It’s clear that CBD has gone main-stream when you find out that Martha Stewart is offering a full line of CBD based products. CBD’s powerful healing potential has anyone and everyone wanting to cash in, making it more and more tricky to pick CBD product.
To get the best outcomes from your CBD, you have to take a high quality product. Otherwise, you may be wasting your money, at best, and poisoning yourself, at worst. Here are some questions you should ask when buying a CBD product:
Where is the hemp cultivated?
According to the 2018 Farm Bill, only CBD from hemp grown in the United States and under the supervision of the USDA is legal. If the hemp is imported from China or India it’s not only illegal, it’s likely contaminated with heavy metals.
Also important to understand, hemp is useful in pulling pollution from the soil. It has been used in the United States for this specific purpose in the past. Which means you want to ensure that the hemp is grown in clean soil with no pesticides or herbicides.
Is the CBD extracted from industrial hemp or marijuana?
You will want to know the answer to this question for both legality and health concerns. According to the 2018 Farm Bill, industrial/agricultural hemp is legal while marijuana is not. Marijuana provides higher levels of THC which is a concern for people attracted to the non-psychoactive nature of CBD.
How was the CBD manufactured?
Look for certified Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). Otherwise it could be made in someone’s garage (yes, this is happening).
What type of extraction method was used?
Butane is not ideal for its toxicity, dangers of use, and difficulty in re-moving it from the end product. Supercritical CO2 is relatively clean but does not create a full-spectrum product. Ethanol is ideal as it maintains the integrity of the 500+ phytonutrients in hemp.
Is it full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or CBD isolate?
Full-spectrum means not only a blend of cannabinoids (CBD, CBG, CBDV, CBC, THC) and terpenes but also an array of other beneficial nutrients from hemp, like amino acids and polyphenols.
Has the CBD been third-party laboratory tested?
To be completely sure that you are getting an authentic, high quality CBD product, it is crucial the product is tested by a third-party lab that has no vested interest in the CBD company. The test will show cannabinoid and terpene levels as well as contaminants like metals, pesticides, residual solvents, and microbials. Watch out for synthetic cannabinoids which have been linked to permanent health problems. Test results are published in a Certificate of Analysis that should be available on the company’s website.
Does the CBD have a batch number or QR code?
A reputable company will include this information to allow you to search for the Certificate of Analysis for the exact product you are purchasing.
Is the CBD dosage listed clearly on the label?
Clear and accurate labeling is necessary for accurate dosing.
Where are you buying it from?
Most stores have a vetting process for the products they sell which offers safety. Online can be trickier as anyone can make a website. And we definitely don’t recommend a gas station!
If you would like to learn more about choosing a CBD product or why you should be taking one in the first place, please join our free seminar this month (sign up by clicking here).
*These statements are culmination of the knowledge and experience of the team at Norland Pharmacy. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. Please consult your healthcare provider with questions concerning any medical condition or treatment. Compounded medications are not reviewed by the FDA for safety or efficacy. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and this product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Comments