It seems like every day, a new cannabidiol (CBD) company enters the market. This is not very surprising because CBD is becoming more and more popular and for a good reason. However, this does make it a bit difficult to know if you are getting the right CBD product or not. But no worries, because we are here to help you be sure that you are getting your CBD oil from a good CBD company. We will also answer some important questions that you may have. So, let’s dive in.
What even is CBD?
Let’s start by defining CBD. That way, you know what exactly you are looking at.
Cannabis plants (hemp and marijuana, for example) have a bunch of a group of chemical compounds known as cannabinoids. This group of compounds is quite diverse, with over 113 different cannabinoids found in cannabis plants so far. CBD is one of these cannabinoids, and while it is undoubtedly one of the most famous, there is another cannabinoid that is generally better known. That cannabinoid would be tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The reason you have probably heard of THC before is that it is psychoactive. That means that it creates the inebriating high that gives cannabis such a bad name. Because of THC’s effect on people, many assume that all cannabinoids have that effect. However, very few actually have a psychoactive effect. CBD, in particular, does not have an effect like that. It does not cause any sort of high or inebriation.
Many people have questions regarding CBD’s legal status. That is understandable as CBD does come from cannabis, and the plant itself does have a rather confusing legal status. However, there is no need to worry. In 2018 the hemp variation of cannabis was federally legalized in the United States (with exceptions in a handful of states). This is based partially on the fact that hemp has very low levels of THC, less than 0.3%. Meanwhile, marijuana has very high levels of THC and, as a result, is still federally illegal. Some states have legalized marijuana on one level or another, but not all.
Hemp is more-or-less legal across the board, which is good news, as most CBD manufacturers use hemp rather than marijuana to make their products. And this is not just because of legality. Hemp, as mentioned, has very low levels of THC. On top of that, it also has very high levels of CBD. This makes the extraction that much easier. Marijuana has varying levels of CBD, which, as you can imagine, makes extraction rather complicated.
The number of studies on CBD and what it may be able to do has increased a fair amount over the last few years. Now we have a much better idea of what CBD may be able to help with. For example, it may be useful in helping sooth anxiety. It may also be used to aid in keeping down inflammation. There are also many exciting studies pointing to the idea that it could help calm epileptic seizures. These are just a few examples of the areas that are being looked at in regard to CBD. As time goes on, it is likely we will learn more about CBD and find out what kinds of help it may be able to provide.
What makes a good CBD company?
At the moment the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is still working on regulations for the CBD industry. This has led to some CBD companies making subpar products. So, it is best to know what makes a trustworthy CBD company. Shopping for CBD may seem a little intimidating when you first learn all of the things that need to be considered. However, it is worth it to be sure that you are getting the highest quality CBD products possible. So, let’s get into it.
When looking for a CBD provider the first thing that you need to do is read. More specifically, you need to read reviews. Read the reviews of the company you are interested in. You should be able to find third party sites that have forums and reviews of different CBD companies. This way you get a good idea of whether or not it is a worthwhile company to buy from. You should also read the reviews of the products that you are interested in. There should be some on the company’s website, but you should also read the reviews that are on third party sites and forums. That way you can be sure that you are avoiding any bias.
A good CBD company is one that is open about its processes. Be sure to look through the website of the CBD company that you are interested in to be sure that they have information about how they make their products. They should also be testing the quality of their products. These tests can be done inhouse, but they should also have them tested by a third party to ensure that they are avoiding bias. The results of these tests should be available on the company’s website. If a CBD company’s website does not have any of this information, they are a company that you should avoid.
What CBD products are out there?
Now that you know what to look for in a CBD company, let’s talk about what you can get for said company.
Oils & tinctures
These are the more traditional and simplest of CBD products. Tinctures and oils are made by taking CBD extract and mixing it with a carrier oil, like coconut oil. These provide you with some flexibility when it comes to taking them. You can take them by making your own edibles. To do this you just mix them in with something that you would normally be eating anyway. However, this method does take a little while because the food needs to digest before it can start working. You can also take an oil more directly. You do that by placing your desired number of drops under your tongue. This is faster because the skin under the tongue is very thin. As a result, it allows for substances (like a CBD oil) to absorb into the bloodstream very easily.
Tablets & capsules
These are a good option if you would prefer to take your CBD in pill form. Plus, they provide you with some choices as to what kind of pill you would like to take. For example, most CBD tablets are sublingual, which means that you place the tablet under your tongue (or just in your mouth, depending on the tablet’s size) and allow it to dissolve. This way it uses the same advantage as oils that you place under the tongue, utilizing the thin skin to get the CBD to start working faster. CBD capsules are more often than not soft gels. This means that they are made using liquid CBD extract. This makes them easier to swallow and digest faster. But they do still need to digest. Even if it is a bit faster than edibles, it is still slower than other methods.
Edibles
You can probably guess what CBD edibles are. They are any food, drink, or anything else edible that has been made with CBD extract. They are one of the most popular ways to take CBD. This is because of a few reasons. One of which is that they taste great. More specifically, they taste like whatever food or drink they have been made into. Another reason is that they are easy to take. All you need to do is eat or drink your edible. It is good to note that edibles tend to take the longest to start working, as they need to digest, like with capsules. So, be patient when taking CBD edibles, to be sure that you are not accidentally taking too much.
Topicals
This is a very large group of CBD products because it includes basically anything that you use on your skin. This includes lotions, balms, salves, and hand sanitizers. Topicals are a great product because their effect is much more focused and localized than other CBD products. Other products enter the bloodstream and give an overall effect as a result. That may be a great option for some people, but not for everyone. Because CBD topicals never enter the bloodstream, they do not give that overall effect. That may make them the perfect CBD product for some people.
FDA approved medications
As mentioned above, the FDA is still trying to figure out the right regulations for the CBD industry. However, that does not mean that they have not been reviewing any CBD products. Recently the FDA has been approving some CBD based medication. One of the biggest examples is Epidiolex. This is a medication made to help people who are suffering from seizures caused by two rare, but severe forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. Other CBD based medications are generally made to help fight the nausea that tends to come with certain forms of cancer treatments. These medications all need a doctor’s prescription to be obtained.
Buying CBD does not need to be a scary prospect. If you are willing to do a little bit of research, you can be sure that you are getting some high-quality CBD products. This way you can reap the benefits of CBD more efficiently.