CBD oil is the hot new health and wellness trend captivating America because of its beneficial functions to our brain’s endocannabinoid system, but what do you look for in CBD oil and how do you find the best CBD oil brand? We have outlined what to look for and which brands to buy, so you can have the best bang for your buck!
How to Find the Best CBD Oil:
1. Full spectrum CBD oil v Broad Spectrum v CBD isolate
- Full spectrum CBD oil is CBD oil plus other minor cannabinoids and sometimes terpenes that combine to formulate an “entourage effect,” commonly believed to provide more therapeutic benefit can just CBD oil.
- Broad spectrum CBD oil normally refers to a full spectrum CBD oil with the THC removed, making the product 0.0% THC. This process uses distillation to strip out the THC, which some people prefer, but it also strips out other cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and other phytonutrients.
- CBD isolate is the isolated CBD compound at 99.7% purity. It is more processed because the CBD oil must be removed from the extract and formulated into a crystalline substance. CBD isolate is beneficial if anyone is commonly drug tested, particularly if the drug test monitors the concentration of “marijuana metabolites” in nanograms.
2. Consider the Concentration of CBD oil
- Concentration of CBD oil for the entire bottle is commonly referenced on the front of the label, usually next to the container size, and is provided in milligrams (mg). You can often find concentrations ranging from 100mg to 3000mg of CBD oil (which may be CBD and other minor cannabinoids).
- The concentration per serving is normally written in the supplement or nutritional facts panel, and is sometimes referred to as CBD oil, hemp extract, or PCR.
- 100mg is a very low quantity and sometimes is found on the market to be way over-priced, so be careful what you pay for.
- Pay attention to the number of what per what – meaning the number of cannabinoids (CBD) per serving or in the entire bottle. Following FDA guidelines, supplements are supposed to provide detailed and information as to what this number means.
1500mg CBD/bottle
or 50mg CBD/serving
Consider the Size of the CBD Oil Bottle
Normally, a tincture will be a 1-ounce bottle, but sometimes you can find bottles that are 2oz or more. This can complicate the concentration, particularly because there are no standards for labeling in the industry. It is important to consider the size of the bottle when reading the concentration. A 3000mg 2 oz bottle of Full Spectrum CBD Oil would actually be 1500mg per oz, making each serving approximately 50mg of CBD oil and other minor cannabinoids. Similarly, a 500mg 2 oz bottle of Full Spectrum CBD Oil would only be 250mg per 1 oz, making each serving approximately 8mg of CBD oil and other minor cannabinoids. This is very important when determining the price per mg.
4. Find the Best Price for CBD oil
Unfortunately, there are scammers on the market that are taking advantage of the high price of CBD oil, but we are here to tell you — consider the price per mg of CBD oil. Currently market prices are anywhere between $0.06 and $0.15 per mg of CBD oil. Don’t pay $40 for 100mg of CBD oil. The company is ripping you off!
When a company has a higher price tag for their CBD oil, consider the company — are they vertically integrated or are they sourcing it from Europe? If they are vertically integrated, it is likely their prices will be a little higher than a company sourcing from Europe.
5. Look for Third-Party Verified CBD Products & Reputable Lab Tests
Quality is key in the CBD oil market, especially with the high prices of CBD. The last thing you want is to pay $60 for a what you think is CBD oil but is really just cold-pressed hemp oil (commonly found on Amazon).
To find quality do some of the folloowing:
- When shopping, look for third-party verified CBD products
- Scan the manufacturers website for lab tests
- Make sure those lab tests are third-party lab tests and not in-house lab tests – third-party labs to look out for include Eurofins, ProVerde, Steep Hill, and Botanicor
- If the lab tests are not available, ask the manufacturers for their tests
- Look for unique attributes, local production and transparency!
Where to Find the Best CBD Oil Brands
Shop brands like Nature’s Hemp Oil, Life Patent, Greenman Gardens, Bluebird Botanicals, PlusCBD Oil, Ananda Hemp, Barlean’s and more!