The Industry Innovation Behind Charlotte’s Web™ THC Free† Hemp Extract – White Paper

Written by: Liz Sutherland, ND, Jen Palmer, ND, Alexander McCorkle, and Edward Palumbo 

The passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (known as the 2018 Farm Bill) has meant that cultivating hemp (a variety of Cannabis sativa L) is legal in the United States providing that plants contain no more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Charlotte’s Web, Inc. (“Charlotte’s Web”) unfailingly complies with this legal limit. Our full spectrum hemp extracts feature an array of minor cannabinoids (in addition to CBD), plus terpenes, flavonoids, phytosterols, and essential fatty acids that naturally occur in the whole hemp plant, and which facilitate the synergy of the entourage effect.

While full spectrum hemp extracts are not intoxicating, some customers would feel more comfortable knowing they are not ingesting any amount of THC even within the legal parameters set for industrial hemp plants. In addition, many employment sectors including government, defense, healthcare, transportation, construction, and emergency response (such as firefighters and law enforcement) screen employees for drug use both during the hiring process and at random intervals thereafter. These kinds of tests are not aimed at detecting CBD, but they do screen for THC. It is possible that even the negligible amount of THC present in full spectrum hemp extract could cause a positive test result under certain conditions.  

Responding to Current Needs and Leading the Way to the Future

The urine enzyme immunoassay is the standard screening cannabis drug test used in workplace settings. It measures THC-COOH, which is a major metabolite of THC. The amount of THC necessary to cause a positive drug test is unknown, particularly with regard to full spectrum hemp extract products. Regarding cannabis itself, however, it is known that, depending on many factors such as the amount and frequency of use, and an individual’s genetics, weight, age, and sex, THC can be detected in the urine from days to weeks afterwards because THC-COOH is stored in body fat. 

Many industries that routinely screen for drug use are involved in demanding, high stress work. Employees in these sectors would relish the peace of mind of knowing they can receive the benefits of hemp phytocompounds, without having to worry unduly about the risk of failing a drug test. It isn’t possible yet to cultivate a hemp plant with 0.0% THC content, but Charlotte’s Web has created a hemp extract with THC levels below detectable limits (less than 0.01% or 100ppm) using state-of-the-art, innovative, and environmentally friendly technology for the refinement process. 

Introducing Charlotte’s Web™ THC Free† Hemp Extract

Like all of our products, THC Free† hemp extract is sourced from Charlotte’s Web proprietary hemp varieties grown using responsible and sustainable farming practices. Such consistency from plant to plant means every bottle of Charlotte’s Web™ hemp extract has a similar phytochemical profile batch after batch and year after year. The same phytochemical profile for extracts means consistent and reliable health benefits for consumers. This level of whole-plant standardization is extremely rare and is one of many factors that distinguishes Charlotte’s Web within the industry. 

Creating the THC Free† Extract

The process starts with the creation of our full spectrum hemp extract. The full spectrum hemp extract is derived from Charlotte’s Web proprietary hemp varieties, using supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) as the extraction method. The crude extract that initially results then undergoes a process known as winterization. Winterization is a purification step that uses ethanol chilled to subzero (°C) temperatures to remove extraneous substances such as waxes and fats. The ethanol, which is then evaporated off by gentle heating under vacuum, is recovered and reused for additional extractions to prevent waste. The winterized extract is then decarboxylated, a process whereby the naturally occurring acid forms, for example CBDA (cannabidiolic acid), are converted to their active forms, in this case CBD.  

This full spectrum winterized extract then goes through further phases of distillation and other steps designed to purify it beyond what is normally achievable with standard supercritical CO2 extraction. This is done to optimally prepare it for the innovative technology that is used to create Charlotte’s Web™ THC Free† hemp extract.  

Innovative Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC)

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is an innovative, dynamic flow technology commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry to separate, collect, and identify components of complex mixtures of organic substances. The proprietary technique is highly selective for the removal of THC, while simultaneously allowing conservation of other desirable phytocompounds. SCF has two stages, one using silica, a porous solid packed into a column, to separate out THC, and the other phase uses supercritical CO2.  The result is a broad spectrum product with only the THC removed.  CBD, minor cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, phytosterols, and essential fatty acids that naturally occur in the whole hemp plant remain intact. 

The proprietary technique is highly selective for the removal of THC, while simultaneously allowing conservation of other desirable phytocompounds.

