How To Avoid Common Mistakes When Buying CBD

CBD oil can be made from either hemp or marijuana, both of which are Cannabis plants.  Cannabis contains a variety of different compounds called Cannabinoids, the most dominant and well known are CBD and THC.

Hemp-based CBD oils are the ones that you’ll see for sale online and in grocery stores and contains a very high concentration of CBD, and a very low concentration of THC (0.3% or less). Marijuana also contains CBD but is abundant in THC (15 % - 40%) and can give a ‘head-high’ which is why marijuana-based CBD oils are only available in legal cannabis dispensaries. 

When looking at a CBD product it is important that it states the mg (milligram) on the label. This is an indication of how much CBD is in the full container. 

An example: 1500mg – 30ml bottle (1500mg = 50mg CBD per 1 ml). It is common to see multiple options such as 500mg / 1500mg – both in 30ml (2oz) bottle

When using this product it is safe to assume that 1 drop of the 1500mg is equal to 3 drops of the 500mg. 

It is also possible to see 500mg / 1500mg – both in a 15ml (1oz) bottle (1500mg = 100mg CBD per 1 ml) - In this case we know that there is more CBD per ml.

The average dosage when using CBD is 20mg – 50mg.   

One drop is approximately 0.05 ml resulting in 20 drops per ml.

• 1500mg 30ml – 20 drops = 50mg  500mg 30ml – 60 drops = 50mg  
• 1500mg 15ml – 10 drops = 50mg  500mg 15ml – 30 drops = 50mg

Therefore, it is not always best to buy according to container size, but rather with a comparison of CBD content per product or what MG is published on the label.

One of the biggest things separating high and low-quality CBD oil is the extraction method. Ensuring you know about the most common (and efficient) extraction methods can save you so much money — and trouble!

During your brand research you should always look out for the extraction method that was used to make the CBD oil. This gives will give you the biggest indicator of the manufacturer’s quality and ethics. 

Listed below are some of the most common extraction methods that are currently being used (though pretty much all top brands use CO2 extraction):

• CO2 extraction - By far the best method out there, this is an expensive but surefire way of producing pure, potent, safe CBD oil - this is what SkyNaturals uses. You can read more about it here.
• Olive Oil extraction method - This is less technical than CO2 extraction and more of a DIY technique that can be done at home. It is a safe method, but it costs little and delivers lower yields
• Dry Ice extraction - This is a popular method as it is easy, clean, and produces a decent yield. However, you are likely to only produce low-quality CBD oil
• Solvent-based extraction - Potentially harmful and dangerous, this method uses harsh chemicals like hexane and butane (lighter fluid) to extract the CBD

Any reputable manufacturer will not only clearly state their production methods, but they will also display their lab testing results. Displaying test results is an incredibly important thing for any manufacturer, as it is usually a clear indication of a genuinely well-made product.

If you’ve ever felt worse after taking a CBD product, it could be due to the presence of some toxic ingredients in it. This, in turn, results from a poorly sourced hemp used to produce your CBD oil.

One of the most common mistakes CBD newbies make is not paying attention to where their hemp comes from. This is the most important information, as hemp is rather loosely regulated in most countries. Harmful chemicals can show up in the plant material and oil if grown in polluted soils. Lead, cadmium, and arsenic are all problematic heavy metals that can accumulate in the cannabis plant. This is particularly important given the fact that hemp farmers in certain countries use hazardous pesticides to cultivate their plants — often containing toxic compounds and heavy metal contaminants.

You should always make sure that the company you are buying CBD products from sources its hemp from North America or Western Europe (especially in Dutch and Scandinavian regions). The most common source for hemp in the US today is Colorado.   

It’s very important to avoid hemp grown in China and other areas of Asia, where the use of pesticides is widely practiced, and soils are notoriously contaminated with things like lead and arsenic.

If the company doesn’t list the hemp’s country of origin on their products, check its website for details. If you can’t find it there, you can contact the company yourself through their customer service.

Originally found on: https://thehealingfactory.org/