If you are new to CBD or a first time buyer there are a few things to take into consideration. Perhaps you have tested a CBD product before but didn’t find it to be suitable for you.
With such a rapidly growing industry and so many CBD products in the marketplace, understandably it may be difficult to know which product is right for you.
As lifestyles evolve and online shopping becomes more and more popular, it is important to know what you are looking for when purchasing a CBD product online. This is aimed to create a guideline of what to look out for when online purchasing.
Here’s 9 tips for buying CBD Oil.
1. Know the deal with THC
THC, being CBD’s chemical compound acts as it’s psychoactive property which is what can alter your state of mind, or make you ‘feel high’- hence why there are so many legalities surround products containing THC.
Often when purchasing a typical CBD product, it may still contain small percentages of THC without you being aware.
If you do start to feel strange after trying a CBD product, there is a chance it may contain more than the stipulated or legal amount of THC.
2. What form of CBD is being used? – Know your CBD product
What many people are unaware of is that there are different forms of CBD, with some being stronger than others, as well as containing higher percentages of THC and different side effects.
CBD Isolate
This is CBD in its purest form making it the strongest type of CBD.
“When extracted, it looks like a crystallised white powder and it contains no terpenes, flavonoids or additional compounds found in the Cannabis Sativa L plant”.
CBD Isolate contains 0% THC so it’s also the safest option to guarantee this.
Full-spectrum CBD
When purchasing CBD products, this is the one to be most cautious of. When the CBD oil or capsule etc is extracted to make a Full spectrum CBD, “it still contains all of the natural compounds found in the Cannabis plant which includes terpenes, flavonoids and other cannabinoids such as THC”.
What this means is that your CBD products may have traces of THC, and sometimes more than the stipulated amount.
It is imperative to ensure manufacturer can prove with a legal report that they do not exceed the maximum legal or stipulated THC content.
Broad-spectrum CBD
This is your middle ground, if you haven’t benefited or can’t find a CBD isolate but are too wary to try an isolate or a Full spectrum- this is your best bet.
When extracted, it may still contain beneficial compounds including cannabinoids and terpenes, however all of the THC is removed to produce a Broad spectrum CBD oil.
3. CBD Oil dosage – what to know
When trying to determine how much oil you need, firstly you will want to check the mg content labelled on the bottle or packaging. This will indicate the total amount of CBD in the product, eg. 600mg CBD oil.
Secondly check for the total ml of the product or bottle, eg. 40ml
The calculation to determine how much CBD is in each dosage it is quite simple:
Mg of CBD / ml of product= CBD oil per day ( you can split this over the course of the day).
600mg / 40ml = 15mg of CBD per day
“There are definitely some factors that you should consider and remember when it comes to our tips for buying CBD Oil. Each person is made with a different set of makeup, genetics and build. The following factors will impact how much CBD oil you require:
- Weight
- Height
- Metabolism
- Tolerance levels”
4. Lab testing information – be informed
If you are purchasing from a reputable manufacturer, their products should have a Certificate of Analysis(COA) which is obtained from a third-party.
These lab results should include the tested content of the CBD present, as well as any other cannabinoids that may be present, including THC.
This should be easily attainable on a company’s website- especially if referring to a purely online based store.
Without this legitimised Certificate, it is very difficult to know whether that product does in fact contain the ingredients and CBD content advertised.
5. Always read your CBD Oil label
It is so common for customers to not read the label or product insert when purchasing a product.
CBD product labels would specify all necessary information, including ingredients, dosages and a manufacturing address.
If you suffer from any allergies, it is vital you check the list of product ingredients before consuming or using topically.
6. Find out how the CBD was extracted
This is important in terms of legality, some countries restrict the methods which are used to extract CBD.
“Different manufacturers use different methods which can range from CO2 extraction (ensuring the purest form of CBD extraction) to Steam Distillation and Natural Solvent Extraction.”
7. Ask yourself what is the purpose of using the CBD?
Your purpose untimely will impact the type of CBD product you are looking for, which is why it is important to know that CBD is available in many forms.
For example, if you are suffering from acne, it would be preferable to get a CBD topical cream as apposed to ingesting it.
CBD products can be manufactured into an oil, capsule, tinctures, vapes, beauty and skincare products.
8. Check the reviews
Reviews can reveal a lot and provide an honest opinion about specific products or brands.
Have a look through a brand’s social media pages, or alternatively a google search usually has a lot of answers.
9. Don’t forget to check up on CBD law legalities dependant to the country you are in
Legalities surrounding CBD differ in different countries so it is always good to do a quick search into what the law is in your country.
For example, South Africa allows a THC content of 0.3% whereas Switzerland is allowed a THC content of 0.1%.
You always want to ensure when purchasing CBD products that all legal rules have been followed.