Don’t Make These Mistakes When Shopping for CBD Oil

This article may contain links to some of our affiliate partners. These are brands we trust and brands we feel represent the highest quality standards. When clicking links, we may earn commissions to help support our site. Learn more by reading our full disclaimer.

CBD oil is a popular way of consuming non-intoxicating cannabinoids in the marijuana plant. Unfortunately, there is an emerging trend of unreliable and untrustworthy sellers (primarily of CBD products) both online and in-store.

Buying high-quality, reputable products is crucial. Properly extracted and manufactured CBD oil offers a significant number of potential therapeutic advantages. In contrast, low-quality products can contain potentially dangerous compounds such as heavy metals, chemical thinning agents, pesticides, and solvent residues.

This article outlines the top five mistakes people make when buying CBD oil for the first time. You might think that “CBD is CBD” or that all CBD oils are made the same. Trust us — this is definitely not the case.

The Top-5 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying CBD Oil

It is tough to distinguish between the various CBD products available if you haven’t performed much research. In a nutshell, you can make CBD oil from either hemp or marijuana. Hemp-based CBD oils are what you see for sale online and in grocery stores across the country. Marijuana-based CBD oils are available in legal cannabis dispensaries.

If you live in a state where marijuana is legal and you have access to a dispensary, we recommend purchasing CBD oil there. Generally speaking, you’ll find better quality products. However, if you’re one of the millions of Americans who don’t have access to a dispensary, your next best option is to buy online from a reputable company.

If you end up buying online, here are five mistakes NOT to make:

1 – Choosing Affordability Over Quality

While CBD oil’s popularity skyrockets, many dishonest (and unqualified) businesses have taken the opportunity to cash in on the industry. We understand that this is only natural in a free and unregulated market. However, as a customer concerned about general health and well-being, it pays to know what you’re buying.

With so many options and places online to purchase CBD oil, the industry can present a minefield of pitfalls.

If you were to go online and do a simple search for ‘CBD oil,’ hundreds of thousands of results would pop up at the click of a button. Sounds fantastic, right?

The huge array of online CBD stores can cause plenty of problems.

Unfortunately, looks can be deceiving… Most of these products are likely cheap, low-quality oils. They probably won’t offer much more therapeutic benefit than the cold-pressed olive oil sitting in your kitchen cabinet.

Performing background research on the vendor and their products can save you lots of money, time, and frustration. When in doubt, always consider quality over affordability when choosing the best CBD oil product for you.

So, what do you need to look out for? Any reputable vendor of CBD oil should have the following information displayed on either their website or product packaging. Ideally, they will have it on both.

PRODUCT INFODescription
EXTRACTION METHODCO2 extraction is the best option. CBD brands should clearly outline the method of extraction on their website.
CBD/THC CONTENTThe brand should also clearly identify the THC and CBD content. The maximum THC content is 0.3% for hemp-derived CBD products.
WHERE IS THE HEMP SOURCED FROM?The highest-quality oils are extracted from either European or USA-grown organic hemp
ISO OR FULL-SPECTRUM?Full-spectrum CBD oils are typically considered the most effective, but CBD isolate (ISO) oils are a good bet if you’re looking for a 0% THC product.

2 – Assuming CBD Oil Can’t Get You High

One of the main appeals of CBD oil (along with its possible health benefits) is that it will not get you high. The famous “buzz” associated with cannabis is attributable to THC. This is often where less knowledgeable people get confused.

Is there any possibility of CBD oil getting you high? CBD oil comes from the extracts of hemp plants, which contain very low levels of THC. If the extraction method used to get the CBD oil cuts corners or is incorrectly performed, there is a minute chance that THC levels are great enough to produce a very subtle high.

This is where we can refer back to point number one – affordability vs. quality! CBD oil on its own should not provide any high to the user. This is why it is such a popular option for people looking to manage the symptoms of various conditions.

CBD oil by itself shouldn’t intoxicate the user. This is one reason why it is so popular for the management of several symptoms.

A genuine vendor will use safe, proper extraction methods to ensure that THC levels remain BELOW 0.3%. As a result, users should not feel high after using it. High-quality extraction is a costly process, which is the first thing that separates the professionals from sellers who are putting quantity before quality!

Also, to ensure that the CBD oil you are buying will not lead to any unwanted effects, double-check the seller’s website and their product information. Product labels should clearly display THC levels. However, if you are still unsure, you should contact the brand directly before making any purchases.

3 – Not Doing Your Research

While CBD is potentially capable of aiding the symptoms of numerous conditions, there are limits to its abilities. Therefore, you must know what CBD is and what it can do before you go shopping for some yourself. Many of the less trustworthy vendors of CBD oil will claim that it can do just about anything. However, those who do their research know otherwise.

