Make sure you’re buying quality CBD oil with this 6 step checklist

Thanks to its myriad of positive effects, CBD oil, edibles, and topicals are booming in popularity. With an industry on the rise, more and more companies are looking to hitch themselves to the bandwagon.

Unfortunately for consumers, some of these companies aren’t selling exactly what they’re advertising, and currently there isn’t much that can be done to stop less-than-honest producers from shipping lackluster products. This can make it difficult to know what products you should be purchasing.

To help you identify what’s right for you, we’ve put together this handy checklist. Next time you’re shopping for CBD to alleviate your pain, anxiety, sleeplessness, PTSD or other symptoms, consult this list to make sure you’re getting a quality product, not snake oil.

1. Are Third-Party Lab Results Available?

While the Food and Drug Administration is responsible for ensuring the public doesn’t come into contact with dangerous or questionable products, as it stands the only the hemp CBD industry is regulated, leaving cannabis-based products without any regulatory standards. Even when purchasing hemp-derived products, however, third-party lab testing can be a key indicator as to the quality of a brand or product.

Third party labs test CBD oil and other products to ensure the quality and content of your purchase. While many retailers will slap a “100% CBD” label on their product, keep your eyes peeled for companies that will advertise third-party test results. This ensures your purchase has been vetted, and that the company was confident enough in what their selling to show you the results.

2. What are the THC Levels?

One of the key benefits of CBD oil is its lack of psychoactivity. THC is the cannabinoid that produces that energetic, heady buzz that many people associated with cannabis. But for many people looking to soothe their symptoms, feeling stoned is the opposite of what they’re looking for.

Top quality CBD oil and other products will contain less than 0.03% THC content, meaning your experience won’t be psychoactive at all, so don’t worry about that “high” feeling.

3. Where Does Your CBD Oil Come From?

Hemp plants are known as hyperaccumulators. This means they are incredibly sensitive to the soil in which they are grown, absorbing nutrients and minerals easily. The major drawback to this is that the plants also absorb a great deal of the contaminants present.

To give you an example of how absorbent these plants can be, industrial-grade hemp has been used to intentionally extract dangerous metal content from soils in a process known as bioremediation.

CBD itself is not bad for your health, it is in fact quite the opposite. Many of the contaminants that are absorbed in cheaply grown hemp can be, however. That’s to say nothing of other countries, such as China, where large quantities of low-grade hemp are grown and turned into inexpensive and subpar CBD oil and other CBD products.

 Look for CBD oil and products grown organically, as this will help you to avoid potentially toxic pesticides. Again, independent laboratory studies can help to identify products that are also free from heavy metals, such as led and mercury, or other microbial contaminants.

  4. Is this CBD Oil Made from Whole Plant Extracts?

You may have noticed many hemp seed extracts available at your local pharmacy or health food store. While these products can have medicinal benefits, they do not actually contain any CBD.

Using the whole hemp plant can introduce a full spectrum of compounds, such as terpenes, THC, and other flavonoids. The diverse array of molecules is far more effective in synergy, producing an effect scientist call the “entourage effect”.

5. Where to Source Quality CBD?

Companies such as Medix CBD offer 99.9% pure CBD oil because of the effects of trace amounts of THC. THC levels below 0.03% can actually enhance the effects of CBD, along with other compounds, for a complete therapeutic experience. Medix CBD is excited to offer an exclusive discount to Herb readers. Simply use the code: HERB at the checkout and explore their range of CBD oil and other products.  

6. What is the Actual CBD Oil Dosage?

Labeling on some CBD products can be very misleading. For instance, many companies will list the milligram (mg) amount of the product itself, without referencing the actual CBD content, which would be a percentage. While a label may offer you 200 mg of product, there might be no indication as to what percentage of that is active.

This is an important distinction, especially for those depending on CBD for therapeutic relief. Many companies will sneak lower CBD content past consumers with misleading labeling. If a product doesn’t list the actual percentage, it may be best to avoid it.

As with any industry exploding in popularity, there will be many companies looking to hop on a hot trend. By following this simple checklist, you’ll be able to determine the good from the bad and discover the wealth of benefits CBD oil and other cannabidiol products may be able to offer you.