While many of us automatically associate cannabis products in Europe with the Netherlands, a few other countries are quickly becoming key players in the CBD market of the continent. Those territories in which the production and consumption of cannabidiol has been legalized are experiencing a market boom, with business owners and entrepreneurs having a golden opportunity to invest in a lucrative business.
Perhaps the best example of a European country that has decided to get rid of the misconceptions regarding CBD and it’s incorrect association with psychoactive cannabis is Switzerland. Despite having a small territory, it’s legislation provides local and foreign cannabidiol companies legal certainty and stability. Swiss companies are now a trend in CBD health and lifestyle blogs from all around the world.
Permissive THC Limits
The main reason behind the ban of cannabis products worldwide is a single component called Tetrahydrocannabidiol. This substance is present in most cannabis strains and has strong psychoactive effects. However, THC is only one of the many hundreds of cannabinoids and terpenes present in hemp.
Although THC and CBD are completely different substances, it is almost impossible to extract cannabidiol without having at least a minimal amount of THC. In the United States, for example, the 2018 Farm Bill officially legalized all cannabidiol products containing less than 0.3% of Tetrahydrocannabidiol.
THC limits on CBD products are quite similar in the European continent, with most territories having a strict 0.3% threshold. Switzerland, however, has decided to set this limit more than three times higher at 1%. It is therefore no surprise that many local and foreign CBD entrepreneurs are moving to the country and establishing their businesses there.
Why THC Matters:
Despite being recognized mostly due to its psychoactive properties, Tetrahydrocannabidiol has proven to be effective for the treatment of several conditions including chronic pain, anxiety, stress and more. While large doses are certainly not beneficial, small amounts of THC combined with the rest of cannabinoids and terpenes of the hemp plant can enhance the final product’s effectiveness.
In the CBD world, the concept of an “entourage effect” is used to refer to this synergistic way in which cannabinoids work together and enhance each other’s potency. This is the reason why full-spectrum CBD oil is more recommended than CBD isolates, as the latter does not contain any beneficial substance apart from cannabidiol.
Although CBD products containing up to 1% THC are very unlikely to cause any psychoactive effects, they are still illegal under most European countries’ laws. Therefore, if you are planning to buy a high quality hemp oil with the entire range of properties of hemp, a Swiss company might just be the perfect choice.
Defining CBD Quality: Extraction Methods
Now that we know how a minimal amount of THC can actually potentiate the effects of CBD Oils and tinctures, it is important to know that not all extraction methods are the same. Cannabidiol products extracted with aggressive solvents or heat can lose many of their beneficial properties, making them less effective regardless of how good the hemp plant might be.
In Switzerland, most CBD companies nowadays use high quality CO2 extraction methods, which are able to separate the plant matter from its cannabinoids and terpenes in a clean and effective manner. Some of the best examples of these techniques are FormulaSwisss organic CBD products, as they are extracted with this method and can provide long-lasting pain, stress and anxiety relief.
