CBD has exploded in popularity because over the last decade, an ever-increasing number of people have started using CBD oil for anxiety and rapid stress relief. Anyone who has decided to give CBD a try will have discovered this. Unfortunately, many people are put off trying CBD because of the perceived complexity involved in finding the right product. Some of this is unavoidable, but it’s ultimately a good thing. So let’s find out exactly how to identify top quality CBD products.
What is CBD?
Although the cannabis plant contains tens of active ingredients, only two have caught the attention of researchers – THC and CBD.
CBD stands for cannabidiol, the central cannabinoid found in cannabis and industrial hemp. Decades of research have concluded that, in a moderate dose, CBD can have numerous health benefits. (source)
Once you know what you are looking for and what the various factors are involved in determining the best quality of CBD products, you will appreciate the ability to discern the best quality products from the rest. Let’s take a look at the most critical factors involved in determining CBD quality.
How to Identify Top Quality CBD Products
Manufacturing
The way that the CBD is made will have an impact on the quality of the final product. There are two ways that CBD can be produced – synthetically in a laboratory by extracting and refining oil from the cannabis plant. It is usually the male cannabis plants – hemp – that is harvested for extracting CBD.
These two approaches can be further broken down into different types. The highest quality products will use a process called supercritical CO2 extraction. However, products produced from a simple ethanol extraction generally yield the highest amount of cannabinoids.
Before you order any CBD products, try and find out precisely what manufacturing process was used to produce the oil. Most vendors will make this information available on their websites, but if not, you can always just ask them. As well as approaching vendors, buying wholesale CBD oil is an option.
Source of Hemp
For CBD products that are made by extracting the oil directly from the hemp plant, the quality of the hemp matters a great deal. Plants that are grown for their alkaloid content will always yield varying concentrations from one specimen to the next. However, this isn’t the only factor to consider.
Hemp is what is known as a hyperaccumulator, meaning that it is prone to absorbing and holding onto minerals that it shares soil with. This means that hemp grown in an environment where there are high levels of heavy metals will also have a large number of those metals in its cells.
Again, before ordering any products, try and find out where they are sourced from. Most reputable CBD brands will be happy to tell you exactly where their hemp is sourced from. Look for products made with US-grown hemp if you want to be sure of the quality. Hemp grown in the US has to meet specific standards set by the state’s department for agriculture.
THC Content
If the CBD oil is produced from a hemp plant that is bred to contain lots of CBD, it should have minimal THC content. However, THC will always be present in some quantity, and if extracts are produced incorrectly, they can concentrate what little THC there is into a psychoactive dose. Many CBD oils are produced from the combined extracts from hundreds, even thousands, of different plants.
You should look for CBD oils that contain no more than 0.3% THC. Any more THC and you run the risk of testing positive on a drugs test for THC, which can have serious repercussions. A higher THC content also suggests ineffective extracting and refining and could indicate a low-quality product. Producers who are unable to separate out THC will be unlikely to remove other cannabinoids substantially more similar to CBD.
Now that you know what to look out for, you can approach CBD sellers with confidence. Ask them about their processes and the source of their hemp, and you can quickly work out who is offering the best products and best value for money.
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