DISCLAIMER: Medical decisions should not be made based on advertising. Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular hemp-derived products.

There are now numerous ways to consume cannabis/hemp – from enjoying a CBD vape to applying topical pastes on the skin to simply smoking the entire flower in a cannabis cigarette. There is seemingly no end to how cannabis/hemp can be used. Cannabis/Hemp extracts are the foundation upon which most non-smoking cannabis/hemp consumption occurs. This foundation, which essentially consists of variations in the strength and quality of various extracts, is critical for determining how effective a concentrate is.

CBD distillate is one such extract. It is highly refined and has gone through the process of distillation. It contains 70-80% CBD, as well as terpenes as other cannabinoids. If you’ve heard of distillate or have done any digging into the legal cannabis/hemp market of today, you’ve likely heard the term “full-spectrum distillate,” – but what exactly does the “full spectrum” mean?

Full Spectrum Explained

When making CBD distillate, to ensure that the final product is as pure and potent as possible, the natural extraction procedure helps to remove any other substances, such as superfluous lipids and non-vegetative byproducts. To ensure that your CBD is “full spectrum,” the cannabis/hemp will need to be tested before the extraction process starts and the end product tested again so that both can be compared..

This kind of testing is rather rigorous and therefore isn’t common, making genuine full-spectrum products relatively rare, as most of the beneficial phytochemicals are lost in the processing. These extracts are often darker, while their flavors lean towards more earthy tones.

Full-spectrum CBD products are more comprehensive, more robust, and more organic than other types of CBD because they contain more cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Even smoking cannabis/hemp does not offer as whole an experience as truly full-spectrum CBD oils.

Essentially, full-spectrum distillate preserves as many beneficial native phytochemicals as possible during extraction while eliminating undesirable ones.

Pros of Full-Spectrum Distillate

Perhaps one of the biggest pros when it comes to full-spectrum distillate is that you gain the benefits of the entourage effect. Full-spectrum distillate comprises various cannabinoids and terpenes that interact well with one another and with your body’s endocannabinoid system to produce particularly advantageous results.

A full-spectrum distillate can be utilized to treat a variety of conditions, chronic or otherwise. This kind of CBD has anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anxiolytic, and even neuroprotective properties, according to studies.

Helping to relieve muscle spasms and various mental health issues are additional uses. Since full-spectrum CBD is inherently more controlled and tested than other types of CBD, you can be sure that it will be of a specific potency and caliber.

Cons of Full-Spectrum Distillate

As with anything, full-spectrum distillate does indeed have some downsides. Due to the testing and high standards required in its production, full-spectrum CBD can be more difficult to find and more expensive.

Additionally, because this form of cannabis/hemp is so much stronger, it may still produce a similar ‘high’ to that of regular cannabis/hemp. It can even test positive for THC on some drug tests, although the actual CBD content may be lower than a typical CBD isolate.

Regarding CBD and its development, full-spectrum distillations ensure that the product is as pure as possible while also keeping the production itself standardized across the board. It is a highly refined and tested form of cannabis/hemp with known, reliable effects that ensure that users do not have to worry about the unknown and can instead focus on their wellness. 

Abundant Labs is dedicated to maintaining quality throughout our natural extraction and testing processes which helps us offer cannabis/hemp products – both bulk and retail – of the highest possible quality. Visit our website today to learn more about our equipment, techniques, and products. 

DISCLAIMER: Medical decisions should not be made based on advertising. Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular hemp-derived products.

In many ways, 2021 was a landmark year for the cannabis industry in the United States, owing largely to the continuous legalization of adult-use cannabis at the state level. While the sector will experience some of the same challenges as last year as a result of federal prohibition, 2022 looks to be another exciting year for cannabis.

Despite federal illegality, the cannabis sector in the United States has grown dramatically in recent years. According to some predictions, overall cannabis sales in the United States could reach $33 billion in 2022, almost $10 billion up from last year.

At Abundant Labs, we have been keeping a close eye on the rapid changes in the industry and how it relates to the varying compliance issues to be considered.

A New Era of Hiring

As more states legalize medicinal or recreational marijuana use and Congress considers decriminalizing cannabis, your drug testing policy may need to be reviewed. Here’s a brief overview of current and proposed marijuana legislation, as well as how it may affect your screening process.

Cannabis testing for job seekers can assist you in maintaining a safe workplace, preventing on-the-job drug usage, and adhering to industry rules. However, an increasing number of states have passed or are proposing legislation to decriminalize or legalize marijuana usage, and some proposed federal proposals would legalize cannabis.

Meanwhile, due to a lack of suitable candidates, other corporations, most notably Amazon, have reduced or eliminated marijuana testing altogether. From a compliance perspective, it is important to understand the difference between cannabis decriminalization and legalization.

