5 Ways to Identify a Quality CBD Product
There is no doubt as to the popularity of CBD products right now. Having been marketed as a cure for almost any diseases that comes to mind, it is no wonder that even celebrities have drowned in the CBD wave and pulled their fans along.
As with any good thing, you will not fail to find counterfeits in the market made by people looking to make quick money. A single search for the term ‘cheap CBD products’ will give you so many options to choose from; but have you ever wondered if what you are buying is legit?
Evidence From Studies
According to tests of 47 popular CBD products done by Leafly and Confidence Analytics, one in every three CBD products has less than 80% of the CBD content they claim to have. Even more shocking, is that 11% of these products had 120% more CBD than promised. Worse, 11% of the products contained no CBD. How much have you trusted product labelling?
Fake CBD products have also caused near-death occurrences as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported a while ago.
How to Identify Genuine and Harmless CBD Products
Since laws on CBD are neither here nor there, the customer has to bear the responsibility of buying CBD products. The first thing you can do is to listen to your body and identify what works and what does not. But then, you do not have the luxury of trying out every product to identify what works.
Here is how to ensure that you buy legit and safe products every time;
Buy THC free CBD products from reputable brandsWhen you are looking for products that you can apply topically or ingest, always go for THC free products. For example, you can buy THC Free CBD Oil for cooking or to apply on your skin.
In case you didn’t know, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the component in cannabis that brings about psychotic effects. While the body tolerates the CBD (cannabidiol) component of cannabis very well, THC can cause various side effects such as memory loss, and increased heart rate, red eyes, dry mouth, problems in concentration, and slow reaction times.
CBD products should not have more than 0.3% of THC to be legal.
In the CBD world, you will come across term such as ‘full-spectrum’ and ‘broad-spectrum. Full-spectrum refers to products with less than 0.3% levels of THC while broad spectrum CBD products are those that contain no or negligible THC levels. If you come across a full-spectrum product that claims to have no THC, you should know automatically that it is fake.
However, these terms are still not standardized and only lab tests can identify how much THC levels are present.
- Research the manufacturing practices of the company
Beware of companies that fail to provide information about where they carry out their production and labelling. This should be information that a company should be proud of, unless they are not fully compliant with hygienic production standards.
Cannabis plants gotten from uncontrolled sources may be laden with harmful chemicals. Some of these harmful chemicals can happen during planting when chemicals are added to improve yields. Contamination can also happen in the production process where agents such as aflatoxins, heavy metals, and molds get into the CBD.
Most of these foreign substances can be easily detected in labs. You should, therefore, favor firms that apply strict testing standards before releasing products into the market.
- If you can find a company that grows its own hemp or uses local raw materials
A CBD production company could be doing its best to clean up its processes and produce healthy products, only to be let down by poor raw materials. Companies that manufacture CBD oil from their own farm-grown crops have more control of the quality of the crop which translates to the final product.
It is best to avoid companies using imported hemp because some of these are irresponsibly cultivated.
- The price is too good to be true
Sometimes, you can gauge how legit a product is by looking at the price. While you might be tempted to buy a product because of its price, chances are it could be fake.
One thing to look out for is broad spectrum products that claim to be clear. There is a high likelihood that such a product is fake because broad spectrum products have undergone the least processing and should have a darker color.
Final Words
Have you been buying fake or low quality CBD products? The first way to tell is how effective a product is. Is it delivering results as promised? What side effects are you experiencing?
If you do not see any results with your CBD product, it probably does not have any CBD in it. If you experience negative effects, it may be time to make a switch.
As a customer, stay woke. Check the product that you but very carefully to identify any inconsistencies. Take time to do a background research of the manufacturing practices of the selling company. Companies that are rigorous bout their testing process will likely stock legit and safe products.