Fortunately, it only takes a little bit of research to find a credible CBD brand that provides the product you need with the transparency you deserve. Read this article to learn 4 things to consider when buying CBD oil.
CBD oil is exploding in popularity as the powerful benefits of cannabidiol become a bigger part of our mainstream health conversation. When it comes to choosing a CBD oil, a quick glance at the many available options can get overwhelming. In an industry that’s still in its infancy, it’s easy for dubious potency and purity claims to make their way to product labels with no transparency to back it up.
The Plant Source
When it comes to CBD oil, there is only one force that has any control over the level of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids – the plant itself. For this reason, the most important choice any CBD oil company can make involves the sourcing and care of their plants. Unfortunately, many manufacturers take advantage of the minimal regulations and do not disclose that they’re importing cheap plants from growers focusing on quantity over quality.
Look for a manufacturer that grows their own organic hemp plants using seeds containing 10% or higher levels of CBD and, if you prefer no psychoactive effects, a THC level of 0.3% or lower. This ensures they’re at least selecting plants that are CBD dominant rather than simply extracting whatever cannabinoids happen to be present in a given plant.
Extraction Method
As important as it is to make sure your CBD oil is actually made with CBD-rich strains of cannabis, the extraction method used to pull these compounds from the plant material is (almost) as important. There are several solvents that can be used to do this including ethanol, propane, hexane, butane, and CO2.
These methods are all generally regarded as safe by the FDA, and chances are we’ve all consumed a product created using one or more of these methods. However, ethanol, propane, hexane, and butane all require introducing foreign substances to the plant, which can either leave residual solvents behind in the finished product or cause damage to the plant waxes, thus affecting the quality and purity.
Supercritical CO2 extraction is the only method that gasses off entirely without requiring harsh chemicals or temperature changes. It’s widely regarded as the safest, most eco-friendly way to extract delicate cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Read more about this process on our production page (link to production page).
Purity and Potency Testing
It probably comes as no surprise that if CBD products are being made with plants of an unknown source, this may also mean there are questionable amounts of CBD and other cannabinoids in the product. The Food and Drug Administration confirmed suspicions of questionable claims in 2015 when they conducted a test on various CBD products and found that several contained no traces of CBD at all.
Every company should be testing their plants and product to ensure they contain the necessary amounts of cannabinoids. We regularly test our plants to ensure they’re the right fit for our products, and our oils typically contain 70-80% pure cannabinoids.
Greenwashing
Greenwashing is a common problem with many products claiming to be “all natural” or “eco-friendly.” Businesses will slap these terms on a label as part of a marketing gimmick, which hurts both the consumer and the industry as a whole. Unsurprisingly, it’s no different in the cannabis industry, where a picture of some plants and a green label give the impression that they’re doing the harvesting themselves. This is a serious disservice for consumers who are new to CBD and unfamiliar with the many available products. Prioritize transparency in your search and don’t be afraid to ask questions about plant sources, extraction methods, and testing.
As you can see, a quality CBD oil manufacturer has the means to provide customers with a roadmap that outlines the whole manufacturing process, from seed selection to oil extraction. It is similar to mushroom cultivation and processing. With a little research and knowledge of what makes a quality product, it’s easy to dig through the trenches and find an oil that will work for you.
