​What to Look for When Buying CBD Products

What to Look for When Buying CBD Products

CBD products have exploded in popularity over the last few years to the point where they're sold in nearly every corner store. There are many brands of products that range widely in price. How do you begin to choose the right product when so many of them look the same? Do more expensive products indicate a higher quality? This guide discusses different product attributes and what to look for in a good quality product.

Ingredients

Different types of CBD products have different ingredient lists; for example, oils and lotions. CBD products also come in the form of edibles and vape oils. In any form, you want to be sure that it says "derived from hemp" or "hemp extract", as this is the factor that actually makes it a CBD product. Both hemp and CBD are legally defined by the trace amount of THC they contain, which must be 0.3% or less to classify. A product with an amount over this level is legally considered marijuana.

Another sign of a good quality product is one with all organic ingredients. Hemp is an incredible absorber of toxic materials, also known as a hyperaccumulator. This makes buying organic products even more important so you know you're not consuming any toxic byproducts.

Check the ingredients of any product you're considering purchasing and research each one if you're unsure of what it is. If you're looking for a vape oil, make sure it's not cut with vitamin E acetate, which is toxic to inhale. Skip over any products that lack an ingredients list and look for one that's more transparent.

Lab tests

The product you buy should state either on the bottle or on the brand's website if it has been lab tested. You should only buy tested products, because they ensure the ingredients are unadulterated and non-toxic. Make sure the product has been tested by an independent third party lab, not by the brand of the product. The certificate of analysis should be recent, preferably published within the last year, to ensure accuracy. It will state the percentage of CBD in the product, as well as the percentages of several other cannabinoids, which should be very minimal to zero.

Extraction method

There are several ways to extract CBD from hemp. Some of these methods are toxic and should be avoided. Just like with ingredients and lab tests, the extraction method should be readily apparent. Skip over a product that doesn't state it. The best way to extract CBD is through the CO2 method, of which there are three levels: sub-critical, mid-critical, and supercritical. Supercritical is the most intensive method that yields the highest quality product. CO2 extraction involves using pressurized CO2, and produces no toxic byproducts. Using food-grade alcohol such as ethanol is another safe way to extract CBD. Extraction methods to be avoided include ones using butane, hexane, propane, or any solvent other than alcohol.

Price

Price matters to some extent. The lowest priced products on the market are likely not of the best quality or may not be organic. However, that doesn't mean the most expensive products are of the absolute highest quality either. Usually a mid-range priced product works fine. To be sure you're getting the most value for your money, compare the percentage of CBD to the weight of the product and figure out the price per unit is, which is usually in milliliters. This will determine the potency of the product and how many uses you'll get out of it.

If the ingredients list, lab test results, and extraction methods are missing or untraceable for the selected product, choose a different one. This will ensure you are getting the purest, highest quality product and that you're not consuming anything toxic. Don't be scammed by fake CBD and black market sellers.