In recent years, cannabidiol (CBD) has become much more popular for pain management thanks to increased research on its potential benefits. But before jumping into the world of CBD products, it’s important to approach your decision carefully, especially regarding the type of product and its potency. Here’s what you should consider when shopping for high-quality CBD.
Table of Contents
1. Know the Potential Risks
As beneficial as CBD may be, it’s still not a well-regulated product, which presents an issue for a few reasons:
- Inaccurate potency: It’s not unusual for CBD products to have more or less CBD than the label actually says, making dosing challenging.
- Potential contaminants: Cannabis plants absorb heavy metals from the soil, which may end up in the final CBD product without proper processing.
- Unknown ingredients: Again, without proper regulation and testing, CBD products could contain other ingredients not stated on the packaging.
Knowing the potential risks of purchasing low-quality products can help steer you in the right direction.
2. Know the Different Types
When you purchase CBD products, you’ll find three main types of CBD:
- Full-spectrum: This contains other parts of the cannabis plant, including THC, though not enough to cause psychoactive effects.
- Broad-spectrum: These have THC removed, but they can still contain other cannabinoids like CBN and CBG.
- CBD isolate: This is pure CBD without the terpenes or other cannabinoids. It’s usually lab-made.
Full-spectrum products won’t get you high, but they may contain enough THC to trigger a positive drug test.
3. Pick Reputable Shops
It’s always important to buy any medication, including CBD, from a reputable source. Don’t buy it at a gas station or a third-party retailer if you can help it; in most cases, the best quality products are sold at licensed dispensaries and pharmacies. That said, different states have different regulations for the kinds of CBD products that can be sold.
4. Third-Party Testing
The best CBD companies use third-party labs to test their products, supplying a certificate of analysis as proof of the results. A QR code on the package should lead to these results; never purchase any CBD product without third-party lab results, including the manufacturer name, active ingredients, inactive ingredients, lot and batch numbers, production date, and so on.
5. Talk With Your Doctor
Even though buying OTC CBD is easy, it’s still good to discuss it with your doctor or healthcare team. If you have certain health conditions or take certain medications, it may not be safe to take them. Moreover, different dosage forms can result in different effects, including both risks and benefits.
6. Know What to Avoid
In addition to avoiding CBD from general stores, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that CBD products cannot make health claims. The more dramatic a claim is, the more likely you should take it with a grain of salt. There isn’t enough medical research to support claims that it can cure any kind of disease.
When purchasing CBD products online, consider the above tips to help you find the right products for your specific needs.