SFC is an environmentally friendly technology, and CO2 is considered to be a “green” non-toxic solvent collected as an industrial byproduct. Large-scale CO2 systems such as SFC are equipped with a recycler so that very little CO2 is released during the process. In addition to its capacity for selectivity, there are other advantages as well. It is non-polar, and so readily dissolves lipophilic compounds like THC. Once the process of separation is completed, it can easily be removed from the extract by depressurization and low levels of heat, ensuring that it leaves behind a negligible carbon footprint. 

The end-product of the SFC process is a full spectrum hemp extract with levels of THC below detectable limits (less than 0.01% or 100ppm), making it technically a broad spectrum hemp extract. But unlike many broad spectrum products on the market that more closely resemble CBD isolates. Charlotte’s Web™ THC Free hemp extract contains an array of other important phytocompounds that SFC technology is able to preserve, which is not the case with other commonly used extraction methods. SFC is a pure and safe way to create a THC Free† hemp extract. Charlotte’s Web is proud of our ecologically friendly refinement methods, which are, unfortunately, not standard within the industry.  

Charlotte’s Web™ THC Free hemp extract contains an array of other important phytocompounds that SFC technology is able to preserve, which is not the case with other commonly used extraction methods.

Current State of Industry Extraction Methods 

Numerous broad spectrum hemp extract products are currently on the market, but many companies use less exemplary technologies to manufacture them. These technologies often use toxic solvents and strip out beneficial phytocompounds. Four other extraction methods are commonly used in the industry, each with its own set of drawbacks. 

Petroleum Based Solvents

This method uses chromatography in combination with petroleum-based solvents instead of silica filtration. It is a common technique in the industry because it’s relatively cost effective. Whereas supercritical CO2 can be recycled, petroleum byproducts need to be removed by centrifugal filtration, but there is the possibility that petroleum residue remains, potentially posing health, safety, and environmental risks. Solvents derived from petroleum are often toxic. Toxic solvents used in the manufacture of broad spectrum hemp extract or CBD isolate formulas include n-heptane, hexanes, and pentanes. 

Flash Chromatography

This method uses water and ethanol instead of CO2. It requires high energy consumption, and also generates considerable solvent waste that must be removed from the final product. In addition, it has much lower selectivity than SFC, and may remove desirable beneficial phytocompounds.   

Heat Degradation  

This is a low-tech, highly imprecise, destructive method that aims to lower THC levels by using heat and oxidative processes to degrade THC into cannabinol (CBN). Heat may cause THC to turn into compounds that are as yet unknown, and therefore have unknown health consequences. It may also create isomers (THC itself is delta-9-tetrahydrocannbinol) such as delta-6-, delta-7-, and delta-10-THC. These isomers are not detected by most methods that manufacturers use to evaluate potency, but they may result in a failed drug test as testing generally does not distinguish between different forms of THC.   

Dilution 

This method entails diluting the full spectrum hemp extract until levels of THC are undetectable, and then spiking the extract with CBD isolate. The net effect is much lower levels of other cannabinoids and terpenes, with the result that the end-product more closely resembles a CBD isolate than broad spectrum hemp extract. In some cases, to compensate for these missing phytonutrients, isolated cannabinoids and terpenes are added back, a principle reminiscent of removing bran and germ from whole wheat, and then “enriching” the resultant white flour by adding back the missing nutritional components in their isolated forms.  

Recent changes in industry standards now mean that adding back isolated cannabinoids or terpenes from other plants disqualifies products from being designated as a true broad spectrum hemp extract. 

Broad Spectrum Versus THC Free† 

“Broad Spectrum Extract is hemp extract that has been intentionally processed to remove THC such that the quantified THC has been deemed non-detectable.” Based on this definition, broad spectrum extracts cannot be formulated by the addition of multiple isolated cannabinoids or terpenes from other plant sources, which is the way that some brands have artificially assembled their so-called broad spectrum products.  

We Know Exactly What Is In Our Extracts

Like all of our products, the Charlotte’s Web™ THC Free† Hemp Extract is sent to a third-party laboratory for analytical testing.  Certificate of Analysis (COA) for our product are publicly available on our website. A sample test of our THC Free† hemp extract showed, for example, notable levels of phytocannabinoids such as CBG (cannabigerol) and CBC (cannabichromene), with THC levels well below 0.01%, or 100ppm. Our THC Free† Hemp Extract is flavored with monk fruit. Monk fruit is a natural, fruit-based sweetener with zero calories and a zero glycemic index. It is non-GMO, Kosher, heat stable and vegan. Unlike stevia it has no bitter aftertaste, and pairs well with our mint chocolate flavoring. The product also contains MCT oil, which is refined to remove any potential allergens. 

