How To Safely Buy CBD
Written By: Suzanne Kvilhaug
CBD can be a complex topic on all fronts. From the health benefits to the different forms, where is someone new to CBD begin when they want to buy it? Well, it can be tempting to start googling and reading all about it. But you’ll find that there is so much information out there and you’ll be cross eyed with a giant headache soon into the search. When I wanted to begin purchasing CBD, I found Healthy Hemp Oil and operation guesswork came to a screeching halt. They offer in-depth guides and test and curate the best selection of CBD brands.
Here is some great helpful information and insight from Healthy Hemp Oil on how to buy CBD and what to watch out for.
Where can I buy CBD?
There are generally four options for purchasing CBD oil:
Dispensaries that sell cannabis products and cannabis accessories.
Online CBD shops that sell CBD products online.
Medical dispensaries that only sell cannabis products to customers who have a medical marijuana card or prescription.
Recreational dispensaries that only exist in legal states and are licensed to sell cannabis products to the public.
Know the level of THC
When shopping for CBD products at a dispensary or online shop, it’s important to ask about the level of THC contained in the product and how the CBD is sourced. For example, is it from a low THC strain of cannabis? Or, is the CBD derived from industrial hemp?
If you’re seeking to avoid the psychoactive effects of THC, you may prefer to stick to CBD extracted from industrial hemp, as these products, by law, must contain less than 0.3% THC.
Hemp CBD Oil vs. Marijuana CBD Oil
CBD oil can be made from either marijuana or hemp. The main difference between the two lies in the levels of THC found in the finished product. CBD products made from industrial hemp (like those available in our online store) must contain less than 0.3 percent THC—meaning there’s no chance of getting high when using it.
If CBD oil contains more THC than 0.3 percent, it’s considered a marijuana product, and CBD oil from marijuana has no restrictions on how much THC it can contain. This means the CBD oil from your local dispensary might contain a lot more THC than you would like and could still give you a “high” feeling.
If you’re concerned, make sure to check for a low THC count and compare it to the 0.3 percent THC you get from industrial hemp-based products.
Different forms of CBD
Consider which CBD product type will work best for you. Here are the different forms you can buy CBD in:
CBD tinctures – Designed to be taken orally, CBD tinctures offer versatility and ease of use for CBD beginners and veterans alike.
CBD pastes and concentrates – CBD pastes and concentrates are made mainly from hemp oil, offering a higher concentration of CBD.
CBD vape oil – CBD vape oil is a specially formulated liquid meant to be placed in a vape. Heat from the vape turns the vape oil into a vapor that is easily inhaled and absorbed.
CBD topicals – Applied directly to the skin, topicals include balms, oils, and lotions that have been infused with CBD.
CBD capsules – This pill-form of CBD is easily ingested and offers more concentrated amounts of CBD for longer-lasting effects.
CBD edibles – CBD edibles are foods that have been infused with CBD, including gummies, cookies, hard candies, and more.
CBD for pets – CBD pet products offer the same potential health benefits as human products but are formulated specifically for the animal companions in your life.
Top 5 most important buying criteria
Price
Concentration
Ease of use
Taste
Immediacy of effects
Price
If you’re just starting out with CBD, there’s no need to spend big on certain products until you know what works best for you. The price of CBD products can vary, and, naturally, some CBD products are more affordable than others. The intended effects, along with the quantity, longevity, and immediacy can all impact the cost of a particular CBD product.
Concentration
Concentration is often the most important characteristic when selecting a CBD product. To work this out, you should look at the milligrams of CBD, which should be clearly listed on the product label. Don’t be misled by the “total volume” of oil. The milligrams of CBD are what counts. This is similar to buying fish oil supplements. Sometimes only a percentage amount is listed, instead of the total milligrams. This percentage is a ratio of total CBD to total liquid volume of the product. For example, let’s say there is a CBD concentrate with 1000 milligrams of total hemp oil and 100 milligrams of CBD—the concentration would be ten percent CBD.
Ease of use
CBD is very simple to use. It can be taken in many different forms and used as you would a vitamin supplement or topical balm—but some CBD products can be quite tricky.
Taste
For some people, taste is incredibly important. If taste matters to you, there are a few things worth considering.
Some products, like pastes or concentrates, have a very distinct hemp flavor thanks to their high concentration of CBD. If you’re unfamiliar with hemp, it can best be described as having an “earthy” or “grassy” quality. Other products, such as vape oils, tinctures, and edibles, can be purchased in a variety of flavors, including mint, vanilla, chocolate, and a mix of various fruits. Flavored products are a great option if you’re looking for something that will mask the taste of hemp. And if you don’t want to taste hemp at all, stick with CBD capsules, which are completely flavorless.
Immediacy and Length of Effects
With concentration and ease of use taken into consideration, you’ll want to think about how quickly you’d like to feel the effects of CBD and for how long you’d like it to last. This will largely depend on which products you use: Typically, the slower CBD absorbs, the longer it lasts. Likewise, if the CBD absorbs quickly, it will usually offer immediate, short-term relief.
Overall criteria
Unfortunately, this industry is renowned for its varying degrees of quality standards. Often, you’ll get what you pay for, but even then, you could end up paying a premium for the brand alone. Purchasing from a reputable company ensures that you’re getting quality products that are effective, safe, and responsibly sourced.
That’s why, when it comes to purchasing CBD products, find the answers to certain questions before purchasing.
Do you know which companies have a reputation for producing low-quality versus high-quality CBD products?
Do you know which lab results you should ask to see? Or which manufacturing certifications point to quality practices being adhered to?
Industrial Hemp Products
Make sure the company is selling products made from industrial hemp (which is legal in all 50 states and in many countries worldwide). If they’re selling marijuana-based CBD products, you should be made aware that these are restricted to the states and countries where they are legal.
Here’s how to tell: CBD products must have lower than 0.3 percent THC to be considered hemp products and not marijuana.
Third-Party Lab-Tested
Make sure the products you buy are all tested by a third party to ensure quality. Products should also be tested for mold, heavy metals, and other contaminants. What’s more, they should be tested to make sure they contain the correct amount of CBD that they are claiming.
Here’s how to tell: Companies should be able to produce a Certificate of Analysis (COA) if you ask them to verify their claims.
GMP Facility
GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practices, and it covers the practices required to ensure products are produced according to industry standards. The agencies that control the authorization and licensing of the manufacture and sale of these products provide guidelines, and the manufacturer must adhere to these guidelines to make sure their products remain consistent and of high quality from batch to batch.
GMP certified quality assured badge
Here’s how to tell: Check that the company has a GMP logo on their website.
Unreasonable Health Claims
If a company claims its product can help or cure particular ailments or diseases, you should be wary. CBD has many wonderful benefits, but it’s not intended to treat any specific disease.
Here’s how to tell: Pay attention to the language they use and make sure they’re not making any unreasonable or unverifiable claims related to specific diseases or ailments.