CBD Extraction Could Be Coming to an End in Hong Kong
Posted on June 8, 2022 by Cedarstone Industry Team
CBD extraction has emerged as a very profitable business since the government legalized industrial hemp and CBD products. It is such big business here that we now focus a large part of our operations on providing CBD extraction equipment. But all is not well in other parts of the world. Take Hong Kong, for example. CBD extraction could be coming to an end there.
We have no way of knowing how many companies are actually involved in CBD extraction in Hong Kong. But we do know that government leaders are seriously considering banning all CBD products there. If that happened, extraction would go right out the window. The only way processors could viably stay in business would be to get permission to continue extracting for CBD exports.
Concerns Over THC
So what’s the deal in Hong Kong? Why are lawmakers considering a CBD ban? It all has to do with concerns over THC. While hemp plants are bred to contain 0.3% THC or less, it is nearly impossible to produce a hemp plant with absolutely no THC. Hemp is a variety of cannabis, and cannabis naturally contains THC.
At such small volumes, THC doesn’t have any measurable psychoactive effects. That is why our government legalized industrial hemp and CBD with the 2018 Farm Bill. However, lawmakers in Hong Kong see things differently. They are suspicious about any amount of THC in hemp plants.
In addition to being concerned about THC’s psychoactive properties, they also believe that CBD can degrade into THC over time. That leads to additional concerns over whether older CBD products could eventually turn psychoactive if they sit in a warehouse for too long.
We are not scientists with expertise in cannabinoids. We don’t know if lawmaker concerns in Hong Kong are legitimate. All we know is that any ban on CBD in that city would likely mean the end of CBD extraction there. We hope it doesn’t happen, but there is a strong likelihood it will.
CBD Here at Home
Regardless of what Hong Kong lawmakers decide to do, CBD extraction is alive and well here in the States. The CBD market continues to grow year after year. It is already worth billions. At the heart of the industry is the plant known as industrial hemp, a plant purposely bred to maximize CBD and other valuable cannabinoids.
Regular readers of our blog know that there are different ways to extract CBD from plant material. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. From a production standpoint, where volume and consistency are most important, CO2 and solvent extraction are the two most popular methods.
If you are new to the CBD extraction business, you might want to look into both. You should also be prepared to invest heavily in high quality CBD extraction equipment. Note that getting into the business isn’t cheap. On the other hand, CBD extraction can be very profitable.
Equipment and Consulting
We design, manufacture, and install CBD extraction equipment. We can outfit your operation with all the equipment you need to run the extraction portion of your business. Likewise, we also offer consulting services. We can help you get production up and running quickly and efficiently. CBD extraction is one of the things we specialize in.
While Hong Kong legislators are considering a CBD consumption ban that would effectively eliminate the business of CBD extraction as well, the industry is booming here. We are thrilled to be part of it. As such, we will continue to do everything we can to provide customers with the best CBD extraction equipment on the market.