The busy CBD industry has been growing in popularity for quite some time now, and it is only expected to continue to do so in the future. While the fact that it’s not slowing down is certainly good news for all the CBD enthusiasts out there, it can also lead to the appearance of cheap and often low-quality products that may be hard to spot among the crowd of all the different CBD companies.
People who don’t have that much knowledge about cannabidiol might find it problematic to determine whether a certain product is worth the money or if they should just pass on it. If you, too, are starting to feel quite confused by the abundance of available options but want to spend your hard-earned money on high-quality CBD products, this article is for you.
Below, you will find a few useful and proven tips for choosing the best CBD products and learn about the factors you should pay attention to. When you’re finished, you’ll always check whether there are third-party testing reports or any additives in the final product and what’s the extraction method for a particular product. Let’s get started.
Are There Third-Party Testing Reports?
Before you commit to purchasing 300 mg of delicious CBD gummies, a 50 ml bottle of CBD oil, or a whole case of CBD-infused drinks, you should do your own research and check whether the particular product you’re interested in comes with third-party lab testing results. They should include:
- information whether it contains any additives,
- certificate of analysis from a lab that details the exact tests that have been performed on the product,
- results and data generated in the course of testing,
- a statement that they contain a certain amount of CBD by volume.
Additionally, the reports should include information about where the product was sourced from (hemp or marijuana) and if it’s full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate. Third-party lab reports are essential because extracting CBD is a complex process, and the quality of the finished product can vary from company to company.
If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of certain company lab reports, you can feel free to check their authenticity yourself. This might require some detective skills and determination, but you can, for instance, call the lab that tested the product and provide them a “Certificate ID” that’s provided on the Certificate of Analysis. They can use it to verify and inform you if the particular lab report is authentic.
What Is the Extraction Method?
There are several different methods by which CBD oil can be extracted. They include but are not limited to CO2 extraction, solvent extraction, steam distillation, and cold pressure extraction.
CO2 Extraction
CO2 extraction is one of the most effective and safe methods of extracting CBD oil, but at the same time, it’s also the most expensive one. It’s used to extract a full-spectrum CBD oil from the hemp or cannabis plant.
It uses pressurized carbon dioxide to “pull” naturally occurring phytocompounds that include cannabinoids and terpenes from raw plant material. Once you have everything in place, CO2 extraction is pretty quick, however, its major disadvantage is the higher costs associated with the equipment needed.
Solvent Extraction
Solvent extraction, on the other hand, is a cheaper and faster alternative. It uses solvents such as butane, alcohol, or propane to strip away the cannabinoids and flavor from the plant material. The opponents of this method often mention that it can be harmful to health as it also extracts chlorophyll, the natural compound present in green plants that gives them their color. This may lead to some side effects.
Steam Distillation
Steam distillation is yet another low-cost alternative, but it’s quite time-consuming and can take 6 hours at least to complete the extraction process. On top of that, there’s no 100% guarantee that the finished product will be up to standards. Steam distillation is less effective for extracting specific CBD concentrations and requires the use of a greater amount of plant material than the other methods.
Cold Pressure Extraction
Cold pressure extraction involves pressing or crushing the plant matter from the whole hemp plant in order to extract raw hemp or CBD oil. It’s a relatively new method that’s just gaining more popularity and can prove to be a good option if you want your CBD extract to come from hemp flowers or cannabis leaves and stems. Though the method is the most environmentally friendly option, it’s not the most effective – it requires a lot of material to produce little oil.
What Does It Consist Of?
The growing conditions of the cannabis plant are incredibly important. There can be a significant difference between the plants that were grown in the wild and those that grew in a controlled environment. Simply put, they are bound to have different chemical compositions.
For instance, cannabinol (CBN) forms when THC degrades due to heat, air, or light exposure. This means that its levels will vary depending on how exposed a particular plant was to these factors. On the other hand, cannabis that’s been cured (the process that takes place after drying) will have improved taste and smell, influencing the quality of your smoke.
If you’re interested in the potential health benefits of the entourage effect, full-spectrum CBD may be the best choice for you. People who are sensitive to THC instead reach for broad-spectrum CBD, and those who prefer to avoid THC altogether should opt for CBD isolate.
In Conclusion
There you have it – some of the most important things you should remember when trying to choose high-quality CBD products and spend your money wisely. The CBD industry is still growing and will likely continue to do so in the future, so the more you know about different nuisances, the better. This will help you to find the most trustworthy manufacturers whose products won’t disappoint you.
That said, always ensure that your product comes with third-party testing, is extracted using CO2 or cold pressure extraction, and doesn’t include any unnecessary additives or contaminants.