For example, you can find just about anything you’d ever want to know about CBD oil on WayofLeaf. We have information on what it does, how it works within the body, relevant research, etc. Of course, there are also plenty of other reputable sources that go into the scientific depths of CBD oil’s real qualities and abilities.

Related article

Simply put, we recommend that you fully know about CBD oil before you purchase any. This way, when you come across a website claiming that their CBD oil will make your hair grow overnight or cause a fifty-pound weight loss in a week, you’ll know that it’s misleading and unreliable!

You wouldn’t start taking a prescription drug with no clue about what it did to you, would you? You should treat CBD oil with the same level of respect. Research, and know what you’re taking — and why!

4 – Having Unrealistic Expectations

Point number three leads us nicely to this: what exactly are you expecting to get out of using CBD oil? CBD is associated with the promotion of general health (much like a daily supplement). There are also suggestions that it could help with more serious medical conditions.

That said, CBD oil is certainly not a magic potion. Some sources claim that CBD oil can do anything from curing a common cold to treating cancer overnight. Of course, this is not the case. Current or future users of CBD oil must have realistic expectations.

CBD oil doesn’t have magical properties, so users need to be realistic about what the cannabinoid can achieve for them.

Some of the things that CBD oil may be able to do:

  • Help with inflammatory conditions
  • Promote a positive mindset
  • Relieve symptoms of anxiety
  • Help manage pain symptoms

The above is just a short list of CBD oil’s long list of potential benefits. However, the key things to note are the words “can” and “help.” CBD oil will not instantly rid you of depression or cure your debilitating condition. The sooner you understand this, the closer to reality your expectations will become.

For some potential CBD oil users, the promise of something that could fix all their long-term sufferings can mean everything. Therefore, all users must know the limits of CBD oil. Otherwise, they could experience profound disappointment.

5 – Not Doing a Quality Check

Finally, we recommend that you do a quality check on the CBD oil seller’s background and methods. We hope that anyone thinking about purchasing CBD oil will feel confident in knowing what to look for and how to pick the best product. The final point really to drive home, though, is the overall message of research and quality.

not-doing-a-quality-check

One of the biggest things separating high and low-quality CBD oil is the extraction method. Ensuring you know about the most common extraction methods can save you so much money — and trouble.

Some say that knowing the extraction method and where your CBD oil comes from is the number one thing you can do as a consumer. The extraction technique generally provides a clear indication of a brand’s quality and ethics. Listed below are some of the most common extraction methods currently in use (though pretty much all top brands use CO2 extraction).

EXTRACTION METHODDESCRIPTION
CO2 ExtractionBy far the best method out there, this is an expensive but surefire way of producing pure, potent, safe CBD oil.
Olive Oil ExtractionThis is less technical than CO2 extraction and more of a DIY technique you can perform at home. It is a safe method and relatively inexpensive, but it delivers lower yields.
Dry Ice ExtractionThis is a popular method as it is easy, clean, and produces a decent yield. However, you are likely to only produce low-quality CBD oil as the shaking required in this process can damage the plants.
Solvent-Based ExtractionPotentially harmful and dangerous, this method uses harsh chemicals like hexane and butane (lighter fluid) to extract the CBD – we recommend avoiding this method!

Why Is This So Important?

Reputable vendors clearly state their production methods and display their lab testing results. Displaying test results is an incredibly important thing for any vendor, as it is usually a clear indication of a genuinely well-made product.

Many top-quality brands will also perform third-party testing on their products to verify the quality. This is another important thing to look out for on any potential sales site!

Things to Look for When Buying CBD: Final Thoughts

There is a lot of information about CBD oil, much of which seems to contradict itself. For someone new or inexperienced in the CBD industry, the whole thing is potentially confusing and off-putting.

Here are the key takeaways from this article:

  • Always perform detailed research.
  • Never take anything at face value.
  • Make sure you ask questions.
  • Dig deep into the details of any vendor’s website.

Most importantly, though, use common sense. A CBD oil that costs $10 isn’t going to make you lose 80 pounds or take away your chronic illness. However, CBD oil can legitimately help you in many aspects, so knowing how to find a quality oil is possibly a real life-changer for any potential buyers.

You are now armed with all the information you need to make a smart purchasing decision. Go out and explore the many wonderful and genuine CBD oils on the market you can start with our table below!

101
Join The Discussion

By clicking "Post Comment” you agree with our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

    TOC
    DMCA.com Protection Status © 2000 - 2024 All Rights Reserved Digital Millennium Copyright Act Services Ltd. | DMCA.com

    WayofLeaf use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. More Information