Are you looking to buy CBD products online? Perhaps you’ve spent a lot of time looking online for the best CBD suppliers and you have discovered variations in pricing and availability from numerous brands. Sometimes, these prices or quantities may even seem a bit suspicious. You may find yourself asking the question, “How can the same basic product be sold way cheaper by some companies?”
The answer to that question is multi-layered, and one rooted in both the quality of the product and the quality of the supplier. CBD products can be different in various ways, starting with how the CBD is extracted, sourced, and made into the final product.
To avoid making the mistake of purchasing low-quality CBD products, we have compiled a list of five steps that will help you find quality CBD suppliers online. These steps will help you figure out what separates a high-quality supplier from a dud, so we advise that you stick around and read ahead, as it may help you out a lot in your quest to find optimal CBD products. Let’s get started!
1. Avoid Fake CBD Products
CBD is still relatively new in the U.S. marketplace, but it has gained massive traction in recent years. Research has shown the multitude of medical health benefits offered by consuming the compound, and that has resulted in a substantial increase in those searching for high-quality CBD products. But as the number of people searching for CBD solutions has grown, so has the number of scammers who are trying to profit from this burgeoning market.
Unfortunately, many people fall victim to this practice, being that CBD is still quite new in the space. Many don’t have a solid understanding of the industry or the products produced, and some don’t even know where to start in terms of researching the viability and quality of a CBD company.
In light of this, many CBD sellers will try to give unknowing customers hemp seed oil and say that it is a genuine CBD product. While CBD is processed from hemp, hemp seed oil doesn’t have nearly as many therapeutic benefits as high-quality CBD oil does. Many of these “scams” take place on e-commerce platforms like eBay or Amazon.
2. Check the Hemp Growing Standards
Before buying a CBD product, it’s critical to know what the growing standards of the hemp plant are for the company you are looking to purchase from.
Where the hemp is grown, how it is grown, and how it is processed all play a major role in the quality of the CBD it produces. If the hemp is grown in a less-than-ideal environment, or the plant is exposed to dangerous pesticides or contaminants, those chemicals end up in the plant’s root system. CBD products are primarily derived from hemp, so if the plant contains chemicals like hydrocarbons, solvents, pesticides, etc, they will have a very negative impact on the quality of the CBD oil produced.
Ensure when you are researching CBD products you look closely at the standards and practices around the hemp cultivation itself. Take a look at the companies that are certifying the product, and make sure that there is transparency in where the hemp is sourced and cultivated.
3. Find Out About the Extraction Process
The extraction process is also incredibly important in terms of the quality of CBD oil produced.
Here’s a simple way to think about the extraction process for CBD oil; pressure is applied to the farmed hemp, which causes the trichomes to open up and results in the oils bursting out of the plant. These oils are packaged in bottles and sold to thousands of customers daily who are looking for CBD products.
But what separates a high-quality manufacturer from the others is the way in which they apply this “pressure.” Heat is often the core component of the pressure process, and in many instances, butane is used to extract the oil from the plant. When butane merges with the cannabinoids in hemp, it creates a chemical reaction that destroys a substantial amount of cannabinoids, which can drastically reduce the quality of the CBD.
Professionals and experts agree that the best and the safest way to extract CBD oil — while still maintaining purity and quality — is by using supercritical CO2. This is a natural process that maintains 100% of the cannabinoids and terpenes in the CBD oil. If you find a manufacturer that uses this process, it’s an indication of the quality of both the product and the company itself. Suppliers who fail to disclose their extraction information should be avoided.
4. Seek Companies with Third-Party Lab Test Results
One of the best ways to find out if your CBD product is safe and free of any possible contamination is to have it tested by a third party. And that doesn’t mean that you should test it yourself, but rather the company you purchase from has their products tested by third parties. Your health is the most valuable thing in the world, so nobody wants to put themselves at risk by taking contaminated, low-quality CBD products.
If you see a third-party test result listed on a company’s website, this is a great first impression and a solid indication that the supplier is of quality. Take your time to research both the brand and the third-party company that tests and certifies the product. You should be wary of companies that do not have third-party test results for their products, or if they don’t have any lab results, for that matter.
Brands like CaniBrands are fully transparent in their test results and process. Our products are tested by one of the industry’s leading labs for quality, potency and purity. You can view detailed lab results for all of our products by looking at the lab results tab on product details.
5. Buy from Manufacturers that Stand Behind Their CBD Products
It almost goes without saying that a manufacturer that provides quality CBD products should stand behind them. It’s that simple. Transparency in processing and cultivation, third-party testing, and lab-certified results are key indicators of a company that is both trustworthy and produces a high-quality product.
Final Considerations
There are countless CBD companies in the market now, but that doesn’t mean that all of them produce quality CBD oil and CBD products. It’s important to keep these tips in mind when looking for well-qualified companies that produce CBD. Not all CBD is created equal, and with that in mind, make sure you take the time to perform your due diligence when selecting the products that are best suited for your needs and desired results.