While cannabis is still prohibited, possession of small amounts for personal use is generally not regarded as a criminal violation subject to prosecution. On the other hand, with legalization, cannabis use is allowed, same as it is for alcohol or tobacco. However, like with cigarettes or alcohol, legislation can still control its use, such as preventing minors from using it, participating in public places, or driving while doing so.

Cannabis Compliance Confusion

It’s important to understand that although cannabis is legal in more and more states, federal law does not recognize this. In any situation where there are differing state and federal laws, the federal government will always take precedence. This means cannabis companies still need to be cognizant of their responsibilities as an employer with regard to their employees’ use of marijuana, even in states where recreational use has been legalized.

In addition, many cannabis businesses operate under a dual standard: they must comply with both state-regulated compliance requirements as well as those mandated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and U.S. Customs Service (USCS).

It’s important to recognize laws are constantly evolving. While some states have legalized recreational marijuana and others have decriminalized it, there are still many states where it is illegal for any reason. And even in states where cannabis is legal, the laws can vary widely from one jurisdiction to another. Even though a company might be compliant with its home state’s laws, it could still make mistakes if its employees or customers engage in illegal activity while traveling or visiting other parts of the country.

The bottom line: you need to stay on top of changing regulations at both the federal level (where they’re likely to remain) and at the state level (where they’re likely to continue changing).

We hope this post has given you a better understanding of the laws surrounding cannabis, and how to stay compliant with them. We also hope it helps to put your mind at ease about what seems like an overwhelming amount of information! It’s important to remember that as legalization goes on, there will be even more changes; but if you keep yourself informed, prepared, and proactive, then you will be able to adapt with ease.

If you want to know more about the part Abundant Labs has to play in this industry or about the high-quality hemp products we make, don’t hesitate to reach out.

DISCLAIMER: Medical decisions should not be made based on advertising. Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular hemp-derived products.

As we have seen, the cannabis/hemp industry is booming. In fact, it is such a huge business there are many people who want to get involved with it. However, there are some challenges facing those looking to open an extraction facility, so it’s important to know what they are before you begin any testing processes or distribution of products from state to state.

Due to the legalization of cannabis/hemp in many states, there is now a need for testing products and extracting the cannabinoids. This is a challenge because it is important to have a suitable extraction facility in place before beginning any testing processes.

Fortunately, Abundant Labs has been around long enough to address many of the exhaustive processes required. While we have been in existence for quite some time, it does not make us immune to the challenges currently faced.

Cannabis/Hemp Extraction 101

Cannabis/Hemp extraction is a big part of this industry, but it’s also one facing many challenges. For those looking to break into the cannabis/hemp extraction business and with the goal of being an extractor, it is helpful to look at the value of the extraction process.

• Extraction is a very important part of the cannabis/hemp industry. It involves using solvents or carbon dioxide to separate desired compounds from a plant material like marijuana buds or hemp stalks.
• Extraction is used to produce cannabis/hemp oil (also known as cannabidiol), which is used for medical purposes such as treating epilepsy or pain relief.

The first step in the testing process is to have a suitable extraction facility in place before beginning any testing processes. This is important because if you do not have the proper equipment and infrastructure, it will be difficult to handle both volume and quality of product, which could lead to contamination of your extractions. The choice of equipment used for extraction also makes a difference when considering the overall quality of your end product.

Challenge Accepted

One challenge facing those who own or manage an extraction facility is finding trained technicians who know how to handle sensitive equipment such as a Walk-in Cryo Freezer or a Centrifuge Extraction machine. It is important you find the right people to work in your extraction facility not just because this will help you succeed in business but also because it helps ensure the public does not get hurt by any faulty products.

Another challenge is the law. In the United States, medical marijuana is legal in 29 states plus Washington DC (though not all these states allow sales). In addition to those 29 states that have legalized medical marijuana, many other countries have legalized it too, including Canada (2018), Australia (2016), Germany (2017), Italy (2016), France (2018), Mexico City (2018), and Uruguay among others.

Yet another barrier to overcome is distribution. As you may know, marijuana is illegal on the federal level and cannot be transported across state lines in most cases. This means companies need to import or export their products from one state to another if they want their product in multiple states at once. It also means that distributors be careful about complying with both federal and state laws when transporting goods into or out of a given jurisdiction.

There are many challenges facing the cannabis/hemp extraction industry, but there are also many opportunities for people to get involved in this growing business. If you’re looking to get started, consider partnering with a trusted name in the industry with a wealth of experience and extensive list of satisfied clients and products.

While we specialize in extracting CBD particulates, Abundant Labs is also an extraction facility for natural products. To learn more, please visit our website and blog.

Cannabis extraction is an essential part of the cannabis industry. With the right equipment and conditions, you can make sure your cannabis extraction process produces high-quality products.

In the cannabis industry, there are two main types of extraction: solvent-based and non-solvent based. Solvent-based extraction is the most common method and uses a solvent such as  propane, butane, and ethanol (we use ethanol at Abundant Labs) to extract the cannabinoids from plant material. Non-solvent extraction commonly uses supercritical CO2.

