CBD is as ubiquitous as energy drinks these days, and the buzz is just as heavy as of late. CBD can be found in many retail locations near you and can sometimes even be seen at small convenience stores and gas stations. CBD has become incredibly popular the past few years, and we do not see the “popular-train” slowing down anytime soon. With that being said, the bigger the industry grows, the more likely that there will be low-cost, low-quality competitors jockeying for market share. Here are a few key things you should consider in terms of quality and efficacy when deciding which CBD product to buy:

Hemp Source

There is an age-old adage “garbage in, garbage out,” and it’s to be believed in the case of CBD products. No matter how much time and effort a company puts into “the process” of extracting CBD, nothing matters more than the source plant itself. Making sure to vet the CBD manufacturer’s plant source is critical to know what you’re really getting. Things like the extraction method and the overall rating/standards of the manufacturer are crucial. A GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification is one you should look out for.

THC Content

Why is THC content important when it comes to buying CBD? Well, for one, you want to make sure the CBD is not going to give you psychoactive effects like it’s sister cannabis Sativa compound THC. To be fully legal in all 50 U.S. states, the CBD or Hemp product cannot exceed a THC content amount of more than .03%. Not only that, but imagine having to take a drug test for sports or your career and getting nixed for having THC in your system when you were using CBD for sleep or general relaxation. Not a good look for you or your reputation!

Usage Type

By usage type, we mean the kind of CBD product you decide to purchase. CBD comes in many forms, such as edibles (think cookies, candy, and other desirable treats), flowers, salves, oils, vape cartridges, topicals, and even CBD toilet paper! Consider the application in which you would be taking the CBD and then pick a product that best suits that specific need. For example, if you are looking to have something quick and convenient, CBD oil drops might work better orally than, let’s say, sucking on a CBD toothpick. There are even CBD products for pets now.

Quality Standards / Efficacy Reporting

When purchasing any CBD product, make sure to check out or request technical spec lab reports and ask about their Quality Assurance(QA) process and standards. These types of reports and measures should be from a third party evaluator with verified credentials. 

Reputation

A few quick Google searches are all you need these days to really dig into a CBD company’s product reputation. You want to read as many “off-site” or verified reviews as possible from many different sources such as Google Reviews, Yelp, FourSquare, and other reputable review sites. You can’t trust that every review on the CBD company’s website itself will be unbiased and useful.

Price

Last but certainly not least is price. With all things above factored in, you then want to evaluate the cost per unit of product. Sometimes there will need to be a bit of compromise in some areas, but one of the most significant factors for most commodity consumers is price. Check out as many stores and retailers as you can, or use a CBD marketplace to get a variety of different CBD products from many great companies all in one place. 

Conclusion

Ensure that you take all of the above points into full consideration when deciding what CBD product and company to go with. Once everything has been evaluated to your liking, it should be obvious which product is right for you for your individual needs. Good luck with your search to find the best CBD product for you. To learn more, you can view this cannabis and cbd news site.