It is not yet possible to cultivate hemp plants with 0.0% THC content, but there is always Charlotte’s Web™ THC Free† Hemp Extract. Because Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC), the environmentally clean, state-of-the-art technology for the refinement process, ensures our product contains less than 0.01% THC (or 100ppm), it is ideal for consumers who wish to avoid THC, and for those who need peace of mind with regard to workplace drug screening. The heightened selectivity of SFC also means that customers can continue to enjoy an array of naturally occurring phytocannabinoids along with other phytonutrients, which is not the case with every broad spectrum hemp extract on the market. 

About Charlotte’s Web

Charlotte’s Web continues to be a pioneer by developing a high-tech, innovative refinement process to remove THC from full spectrum hemp extract. We are setting the industry standards for innovation, safety and eco-friendly techniques that do not involve the use of any petroleum-derived solvents (such as n-heptane, hexanes, or pentanes, common toxic solvents that are used for manufacturing broad spectrum or CBD isolate products).  

CBD Sourcing

The origin of the hemp in your products both in terms of how the hemp is farmed and how it’s processed is of vital importance. To ensure quality and safety for our customers, Charlotte’s Web:  

• Partners with small American family farms 

All of the hemp for our products is sourced from Colorado and Oregon. Oregon’s climate, with its low elevation and wonderful mix of sun and rain prepares the ground for good quality hemp. And Colorado’s high alkaline profile creates a supportive habitat for hemp cultivation. Additionally, the state’s dry air presents less risk of mold and bacteria. Our farmers maintain an ideal mixture of light, water, air, and soil for growing hemp. 

• Works with ethically focused farmers  

Our farmers are practicing organic farming standards. All hemp plants are grown using only responsible and sustainable practices. Our products are sourced from hemp lawfully grown or cultivated by licensed participants of hemp programs administered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and Oregon Department of Agriculture, which were both established pursuant to the Agricultural Act of 2014 (“2014 Farm Bill”).  

Quality Control and Consistency

Charlotte’s Web maintains stringent quality controls that are administered from field to final product. It begins with supplying farmers with hemp plants that have consistent proprietary genetics, and proceeds to diligent soil testing before a field is even commissioned. It extends throughout the farming, development, and manufacturing processes to ensure safe and consistent products. 

If pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides are used in the vicinity of hemp cultivation, the hemp extract could contain residues of these harmful chemicals.  To ensure safety and dependability for our customers, we test our hemp extract for traces of around 20 different solvents, over 60 pesticides and herbicides (including glyphosate), mold, aflatoxin, heavy metals, and more. The results of these tests are publicly available on the Certificate of Analysis (COA). You can find COAs specific to each batch online. The COA is also where you’ll find information on cannabinoid potency so that you can feel assured that what is listed on our product labels is accurate. 

Third Party Audited Certifications 

In addition to making the Certificate of Analysis (COA) of our products publicly available, Charlotte’s Web maintains standards more stringent than the industry requires of us.  

NSF Certified for GMP Compliance  

Our FDA-registered facility follows the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) protocols. In addition, Charlotte’s Web was awarded a 98.9% rating in a voluntary third-party audit of our current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) by NSF.  

Our Commitment to Quality 

Self-Affirmed GRAS  

Self-affirmed GRAS means a company has gone through the rigorous process of validating the safety of its product ingredients, which has been verified by an expert third party. At this time, the FDA is unwilling to review GRAS petitions from CBD companies, but Charlotte’s Web voluntarily went through the identical process to the level that the FDA would approve it. The results are published in the peer-reviewed journal Toxicology Reports.⁴  

American Herbal Products Association 

Charlotte’s Web follows the American Herbal Products Association’s contaminant guidelines and specifications for Good Quality. All of our products comply with California’s Prop 65 regulations, and anything not covered by these guidelines is compliant with EPA standards. 

B-Corporation Status 

Charlotte’s Web is honored to join the more than 3,500 companies in 74 countries that have become B Corp certified. Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. Such corporations work toward reducing inequality and poverty and creating a healthier environment, stronger communities, and more high-quality jobs with dignity and purpose. Becoming a B Corp is the logical progression of the values of respect and integrity with which Charlotte’s Web was founded.  

† THC Free means trace amounts less than 0.01% or 100ppm.