Hemp oil is an oil extracted from the hemp plant. Oil is the principal product made from hemp seeds.
Purified or refined hemp seed oil is clear and colorless. They lack flavor, natural vitamins, and antioxidants. These oils are primarily used in body products such as lotion and soap. Cold pressed, unrefined hemp oil is dark to clear light green in color, with a pleasant nutty flavor. The darker the color, the grassier the flavor. The "nutty" flavor of hemp oil is similar to that of sunflower seeds and pine nuts. It is best purchased in small amounts and stored in dark containers in a refrigerator to prevent it from going rancid. Hemp oil is not suitable for cooking.
What are the benefits of hemp oil?
Hemp oil contains high nutritional value because of its 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acids, which matches the balance of the human body. They are essential because the body cannot make these fatty acids and must get them from external sources. For this reason, they serve as a great dietary supplement.
Industrial hempseed oil is used in lubricants, paints, inks, fuel, and plastics. It is also used in the production of soaps, shampoos, and detergents. Repeated use of hemp body care products has been reported to result in softer and healthier skin as well as help with dry skin conditions due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Hemp skin and body care products are readily available from a wide variety of vendors, including health food stores and online retailers.
Is it possible to get 'high' from using hemp oil products?
No. Although hemp comes from the same Cannabis plant as marijuana, they are not the same. The Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels of hemp is too low to achieve any kind of high. THC is the psychoactive substance present in marijuana which produces the high. Typically, hemp contains lower than 0.3% THC levels whereas marijuana usually contains anywhere from 3% to over 20%. Moreover, hemp contains another cannabinoid, CBD, that blocks the marijuana high. In order to achieve a standard high from hemp, one would have to power smoke 10-12 hemp cigarettes in a very short amount of time, which is known to be impossible.