Navigating the CBD Market: Your Guide on How To Buy Safe CBD
The CBD industry is booming!
It seems everywhere you look - you see a new company with new products, and with all the new and exciting research that’s coming out which detail the profound benefits of incorporating CBD into your life, of course you want to start trying out CBD products yourself! However, the CBD industry is an unregulated market which means there are few, if any, consistent rules or guidelines governing the production, quality and sale of CBD products.
There is nothing more important than knowing what is in the products you use, so we are making it easy for you by sharing a handy guide on the top 5 key features that you need to look for when buying CBD products to ensure safety, quality, and effectiveness.
1. Third-Party Lab Testing
This is the most important factor when deciding which company to purchase your CBD products from. Reliable companies will provide a Certificate of Analysis (COA) for every product and it will be clearly accessible on their website (bonus if it’s confirmed on their products as well). These COA’s mean that the CBD used in the products have been tested by an independent, third-party laboratory to verify that the CBD content is accurate, as well as making sure there are no harmful contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, or mold. If a company doesn’t have these COA’s accessible, be cautious when buying their products as you cannot be sure they are free of containments or that their CBD content is accurate.
2. Source of Hemp
The quality of the CBD starts with the quality of the hemp that it is sourced from. Look for companies that share information about where they get their hemp and that they state that it has been agriculturally grown in the USA or Europe, as agricultural standards in these countries are stricter than in other countries.
3. Transparency of Ingredients
A trustworthy CBD brand will clearly list all ingredients for their products on the label AND website. This includes the type of extract used (full spectrum, broad spectrum or isolate) the amount of CBD potency in the product (100mg or 2000mg) as well as any carrier oils, or any other additives included in the final product.
• Full-Spectrum CBD: Contains all cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, including trace amounts of THC.
• Broad-Spectrum CBD: Contains most cannabinoids but is usually THC-free.
• CBD Isolate: Pure CBD with no other cannabinoids or THC.
For a more thorough explanation of the benefits and uses of each extraction method, click HERE.
4. Type of Extraction Method
The method used to extract CBD from the hemp plant can significantly affect the quality of the final product. Look for companies that let you know what type of extraction method they use and know that CO2 extraction is considered the gold standard as it is clean, efficient, and free of harmful solvents.
5. Customer Satisfaction
Authentic and verifiable customer reviews clearly visible on the website will tell you that other people have tried the products and loved them enough to leave a review, which means you can trust the quality of the products. Furthermore, a company that stands behind their products will offer excellent customer support and have a clear return policy. They should have a simple method on how to contact them via their website and they are able to answer any questions you have about their products, from sourcing and extraction methods to dosage recommendations.
Navigating the unregulated CBD market can be challenging, but if you keep these 5 criteria in mind when you shop, you can make informed decisions and select high-quality products that are safe and effective.
Remember, the more transparent a company is in sharing information about itself - the better, and when in doubt about the effectiveness of the products, check out the reviews!