There are many factors that affect the quality of your end product. The conditions under which you extract your materials will have a huge impact on how much THC and CBD you can recover from them—and how much of those valuable compounds you’ll lose as waste.

The right equipment will make all the difference.

Centrifuge Extraction

Our hemp is extracted in 3 industrial-sized centrifuges that allow for an extremely efficient process.

Abundant Labs makes use of a super-cryo ethanol extractor using LN2 in a specially made thermo-exchange unit to drive temperatures to the lowest point possible. Biological materials (such as hemp) are added to the large centrifuge with ethanol at low temperatures.

The hemp/ethanol mixture is spun and agitated to allow the ethanol to dissolve the desired cannabinoids from the hemp material.

The operation then purifies and isolates the desired products from the mixture and removes any impurities.

Reactors

The 100L reactor is a popular size for cannabis extraction due to it’s large capacity that allows the operator to run multiple batches at once. This makes it easy on both your equipment and your budget by allowing you to maximize efficiency through batch-processing (instead of having a bunch of smaller pieces). Additionally, because the size offers such an excellent balance between throughput and cost per unit produced/consumed during operation, there are fewer reasons not to be extremely satisfied with results obtained when using these reactors during extraction!

Evaporators

Evaporators are used to distill cannabis concentrates. There are many different types of evaporators, all with their own advantages and disadvantages. Evaporators can be made from different materials, including glass and stainless steel. They are also available in a variety of shapes and sizes, which may affect the cost or efficiency of the device.

At Abundant Labs, we use a falling film evaporator, which is a specific type of vertically-oriented shell and tube heat exchanger. It separates two or more substances with different boiling point temperatures by dividing the material into thin films. Heat is transferred rapidly and efficiently across a shell and tube heat exchanger between the media and biological matter/ethanol mixture.

Under pressure, the mixture is spread evenly in a thin film from top to bottom for even heat distribution.The thin layers can be heated to evaporate the ethanol from the mixture efficiently. When the ethanol evaporates into a vapor-liquid form, it is separated by entering a condenser to cool back to liquid form. The ethanol is then recycled back into storage for future use.

Wiped Film Distillation

If you’re looking for one of the most efficient ways to extract your cannabinoids and terpenes, wiped film distillation is a great option. This method uses a wiper to collect the distillate as it’s collected by the condenser.

Wiped film distillation has several advantages over other methods.

It’s one of the fastest and most effective ways to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from your plant material because it operates at low temperatures, which minimizes the risk of cracking or damaging your cannabinoids or terpenes that are being isolated. Cryogenic ethanol extraction is also very effective because it extracts all cannabinoids and terpenes with very little interference or plant matter (this includes non-polar compounds like waxes).

CBD Isolation Reactor

After the distillate has been cleaned, the oil is crystallized. This process cleans the oil. It is possible to isolate the desired component and purge it of any contaminants.

The distillate is mixed into a slurry to perform crystallization.

The liquid is substantially cooled once the CBD distillate dissolves. As the mixture cools, the CBD molecules rearrange into a crystalline structure and separate from the other ingredients.

Utilizing cutting-edge chemical equipment, the isolate is evaluated to establish its pure CBD composition and non-detectable levels of other cannabinoids, such as THC.

Vac-Ovens

Vacuum ovens are used for drying materials. Dried materials can be used to make cannabis concentrates, and the vacuum oven is often employed for this purpose. Vacuum ovens are also useful for drying substances that are sensitive to heat or water exposure because it won’t burn the biological materials.

Flash Chromatography

Analytical chemical separation methods like flash chromatography are used to clean up mixtures. Goods distilled using falling film and wiped film distillation can retain certain terpenes, cannabinoids, and solvents still present and need to be removed before sale.

By using a solvent to introduce a mixture into the apparatus, flash chromatography is carried out. Given the proper circumstances and methodology, compounds in the solution will separate from one another due to polarity differences.

The solvent is then pumped into the column once the mixture has been added to the top.

Every stage of the extraction procedure can benefit from the use of flash chromatography, which can also be used to check that products are extracted effectively and see whether any parameters need to be changed during the distillation stage.

The industry is growing and so is the need to ensure the products are safe for consumption. As a result, many extraction equipment manufacturers have started focusing on creating innovative ways to make cannabis oil extraction more efficient and effective while maintaining high-quality standards.

If you are looking for a company that can provide you with the highest quality of equipment and extraction standards, we, at Abundant Labs, are here to help. Our scientists have a unique combination of experience, skill, and enthusiasm for the projects we undertake. Abundant Labs has the highest quality of equipment and extraction standards available to ensure that you receive the best possible end product.

We believe quality is paramount in everything we do, so we use only the highest quality of equipment and extraction standards. If you would like to work with us, please contact us through our website.