Do you suffer ‘paralysis from analysis’ when it comes to the CBD market? If so, you are far from alone! There are probably thousands of brands in this rapidly growing industry. At present, only a handful of American states regulate the market. Regulation is also absent in most European nations and other places where CBD is popular.
This is because the cannabinoid is technically not legal in many locations. It is a rather bizarre situation given the amount of CBD sales! In any case, a lack of oversight makes the selection process challenging. It is too easy to get lured in by slick marketing with no substance.
Before you know it, you have spent hundreds of dollars on an inferior product. The lack of regulation hurts the industry. First-time users who try a subpar brand may assume that CBD itself is ineffective. They spread the word, and perhaps some of their friends decide not to follow suit and try cannabidiol.
That’s why it is necessary to guide people on their journey. The goal of this article is to help you find the best CBD oil. Let’s proceed!
Check out Lab Reports
The issues with lack of regulation have caused problems with improper labeling. This has plagued the industry for years. There were signs that certain brands have cleaned up their act. However, the FDA released findings from a 2019 report. The Administration checked over 200 products chosen at random. These included CBD oils, edibles, and drinks.
Overall, the researchers tested 147 of the products and found that almost half contained some THC. The highest concentration was 3.1mg of THC per serving, enough to cause intoxication in some people. It is also a large enough amount to potentially cause a drug test failure.
Disturbingly, 6% of the products contained no CBD at all! 18% contained less than 80% of the CBD indicated on the label. Interestingly, 37% contained over 120% of the CBD on the label.
The primary way to avoid buying low-quality products is to invest in brands that use third-party lab testing. The best CBD oil brands do this as standard. They also make it easy for you to locate the documentation. Some say they give out test results with products. However, logically, there is no reason to hide results when they can print them on the website!
Take Note of the Manufacturing Process
There is no standardized manufacturing process in the CBD industry. As such, brands use different options. Pay special attention to companies that offer CBD products at ludicrously low prices. Such organizations could use cheap extraction methods. These might include the use of solvents like butane, propane, and hexane.
Pharmaceutical-grade ethanol is better and provides a cleaner product. Ethanol removes toxins and residues from the hemp plant. However, it is highly likely that the end product will contain solvent residues. Reputable brands try their best, but it is tricky to leave no traces of solvent.
This is why most people consider CO2 supercritical extraction the best method. This process uses carbon dioxide under high pressure, along with extremely low temperatures. It is a complex and expensive method but produces the cleanest product. This is how to make the best CBD oil.
Check out the vendor’s website to learn more about production methods.
Where Does the Hemp Come from?
Some brands have famously used CBD-rich marijuana strains to create products. However, such items are only legal in states with MMJ programs. Otherwise, it would help if you only looked for CBD derived from hemp.
Unfortunately, the quality of hemp cultivated in the United States varies significantly. Hemp is a ‘hyperaccumulator.’ This means it absorbs anything in the ground where you cultivate it. If you grow it on fertile and clean soil, this will result in high-quality hemp in general.
However, growing hemp on land laden with heavy metals or toxins is problematic. The plant will absorb these harmful chemicals. It is cheaper to grow on poor standard land than on good soil. Once again, you need to check out lab reports to ensure that there are no toxins in the product.
Much of the best CBD oil comes from hemp grown in Kentucky or certain EU farms.
Brand Reputation
Be wary of any new brand that claims to sell the best CBD oil. The number of businesses that pop up keen to make a quick buck in the CBD industry is terrifying. Fortunately, it is often easy to uncover such brands.
Remember, their goal is to make a fast profit before disappearing. As such, you can expect to see a low-quality website with minimal information. It is often impossible to find any information about the brand’s origins or founders at all. Such websites stock only a handful of products with no lab reports.
In some cases, they hastily create a blog with either poorly written or ripped-off content. They also often make unverified medical claims regarding CBD.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a robust complaint process in place at present. Predictably, this is down to a lack of regulation! If you fall for a scam or are unsatisfied with the product/service, make your displeasure known to the company immediately. However, low-grade companies tend to make it very hard to get in touch! At this point, the best thing to do is alert others online to ensure no one else gets caught out.
Check customer reviews to learn more about brands. You will find the same brands mentioned in many industry publications.
Final Thoughts on How to Choose the Best CBD Oils
Simply put, the most sensible course of action is to rely on tried and trusted CBD brands. Such companies have hundreds, if not thousands, of customer reviews. They also provide third-party lab reports and usually use CO2 supercritical extraction. Furthermore, the hemp they use comes from respected hemp farms.
The top brands in the industry also don’t cut corners with web design or content. More importantly, they care about their customers and try to rectify issues as soon as possible. Need more help? Read about the best CBD oil brands on the market at present on WayofLeaf.
About the Author
Jeff Yauck is an entrepreneur who is also an expert in the CBD field. He has successfully established a few top brands in the CBD space, and is well known throughout the CBD industry for creating top quality products that work. He believes that there is still too much misinformation surrounding CBD and wants to set the record straight. This is why he spends much of his free time researching hemp and CBD and writing informative articles to help readers. Jeff contributes his knowledge throughout the industry and often appears as a guest writer on WayofLeaf.
