be grown, under the supervision of FranceAgriMer and the DGCCRF, with mandatory analyses. The framework is codified in article R. 5132-86 of the Public Health Code, following the Conseil d'État decision of 29 December 2022.

CBD is synthesised in the trichomes, microscopic mushroom-shaped glands found mainly on the flowers. The plant first produces cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), the “mother cannabinoid”, which specific enzymes then convert into CBDA (cannabidiolic acid), THCA or CBCA depending on the chemotype of the variety. Decarboxylation, under the effect of heat or time, then turns CBDA into active CBD.

The trichomes also produce more than 200 terpenes and flavonoids specific to hemp, the cannflavins. It is this whole set of compounds that is found in a full-spectrum extract; an isolate, by contrast, retains only the purified CBD molecule.

After harvesting and drying, two methods dominate the professional market. Supercritical CO2 extraction uses carbon dioxide brought to high pressure and low temperature: it extracts the active compounds without leaving residue and best preserves the cannabinoid-terpene profile, at the cost of expensive equipment. Pharmaceutical ethanol extraction is less costly and effective, but requires a solvent-residue purging step, checked on the certificate of analysis.

Since CBD is fat-soluble, the extract obtained is then diluted in a vegetable carrier oil: MCT oil from coconut, neutral in taste and with high bioavailability; food-grade hemp oil, with an interesting omega-3/omega-6 profile; or virgin olive oil, with a more pronounced taste. The extract-to-oil ratio determines the final percentage: a 10% oil in a 10 ml bottle contains 1,000 mg of CBD.

A serious chain documents every step: selection of an authorised variety, FranceAgriMer declaration, harvesting and low-temperature drying, analysis of the THC level in the plant, extraction, dilution, then analysis of the finished product by an independent laboratory, checking in particular for the absence of synthetic cannabinoids such as HHC or H4CBD, banned since the ANSM orders of 2023-2024. Packaging, often in an amber or opaque bottle, finally protects the product from light. This transparency remains the main criterion for distinguishing a serious brand from a generic product. To go further into choosing the flower upstream, see our guide to the best CBD flowers.

Is CBD always of plant origin?

The CBD sold in French shops is extracted from hemp. Chemical synthesis processes exist in pharmaceutical research but remain marginal on the wellness market.

Why grow hemp in France rather than import it?

French cultivation makes direct traceability and FranceAgriMer/DGCCRF checks easier. Importing Swiss, Italian or Czech hemp remains legal, but raises more traceability questions.

What is the difference between flower, resin and oil?

The flower is the dried flowering top, rich in trichomes. Resin is obtained by mechanically separating the trichomes. Oil is an extract diluted in a carrier oil. All three are permitted provided THC stays ≤ 0.30%.

Is French hemp necessarily better than foreign hemp?

Not automatically. Quality depends on the variety, the growing method, the extraction and the quality control. The decisive criterion remains the certificate of analysis for the batch purchased.