Hemp’s origin is entirely botanical, but the consumer products derived from it span a spectrum from minimally processed plant material to compounds created in a laboratory. The hemp plant, a variety of Cannabis sativa L., is fundamentally a natural, cultivated agricultural product. However, the term “hemp” is often used broadly to refer to oils, extracts, and isolates, some of which undergo extensive chemical modification or are entirely synthesized. Understanding the natural or synthetic nature of a hemp product requires focusing on its source and the specific processing methods used to create it. This distinction is important because the manufacturing process determines the final chemical structure, purity, and overall composition.
Hemp’s Botanical Origin: A Natural Classification
Hemp is classified scientifically as Cannabis sativa L., a flowering herbaceous annual plant cultivated worldwide for thousands of years. The specific epithet sativa is Latin for ‘cultivated,’ reflecting its long history as an agricultural commodity used for fiber, seed oil, and medicine. As a plant grown from seed, hemp is inherently a natural product, containing a complex mixture of compounds known as phytocannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.
The difference between hemp and marijuana is legal and regulatory, based on the concentration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), not botanical. Hemp is legally defined in many regions, including the United States, as Cannabis sativa L. containing less than 0.3% delta-9-THC by dry weight. This low-THC profile is the result of selective breeding, but the plant remains an unaltered, naturally grown organism.
Processing Methods: Natural Extracts Versus Chemical Synthesis
The journey from a natural hemp plant to a consumer product involves various processing techniques that determine the final classification.
Natural Extraction
Natural extracts are obtained using methods that physically separate the desired compounds from the plant matter without chemically altering the molecules themselves. Common industrial extraction techniques include supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) extraction and ethanol extraction, which pull out the cannabinoids and aromatic terpenes. These methods result in full-spectrum or broad-spectrum oils where compounds, such as cannabidiol (CBD), remain chemically identical to those produced by the plant.
Chemical Modification (Isomerization)
A substance transitions from a natural extract to a chemically modified derivative when a chemical reaction is intentionally introduced. For example, manufacturers use isomerization, which converts one naturally extracted cannabinoid, typically CBD, into a different cannabinoid, such as delta-8-THC. This process uses heat, solvents, and catalysts to rearrange the molecular structure of the natural compound. Although the process starts with a natural source (CBD), the final compound is a synthetically created isomer that does not naturally occur in significant quantities in the plant.
Isolates and Synthesis
When a product is labeled as a CBD isolate, it is a single, purified molecule, typically 99% or more pure CBD. This isolate can be produced from a natural extract through further refinement, meaning it is naturally derived. However, the identical CBD molecule can also be produced through chemical synthesis in a laboratory, often using starting materials like limonene or biological synthesis using modified yeast. In the case of a pure isolate, the chemically synthesized molecule is structurally identical to the naturally derived one, but its origin is entirely non-botanical.
Understanding Synthetic Cannabinoids
The most definitive form of a synthetic hemp product is a class of compounds known as synthetic cannabinoids, which are often mistakenly associated with hemp extracts. These are entirely laboratory-created molecules designed to interact with the body’s cannabinoid receptors, mimicking the effects of natural THC. Unlike natural extracts, these compounds are not derived from the Cannabis sativa plant; they are novel psychoactive substances often referred to as “designer drugs,” such as K2 or Spice.
These illicit synthetic cannabinoids are structurally distinct from the phytocannabinoids found in hemp. They are typically manufactured in bulk powder form in unregulated facilities, then dissolved and sprayed onto dried plant material marketed as “herbal incense.” These substances are a public health concern because they often have a greater binding affinity and potency to the body’s CB1 receptor, leading to unpredictable and severe adverse effects.