CBD oil can help alleviate stress while helping you sleep better, improve your joint health and even ease pain and inflammation. Because it’s non-psychoactive, CBD helps you get the relief you need without interrupting your daily routine.
But before you run out and find the first bottle of CBD you can find, it’s important to educate yourself. Not all oils are created equal.
1. Quality and Source of the Hemp
The quality and the source of the hemp is crucial. Hemp is considered a bioaccumulator, which means it can absorb both the good and bad from water, air and soil. For this reason, many people recommend only purchasing oil made from organically-grown hemp.
Otherwise, the hemp may absorb heavy metals, herbicides and pesticides that will make their way into the CBD oil.
Ideally, the hemp will be organically grown in the United States from a transparent seller. Research the company’s product methods. The pharmaceutical-grade ethanol production method will remove more toxins while yielding the highest concentration of cannabinoids.
2. The Concentration of CBD
How much CBD is actually in the oil? Some companies will dilute, or “water down,” their oil to boost their bottom line while making consumers think they’re getting more CBD for less.
Find out the concentration of CBD in the product to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.
Concentrations can vary wildly, but generally a high-quality CBD oil will have something between 250mg and 1,000mg per fluid ounce. Even 250mg is on the low side.
3. The Concentration of THC
Some CBD oils will contain trace amounts of THC. For some, this may not be a big deal. But if you’re routinely drug tested at work, even small amounts of THC in your system could put your job in jeopardy.
To be considered a legal hemp product, the THC levels must be less than 0.03%. If levels are higher than this, then you also have to worry about legal issues.
If you need to keep it to the bare minimum, make sure that you choose a product that is certified to have low or zero levels of THC. When oils have no or very low levels of THC, you never have to worry about mind-altering effects. So make sure you are buying the product from a renowned brand who gets their products analyzed by a certified hemp testing laboratory.
4. Third-Party Test Results
The proof is always in the pudding, so they say. Companies can say that their products are pure, but you’ll have to take their word for it unless they can prove it. Even products that claim to use organically grown hemp can contain other contaminants that may harm your health or reduce the potency of the product.
Look for companies that have their product tested by an independent, third-party company and display those results on their website.
The CBD product should be free of residual solvents, pesticides, foreign matter, fungus and bacteria, and heavy metals.
If a company doesn’t do third-party testing or produce the results of those tests, then you may want to look elsewhere for your oil. Tests will ensure that you get what you pay for.