The Ultimate CBD Buyers Guide That Will Save You Money

 

This is the ultimate CBD buyer’s guide that will actually save you money when buying CBD in the US. The aim of this article is not to help you find some low quality CBD oil that sells for cheap. If anything this article is about showing you how to avoid snake oil seller’s purporting to be CBD oil vendors at all costs. In addition, this article shows you how to get good value for your money when buying CBD oil. At the end of the day it boils down to getting the right product of the highest quality at the best possible price. If that’s what you are looking for then you are in the right place.

What is CBD Oil?

Before you buy CBD it is good to be sure that you understand what CBD oil is. CBD is actually cannabidiol in full; this is one of the many bioactive compounds that are found in cannabis.

Because CBD is derived from marijuana many people assume that CBD has psychoactive properties. This cannot be farther away from the truth. The compound that causes the typical “marijuana high” is known as THC. CBD, on the other hand is non-intoxicating. Therefore consuming any amount of CBD will not alter your mental status.

Bioactive compounds in cannabis such as CBD have been a subject of interest in the medical field recently. Research has shown that cannabis-derived bioactive compounds have therapeutic potential and may be useful in the treatment of various conditions. These compounds interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system which regulates many functions in the body. Through this interaction CBD, and other similar compounds, are able to promote healing.

Is CBD Oil Legal in the US?

There are two kinds of CBD oil; cannabis derived and hemp-derived. As much as hemp and cannabis are the same plant species they vary in the amount of THC that each contains. Legal hemp strains in the US contain less than 0.3% THC. Cannabis strains on the other hand can have as much as 30% THC. This means that while hemp derived CBD lacks psychoactive properties, cannabis derived may have some amount of THC making it psychoactive.

Hemp derived CBD oil is legal throughout the US. This is because hemp was legalized at a federal level by the Agricultural Act of 2018. The same does not apply for cannabis.

If you live in a state that has not legalized cannabis you are better off purchasing hemp derived CBD oil than cannabis-derived CBD oil.  This just means going the extra mile to find out the source of the CBD oil to confirm that it is indeed legal in your domicile jurisdiction.

With this out of the way here are five key things to consider when buying CBD oil in the US.

1.   Where is the hemp sourced from?
2.   How was the CBD extracted?
3.   What is the concentration of CBD in the CBD oil?
4.   Is the CBD vendor reputable?
5.   What are your individual preferences?
6.   A final note

1.   Where is the hemp sourced from?

Before buying any CBD oil, find out the origin of the hemp that was used to produce the CBD. Hemp grown in the US has to meet a certain threshold for quality. Also, it has to contain less than 0.3% THC.

Hemp absorbs chemicals from the soil and these chemicals will show up in the final product which is your CBD oil. When buying CBD oil you do not want to be introducing toxic substances into your body. Therefore it is critical to ensure that your CBD oil is sourced from farms that adhere strictly to organic farming practices. This may mean going for UK or US sourced hemp where you can be sure that growing practices are regulated and standards are adhered to.

Where can you find this information?

Just go to the website of the vendor and trace back the CBD to its original source. If this information is not readily available, email the company and ask for it. Find out whether organic practices were adhered to during growing and if the THC amount was checked after harvest.

2.  How was the CBD extracted?

If you have a keen eye you may be able to pick out CBD oil that has impurities such as chlorophyll. Pure CBD oil is viscous and amber colored while impure CBD oil is pale colored with a bitter and grassy flavor.

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction is the preferred method for CBD extraction on an industrial scale. This method involves using pressurized carbon dioxide in a liquid phase to extract CBD from the plant material. It preserves CBD and terpenes and ensures that no impurities are left in the CBD oil. Should any carbon dioxide remain the CBD oil it will be non-toxic.

Other high-quality methods that can be used on a commercial scale include Alchemy and Spagyric methods. Both these methods are holistic and ensure that all the compounds remain in their original ratios.

3. What is the concentration of CBD in the CBD oil?

When buying CBD oil, it may be tempting to go for a large bottle that sells for less. Marketers got you on this one because CBD concentration has little to do with volume. CBD concentration is the amount of CBD in a given volume of CBD oil.

For example, a CBD vendor may sell 100mg of CBD and 500mg of CBD in a 50mL bottle. In the first case, each mL of the CBD oil will have 2mg of CBD while in the latter case each mL will have 10mg of CBD.

What you should be paying for is the concentration of CBD. This is where you get the real value for your money.

4.   Is the CBD Vendor Reputable?

When buying CBD oil you should do everything possible to avoid dealing with shoddy vendors. Black market CBD is likely to be contaminated with compounds that can jeopardize your health. Here are a few tell-tale signs that can alert you that a particular CBD seller is disreputable.

Certificate of Analysis (COA) not displayed on website and not available on request

Every CBD product (batch) must be tested by an independent third party lab to ensure that it is free from impurities and contaminants. The COA also shows the amount of THC (if any) as well as the CBD potency. The third party results should be displayed on the website or be produced upon request. If this is not available you have every reason to be concerned.

Lack of GMP Facility

Find out whether the CBD was manufactured in an A GMP approved facility that has been approved by regulatory bodies in the region.  You can get this information by inquiring directly from the company if it is not readily available on the website.

Customer Reviews

Find out what other customers are saying about the CBD vendor. This includes both the quality of the product as well as the customer service.

Go the extra mile to find out if the CBD vendor is registered and if they have a physical location. Their website also tells a lot about the authenticity of the company. Do not hesitate to pick up your phone and dial up the company to make enquiries. How soon they respond to customer enquiries is a tell-tale sign of their legitimacy.

5.   Your unique preferences

Once you are clear about the company and the quality of product that they have to offer, consider your unique preferences. CBD oil is not created equal, just like everyone has a unique endocannabinoid system.

Full spectrum CBD oil will offer full entourage effects. This means that the therapeutic benefits will be significantly increased.

CBD oil also comes in different tastes. The original taste is herbal and musky, this does not appeal to many people. You can get CBD oil that has different natural flavors such as mint, vanilla, berry, and citrus among others.

CBD oil can be in the form of tinctures or capsules and gels. Ask yourself which consumption method suits your lifestyle.

Lastly, consider your convenience when purchasing CBD oil. Find out whether the CBD oil vendor ships to your location and how long it takes. What payment methods are available and what does the cancellation policy look like?

A Final Note

Where does price come in?

After you have done everything possible to ensure that you have the best quality CBD oil, you can now compare prices offered by the best vendors in your list. This is where price counts; when you can compare apples for apples.

It is important to mention that cheap is not always better. You should be wary of unusually discounted products that sell for way less than the industry average. It is highly unlikely that a CBD vendor will sell a product at a loss, unless they cut corners when producing the CBD oil.

High-quality CBD oil is not cheap, but is worth every penny once you find the right product. We hope that this ultimate CBD buyer’s guide will help you make the most of your next CBD purchase and even save you some money.