Shopping Safe CBD: A Beginner’s Guide

As the CBD craze sweeps the world, products have begun popping up left and right. The CBD market is expected to multiply at least sevenfold by 2021, to $2.15 billion, up from $292 million in 2016, according to the Brightfield Group, a market research firm that specializes in cannabis. From petrol stations to strip malls to pop-up shops, CBD is everywhere. However, not every CBD product is a good product. Many CBD oils and other products are made quickly, with lower grade CBD and higher traces of THC or other dangerous chemicals. It’s important to make sure your CBD products are made of the highest grade of natural ingredients, so check out our following list of tips and suggestions to make sure you’re purchasing only the best of the best.

1.      Decide Why You Want to Use CBD, and in What Form

The first thing to consider is why you want to take CBD. Knowing your end goal will help you select which form will benefit you best. CBD has numerous possible health benefits and research proves it helps with everything from pain and anxiety to multiple sclerosis and opioid addiction. For very quick relief for situations such as muscle cramps or anxiety, inhaling CBD may be most effective, via either a vape pen (think e-cigarette) or cigarette-style. For effects within a few minutes, oil drops under the tongue may be useful. Topical lotions rubbed onto the skin can treat skin-related issues. On the other hand, CBD in food products is likely to take longer—30 minutes or more—to be absorbed into your system but can be effective for digestive or similar issues.

2.     For Products From Hemp, Find Where It Was Grown

Many CBD products sold online and in retail stores come from hemp, not marijuana. And the source of that hemp can be important. Hemp should come from farms with robust hemp programs, including spot-tests and avoiding pesticides. Products made with hemp grown overseas can be even more problematic, because they are not subject to any local or national testing. Manufacturers should follow the industry’s guidance for good manufacturing practices.

3.     Ask for Test Results

Always also ask to see a product’s COA or certificate of analysis. That document shows how a product performed on tests checking for CBD and THC levels, and the presence of contaminants. Though not all manufacturers take that step, many do, and those companies are likely to have the highest quality products available. That includes even some companies that use imported hemp, such as CV Sciences, which makes Plus CBD Oil from hemp grown in Holland. If an online manufacturer or a retail store doesn’t have the information or refuses to share it, avoid the product and the retailer.

 

Following these steps will help ensure that you are only using the highest, best quality products. Qualis-Est has been a market leader at the forefront of the CBD industry for many years, and our products are always top-notch and made from the highest grade CBD the UK offers.