How to Determine the Quality of Your CBD Product?

 Most corner stores or smoke shops have many CBD products to choose from. So, the desire for more information about CBD itself is only natural. Your top priority when buying CBD products must be to determine the quality. 


Before giving you the steps to determine the quality, let us get into the basics!


What Is CBD?


To begin, the cannabinoid, also known as CBD, is a compound found in the cannabis plant. According to an article posted by Healthline, “The more well-known cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is also found in the cannabis plant” (Chesak, 2019, “CBD vs. THC” Section, para 1). 


However, CBD and THC two completely different compounds. Jennifer Chesak explains, “THC is psychoactive and is associated with the “high” from marijuana use, but CBD doesn’t cause that sensation” (2019, “CBD vs. THC” Section, para 2). 


Additionally, CBD comes from either the hemp plant or the marijuana plant (Chesak, 2019). But what is the difference between the two plants? Chesak describes “that hemp plants have no more than 0.3 percent THC, and marijuana plants have higher levels of THC” (2019, "Hemp vs. marijuana" Section, para 1). 


It is best to know what CBD is first to determine the quality of your product. The second step is by reading and analyzing the ingredients label.


How to Read the Ingredients Label?


The most vital part of reading the ingredients label is by making sure it is pure CBD. 


Chesak states, “don’t be fooled by products that have no mention of cannabidiol or hemp extract and only list hemp seeds, hempseed oil, or Cannabis sativa seed oil. These ingredients aren’t the same as CBD” (2019, “How to Know What You’re Getting or If You’re Wasting Your Cash” Section, para 2).


Other important ingredients to recognize while reading your label are “grapeseed oil, MCT oil, olive oil, or even cold-pressed hempseed oil” (Chesak, 2019, “How to Know What You’re Getting or If You’re Wasting Your Cash” Section, para 5). These ingredients are also known as a carrier oil, which helps "to stabilize and preserve the CBD and help your body absorb it" (Chesak, 2019, “How to Know What You’re Getting or If You’re Wasting Your Cash” Section, para 5). 


Lastly, when reading the label, be sure to check for the Cannabis Certificate of Analysis (COA).

The COA is a type of document that shows a third-party laboratory has tested the product. But what does this all mean? 


How Does Third-Party Testing Work?

As aforementioned, a COA is a document that outlines all the testing results of the cannabis product. States mandate all third-party tests to make sure all cannabis products are safe and clean. 


Papa & Barkley, a cannabis-based company, explains that they test for potency, heavy metals, pesticides, and more. The article states, “By using cannabis testing labs, we are able to be completely transparent about what is and isn’t in our products – i.e. no chemicals, solvents, isolates, or distillates ever!” (Sepahbodi & Hammer, para 6). 


To find the COA for your CBD product, you can scan the QR code with your smartphone or find the COA on the product's website.


Despite efforts to ensure safety and transparency, there is some misinformation without the COA. Some labels for CBD products can be inaccurate when it comes to potency. So, you must make sure your CBD products label is accurate. 


How to Make Sure the Label Is Accurate?


According to an article by Leafly, the authors explain, “The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is preparing to regulate CBD products, but until those rules are in place, CBD manufacturers are free to put whatever they want in their products” (Barcott et al., 2019, “Is the label accurate?” Section, para 1). 


Although this is an alarming fact, you must check the COA and the potency of the product. 


“One study revealed that only about 31 percent of products are accurately labeled. After analyzing 84 CBD products sold online, researchers found that with respect to CBD, about 43 percent have a higher concentration than stated, and about 26 percent have less than claimed” (Chesak, 2019, “Labeling Accuracy” Section, para 1). 


After verifying the potency, you must be mindful of the amount of CBD in milligrams. For example, if there are 30 CBD gummies in a package of 600mg, each gummy will be 20mg. 


Overall, gaining more knowledge about CBD, third-party testing, and reading labels will help you determine the quality. 

I hope my helpful tips will come in handy for future CBD purchases!




References

Barcott, B., Chant, I., & Downs, D. (2019, November 19). Are you getting the CBD you paid for? We put 47 products to the test. https://www.leafly.com/news/strains-products/cbd-oil-test-results

Chesak, J. (2019, September 23). CBD Terminology and Labeling: How to Find a Quality Product. https://www.healthline.com/health/reading-a-cbd-label

Sepahbodi, C., & Hammer, L. (n.d.). Transparency, Triple-Tested & How to Read a Cannabis Certificate of Analysis (COA). In Papa & Barkley. Retrieved from https://papaandbarkley.com/learn/how-to-read-a-cannabis-testing-coa/

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