About CBD Oil

Been curious about cannabidiols (CBD) but haven’t really wrapped your head around it? Here are some takeaways to get you informed.

There’s an increasing number of states who have legalized the production and rolling out of hemp-based CBD oil and CBD infused products in stores. However many consumers are confused about the difference between hemp-based CBD and marijuana-based CBD that will shed light to the former’s uses, benefits, and flip side, if any.

What is CBD and how does it differ?

CBD is a chemical compound extracted from the Cannabis plant found to have properties that can alleviate pain and ease the nerves, prevent anxiety and insomnia.

The common misconception of its likeness to marijuana lies in the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the CBD extract. The determining factor is the source. Hemp-derived CBD contains no more than 0.3% THC. Otherwise anything greater than this amount is considered to be marijuana-derived.

Selling and consuming hemp-derived CBD oil and CBD products are legal in 50 states and does not fall under the scope of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) Controlled Substances Act.

Things to consider when buying CBD products

Shopping for CBD products is not easy. There are hundreds of CBD brands out there. Getting the best requires you to keep the following in mind in the selection process.

What does the label look like?

The labels of these products vary. Those that are marketed as dietary supplements however have back panels that contain the FDA disclaimer, a warning section and ideally the access to the third party’s lab testing results.

Was the product third-party tested?

Look for the third-party lab testing results of a CBD product to determine if the actual dosage is equal to what’s on the bottle. Check the product and search for a quality assurance stamp or any third-party certificate of analysis.  Checking the website of the retailer is also helpful in case you don’t see any relevant information on the label.

What is the correct dosage?

A lot of brands make this difficult. First, check if your if the product contains full-spectrum CBD or is a CBD isolate. The isolate is 100% CBD while the full-spectrum usually includes other cannabinoids like cannabigerol or cannabidivarin.

There are arguments over which is more effective. Proponents of pure CBD isolates believe its only the CBD part of the plant that contains all of the healing properties, whereas full spectrum believers believe its the CBD along with the other cannabinoids that provides the results.

Does the product have batch number?

Check if they have. This provides a way for the company to identify the improperly made product in case of a recall.

Does the product come with additional ingredients?

The answer lets you know what you are ingesting aside from the main component.

We expect more CBD infused products to surface in the next few years as the market matures, and hopefully the tips above can help you make a safe choice. Doing research is always the best way to go to stay up-to-date and validate recent news and claims if you or anyone you know buys CBD products.