Cannabis is a very diverse category as part of the plant kingdom that can be split into thousands of species. Within the plant family Cannabaceae is the genus Cannabis as shown below. It is true that hemp and marijuana are part of the same family and genus. Hemp can only be made from Cannabis Sativa.

The main difference between the two plants is that hemp legally must contain less than 0.3% of the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC compared to marijuana. THC is another cannabinoid with therapeutic benefits but is best known for its intoxicating effects or “high”. Marijuana products typically focus on THC levels greater than 0.3% of the product and may not always focus on the functional benefits. Hemp products like what Green Compass creates, focuses more on CBD and lower, functional amounts of THC that are extracted from hemp plants.

The plant. Hemp is one of the oldest cultivated crops on the planet. For centuries, it was used as XYZ. Currently, industrial hemp is grown worldwide to manufacture a wide range of products, from textiles and building materials to cosmetics and medicines.

Hemp actually helps clean our planet through phytoaccumulation. This simply  means  the plant  absorbs, not only all of the nutrients from the soil and water, but also contaminants. If toxins and metals are present in the ground they will end up in the plant. That's why it's important to make sure that the soil is USDA Organic, not just that your hemp was grown with organic practices. At Green Compass, we rigorously monitor our soil and water sources to ensure our hemp plants remain as clean as possible.

Farming Practices.

North Carolina’s favorable climate and soil conditions are ideal for growing hemp. The climate, combined with the range of soils available, allows hemp to thrive here. We farm with non-GMO seeds, USDA-certified organic soil and rotate crops  annually to rest the soil, as part of USDA Organic Standards and just plain good farming practices.

As research continues some of the minor cannabinoids have shown promise in targeting certain health benefits.

CBG, CBC, CBN, CBG, CBDA and others may help to:

• relieve pain and inflammation
• promote better sleep
• improve mood

Doses and delivery methods for these minor cannabinoids continue to be studied.

Titrating to effect or ‘low and slow dosing strategies” are suggested as everyone’s ECS needs different levels of “tuning”. When consuming cannabinoids, effects vary widely because correct dosing, as well as the intensity, duration and frequency can also vary for products and their suggested use.

Classifications used in the hemp industry, notably Full Spectrum vs. Broad Spectrum, can be confusing. Generally speaking, these terms are meant to define the array or spectrum of naturally occurring compounds found in the oil that is extracted from the plant.

Full Spectrum Hemp Extract contains CBD and any of the over 140 cannabinoids and other beneficial compounds naturally found in the hemp plant including terpenes and flavonoids. Some THC is also present.

Broad Spectrum Hemp Extract is the same full spectrum extract, except the THC has been removed. It retains other cannabinoids, as well as terpenes and flavonoids, that have a synergistic health and wellness effects.

CBD Isolate contains only CBD.

Quality is core to who we are and comes to life throughout the business.

Potency We understand what beneficial compounds are available in our product and how much.

• Cannabinoid Profile
• Terpene Profile
• Flavonoid + Phytosterols Profile
• Fatty Acid Profile
• Mineral Profile

Purity We test for impurities such as residual solvents from processing, heavy metals, pesticides, and more.

• Pesticides/Herbicides
• Solvents
• Microbiology 
• Heavy Metals
• Water activity
• Oil Quality (PV/FFA)

Safety In addition to the testing conducted to ensure purity, we evaluate all potential risks - through hazard analysis - in our raw materials and our processes.

• Hazard Analysis

Green Compass favors a small-batch extraction method that produces rich, superior crude oil, which is then refined through a proprietary seven-step process. 

As part of our USDA Organic Certification, we use only organic compliant extraction methods in our process.

Non-organic extraction methods include butane, propane, denatured or non-organic ethanol, among other harmful solvents: If using non-organic extraction methods, you run the risk of having toxins, heavy metals, and other unwanted impurities in the extract. These sources are also often derived from petroleum or other unwanted and unregulated sources.