The market is flooded with CBD products; however, deciding which one is the right choice for you can be a difficult task.
Not all CBD products are created equal. The efficacy of your favorite cannabidiol product depends on a number of factors, like concentration, quality, the kind of CBD source being used, etc. Most customers though fall for the marketing ‘shenanigans’ of various companies and fail to look beyond the brand name. This way you are denying yourself the ‘best’ that you deserve. Don’t worry though, once you have gone through this post, we are pretty sure that you’d know what exactly to look for while buying CBD, especially online:
The quantity of THC
The permissible quantity of THC in CBD products varies from state to state; while most of the states allow THC less than 0.3%, some regions may even permit products with double the amount, that is, up to 0.6%. The majority of CBD customers aren’t usually looking for THC values so it’s better to choose ones with as low as THC.
Furthermore, when ordering CBD online, it is better to confirm that the product you are looking to buy contains less than the legal amount of THC allowed in your state.
The source of hemp and its cultivation process
This information is rather tough to get hold of but is perhaps one of the most integral aspects that determine a CBD product’s quality and efficacy.
You may already know that hemp is the primary source of CBD. However, what you may not know is the differences in the quality of hemp grown across the globe. For instance, hemp grown in the US is considered superior to the ones grown in China and Europe, as the former sports nutrient-rich soil and superior cultivation standards. Thus, it is a good practice to buy CBD products made from hemp sourced from the US itself.
Cultivation methods (processes) used to produce the hemp is another factor that one should look at. Hemp that is grown in ph-balanced soil, free from pesticides, GMO and other artificial practices is usually the finest source of CBD.
Approval by a 3rd party lab
If a CBD product has been tested by a 3rd party lab, odds are high that you can get hold of the lab report on the company’s official website. However, some companies do not upload a copy of the report to their website if some contaminants are found in the product or when the stated amount of cannabinoids does not match with present ones. So if you can’t find a 3rd party lab report that could confirm the company’s claims, it’s better to look for other options.
Don’t forget to check the following things if you get access to lab report:
1) The date on the last approved report: Would you consider a CBD product to be safe if the lab report dates back to 2 or 3 years? Maybe not, thus it is the moral responsibility of a company towards its customers to get their products regularly tested, preferably at least twice a year.
2) Whether the test was performed by an accredited laboratory: Like obscure companies, there are obscure laboratories as well that don’t comply with the standards. Feel free to trust a report by a laboratory accredited by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
3) Consistency in the cannabinoid content: The names and concentrations of the cannabinoids mentioned on the product label should be consistent with those in the lab report. Any major deviation between the values on the two can raise questions over a company’s credibility.
4) Free from contaminants: Generally, the bottom half of the report is dedicated to the contaminants present in the sample. If you have a close look at it, you will see terms like ‘pass’ (and even ‘fail’) against certain columns. That’s basically the status of the heavy metals and microbes in the product. A ‘fail’ against any column should straightaway be a No-No to the product.
The ingredients present
Beneficial (safe) ingredients to look for on a product label, include organic and all-natural ingredients, Vitamin B12 (in pain relief medications), melatonin (in CBD sleep capsules), etc.
However, if the product contains hard-to-pronounce ingredients, a quick google search should come-in handy to confirm if the ingredients are safe.
There might arise a few cases where no ingredients are listed whatsoever. This is per se a red flag.
The kind of CBD being used
You will see one of the following three types of CBD listed on your product label:
1) CBD Isolate: This one is also sometimes referred to as the purest form of cannabis as it contains 99% pure CBD extract.
2) Full Spectrum CBD: The full spectrum CBD is basically the one that is extracted along with all other cannabinoids from the hemp plant, including THC.
3) Broad Spectrum CBD: If you remove THC from full spectrum CBD, you get broad spectrum CBD.
Therefore, if you are looking to buy CBD products without THC or if the latter chemical is illegal in your state, opt for products which either have CBD Isolate or broad spectrum CBD.
The process of CBD extraction
CBD can be extracted via a number of processes. However, the safest way to extract the chemical is through the CO2 extraction method.
This process first extracts CBD from the plant and then compresses it to a super-critical cold liquid state, while, at the same time, preserving nutrient-rich terpenes and trichomes. Thus, the process doesn’t contaminate the end product.
If the product’s website (or label) states that the CBD has been extracted through the C02 extraction method, then you can go-ahead with the purchase.
Product price and word-of-mouth
A branded or expensive product may not necessarily be the ideal one for you, especially if your pocket does not allow it. These days, there are a number of product and price comparison websites where similar products can be weighed against each other. If it’s your first time with CBD, make sure to research thoroughly before picking up any particular brand.
Sometimes, positive word-of-mouth can also stand testimony to the efficacy of a product, even though it may not necessarily confirm the quality aspect.
So, there you have it! We hope that you’d now keep all these things in mind before buying your next CBD product.
