How to Avoid Fake CBD Oil in a Crowded Market
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Do you have any guesses as to what this mysterious white powder is?
Perhaps, Flour? Sugar? Salt? An illegal substance?
It's actually highly processed isolate cannabinoid powder, a lifeless powder that many companies use in their CBD tinctures, balms, lotions, and foods.
If you've bought a cheap CBD oil or purchased a hemp-based product from your local grocery store, odds are that you've come into contact with a fake CBD Oil, and even synthetic cannabinoids. Sure, it might work and get the trick done, but the truth is that you're likely running on fumes rather than premium fuel.
As purveyors of high-quality CBD goods, frankly, we're getting tired of seeing customers get tricked when it comes to CBD. Here we'll discuss the basics that you need to know to pick a great CBD product, and best practices for how to avoid fake CBD Oil.
3 Reasons Why Fake CBD Oil is Everywhere
If you can think back to when you first started hearing about CBD, it was probably within the last 5 years. The recent CBD boom has been due to a combination of factors: a need for a healthy, all-natural alternative to pharmaceuticals, successful research confirming hemp's efficacy, the recent lessening of social stigma surrounding hemp/CBD. However, here is more on why you'll find yourself running into fake CBD Oil products these days.
1. It's a brand new industry
With CBD's seemingly sudden surge in popularity, companies and businesses all over the world started focusing their efforts towards joining in on the hype; whether that was through purchasing land for farming, building a grow house, or looking to foreign suppliers for creative solutions.
However, amidst the quick clamoring to come up with a product—not all businesses have upheld proper standards of care. And to add to a general lack of enterprise prudence for product quality, at this time, there are little to no restrictions or legislation when it comes to creating a CBD product.
2. There's the need for more regulations & legislation
Fortunately, the FDA is starting to catch on to how problematic it can be to have an in-demand product with little to no regulations. This June, the FDA asked that experts within the scientific community come forward to start helping shape the regulations within the CBD industry.
Zoe Sigman, program director of Project CBD was at this recent FDA hearing and reported, “There are contaminants found in CBD products, which don’t contain what they say they contain”, adding that lab reports found evidence of pesticides, heavy metals, bacteria, and other less than savory compounds.
3. Lab-grown extracts are flooding the market
The concerns that experts like Sigman are having with the current state of the industry's limited quality controls are completely warranted. Not only is there the issue of product purity, but also the fact that manufacturers have found ways to artificially create CBD in a way that doesn't involve growing a plant at all.
Isolate CBD is chemically the exact same as CBD isolate, and is suspected to be the powdery counterpart at the root of the large majority of low-cost, ineffective products.
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Learn MoreHow to Avoid Fake CBD Oil
Now that you have an understanding of the current state of the market, here are the steps to follow to avoid bad quality CBD.
Check where the CBD was grown
When purchasing a CBD product, the first order of business is figuring out where the hemp actually comes from. We advocate for consumers to make sure they're working with a business that is located in the United States.
The best way to figure this out is to identify if the company has a website, visit the website and browse to find where the hemp is grown. Once you find where the hemp is grown, enlist a quick google search to identify the farming regulations in the hemp's country of origin.
View the lab results
Every company that has high-quality CBD will have the lab results to prove it; this verifiable proof is shown through Certificates of Analysis (COA). COA's verify the quality and potency of the product and can be found near the product listing, or by reaching out to customer service.
Beware of health claims
Have you ever heard the saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is"?
This is certainly the case with CBD.
For example, if a product is claiming to heal specific diseases or cure existing medical disorders—this is a major red flag.
The FDA has warned that claiming CBD (or any other supplements for that matter) can cure major diseases and dysfunctions is strictly prohibited. Any company engaging in so-called "health claims" is grossly out of compliance with FDA standards.
Find out how the CBD was created
In order to transition a hemp plant into a CBD product on your shelf, it has to first be extracted via an extraction method.
The two most popular extraction methods are supercritical CO2 extraction and alcohol extraction. Both methods work and are commonly argued about in regards to which is better, however, we always advocate for CO2 extraction as a more clean and effective method. Be sure to do your research to determine which is right for you.
Talk to customer service
All of the top CBD companies have a customer service team. When a company has a customer service team, you never have to feel alone in your CBD journey. Not only will you have someone to talk to any time you have questions, you'll have a way to get your money back should the product not be the right fit for you.
Identify the type of extract the CBD features
Each time you buy a CBD product, it will feature a different extract type: the way the hemp is processed. There are three types of popular CBD extracts:
1. Full-Spectrum
Full-spectrum is an extract that features hemp in its most natural form, including: the leaves, flowers, and stalks of the hemp plant. Therefore, this extract is home to all of hemp's cannabinoids—CBN, CBD, CBG, THC, and more.
However, remember that this extract always features under .3% THC to meet legal requirements, so it will not get you high. Due to this extracts wide array of chemical components it enacts an entourage effect, the term for when all the compounds within the plant work synergistically together for maximum benefit and effect.
2. Broad-Spectrum
Broad-Spectrum is an extract that contains pretty much the exact same components as a full-spectrum tincture, with the exception of the THC component. This extract is still capable of the entourage effect and it's perfect for those who are either THC sensitive or unable to consume small amounts of THC due to frequent work-related drug testing.
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3. Isolate
Isolate CBD is created when a manufacturer separates CBD, a singular cannabinoid, from the rest of the over 100 cannabinoids in the hemp plant.
So, whereas both Full-Spectrum & Broad-Spectrum can be seen as whole plant CBD, Isolate CBD is simply CBD isolated from the rest of the plant components.
Weighing in: Full-Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum, or Isolate?
Always be sure to look for an extract type listed on your CBD.
In our opinion, a full-spectrum and a broad-spectrum extract will be your best bet as the entourage effect will be working to maximize benefits.
When it comes to Isolate CBD, we encourage customers to be a bit more cautious. As mentioned earlier in this post, synthetic Isolate cannabinoids have started to flood the market. Its chemical components match regular isolate CBD exactly, yet it is created in a laboratory setting. It goes without saying that you want to avoid added chemicals when choosing a CBD product, so be sure you're aware of the ins & outs of the extract you're purchasing.
We don't currently sell any consumable isolate products as we believe this type of extract is missing out on the advantages of a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum product.
Our question to you:
- Comment and let us know, have you ever had an experience with bad quality CBD oil?
Please reach out to us with all of your questions and we'll be happy to help.
FAQ
How to spot fake CBD oil?
Many companies use highly processed isolate cannabinoid powder, a lifeless powder, in their CBD tinctures, balms, lotions, and foods. If you've purchased a cheap CBD oil or a hemp-based product from your local grocery store, chances are you've come into contact with a fake CBD oil, and even synthetic cannabinoids.
How much does CBD Oil Cost?
The typical cost per mg of CBD should be between $0.05 and $0.10, depending on the size of the company's operations and the sort of CBD product you're purchasing. If you come across CBD oil with costs that seem too good to be true, it's generally because the brand has to cut corners somewhere.
Is CBD Oil legal?
In states where marijuana (cannabis plants containing more than 0.3% THC) is prohibited, make sure your CBD comes from hemp rather than marijuana plants, otherwise you may end up in hot water or suffering a different set of affects, such as intoxication, anxiety, or failing a drug test.
What is Certificate of Analysis?
Third-party certificates of analysis (COAs) are a must for CBD products. This document shows a detailed analysis of what's in the hemp extract—cannabinoid levels (including THC content), terpene profile, pesticides, and other contaminants to ensure its quality and safety.
Interested in Learning More? Get in Touch with a Product Specialst
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