Extract

An extract is a concentrated material made by pulling cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds out of hemp plant biomass using a solvent or pressure.

Common methods include supercritical carbon dioxide, ethanol, and hydrocarbon solvents, and solventless approaches that use heat and pressure. Each method captures a somewhat different mix of compounds, and the crude extract can then be refined further into distillate or isolate. The starting plant material and the method together determine the extract's cannabinoid and terpene profile.

Most hemp products are made from an extract rather than from raw plant material, so the extract's certificate of analysis is the basis for what a label can honestly claim. Terms such as full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate describe how much of the original plant chemistry remains after extraction and refinement. The same vocabulary applies to hemp products made for pets, and a veterinarian can help interpret an ingredient list for an animal.