CBD is a hugely popular product, and more brands seem to pop up every day.  Consumers have unlimited options. The newfound popularity of CBD oil, however, can make choosing a product confusing.   If you’re reading this article, you’re probably already curious if all of those products are interchangeable. Is there a difference in all these different brands? Or is all CBD the same? Well, you’re right to be wondering that, and we’ll try to answer that question here. 

What Is CBD?

CBD is short for Cannabidiol, which is a compound found in the hemp plant. Unlike the THC compound found in cannabis, it does not make you feel “stoned” or “high,” and is not psychoactive in the same way. When it is consumed, CBD, according to preliminary research, binds with the endocannabinoid receptors in your body to potentially achieve a variety of beneficial effects. Consumers who take CBD regularly report that it helps with anxiety, depression, chronic pain, inflammation, digestion, memory, and appetite, among many others. 

Who Can Sell CBD?

Before you start shopping around for a CBD product, you should be aware of who is legally allowed to sell CBD products. The answer varies by state, as in each one the laws are a little different. The laws for CBD products also differ greatly from those regulating cannabis and cannabis products: CBD and marijuana are decidedly not the same thing. 

In certain states, such as Oregon, CBD does not require a special permit to grow or sell. Recently, however, legislators have been seeking to change this. If this occurs, you will have to go to a licensed dispensary to purchase CBD oil and related products. Currently, however, this is not the case. 

How To Look For The Best CBD Products

Because the CBD industry is still somewhat in its infancy, regulation can be a bit confusing since many of the rules are not in place yet. Unscrupulous sellers may try to take advantage of this by selling products that are impure or low in the cannabidiol content, which is the anti-inflammatory ingredient that reportedly makes CBD oil effective. Unlike with over-the-counter medicine, there is no standardized CBD content for a product. That means that sellers can slap “CBD” or “Hemp Concentrate” on a label and sell it, not telling you that it only contains trace amounts of the helpful compounds. 

What you should look for, then, when shopping for CBD products, is a label that lists the exact amount of CBD that a product contains. A good quality product will contain a high level of active compounds. Perhaps more importantly, the best CBD products are consistent, meaning that they have the same levels of cannabinoids in every bottle. This is an absolute must, because if you are using a product to treat a certain condition, you’ll want to trust you are getting the same amount each time. 

Make Sure Your Products Have Been Tested In A Lab

When looking for the best quality CBD, consistency is key. Each bottle, package, or container should contain the same amount of CBD, consistently no matter how many units are sold. But how can sellers be sure that the levels are consistent? The answer lies in testing: good manufacturers analyze their products through a third party laboratory to ensure quality control. 

One of the great challenges of producing a CBD product is avoiding contamination. Hemp plants tend to draw all sorts of impurities out of the soil in which they grow. Everything from mold, fungus, mildew, bacteria and heavy metals can end up in your CBD oil if it has not been tested in a fully stocked laboratory to ensure it is free of contaminants. 

Look For Organically Grown Hemp

We’re not here to tell you to buy organic when you are shopping for vegetables in the supermarket, but when it comes to CBD and other hemp products, it does matter. Hemp, according to scientists, is a bioaccumulator, which means it can bind to contaminants, which can then end up in the final product. Pesticides and fertilizers can easily slip through the testing process and end up in your CBD oil: that is, unless you are careful to make sure the hemp in your CBD is organically grown. A large part of the reason that CBD has become so popular is due to its origin in nature. It is not a synthetic chemical, created in a laboratory somewhere. It is a naturally occurring substance, free from chemical contamination. Opting for an organic product ensures this.  

On the same token, the source or origin of hemp products makes a different too.  The quality of the soil and climate makes a huge difference in the quality of the final product.  Oregon, for example, has been called the “Napa Valley” for hemp as conditions are near perfect for growing the plant.  Therefore, Oregon-based CBD products are highly sought-after. 

How To Consume CBD

By this point in the article, it’s become clear that the answer to the question, “Is all CBD the same?” is a decisive NO; in fact, of all the products on the market, it is one of the most widely varied out there. Nevertheless, if you do your homework, you’ll be able to find the best quality CBD products fairly easily. 

One other thing to keep in mind when shopping is how you wish to consume your CBD. How you do it depends somewhat on the condition you are trying to treat. For example, if you are suffering from arthritis, you might opt for a topical. If you are using CBD to treat anxiety, a sublingual oil might be preferable. If you are looking for a sublingual, you might opt for a flavored solution, or an unflavored one. Rooted Hemp Co. produces wonderful flavored CBD oils, so you can enjoy the taste of citrus, vanilla, or mint.  They also offer bulk isolate and CBD-infused chocolate. Ultimately, you have to experiment to discover what works best for you.