Published by Programme B
When you consider that humans have known about the curative properties of the cannabis plant for literally millennia, it is slightly surprising that cannabidiol (CBD) has only recently attracted the attention of medical science. In what now looks to have been a massive oversight on behalf of the lawmakers in Canada and worldwide, prohibition has prevented us from enjoying the myriad health benefits of a plant which is surely one of Mother Nature’s single biggest gifts to humankind.
Thankfully, the senseless banning of cannabis-derived substances looks to be on its way out in many places around the world. Nationwide in Canada, it is now possible to buy CBD oil and other products over the counter without the need for a prescription. This development has been greeted by many sufferers of chronic physical and mental health conditions who have begun to experience great success in treating their symptoms with CBD.
While there is an increasing number of specialist CBD outlets springing up in cities around the country, the most common way to buy CBD remains through online distributors. Like most things, the best deals are still online in the Canadian CBD oil market. Another advantage besides price is that the selection is greater, and you have access to plenty of discount codes.
Despite these obvious advantages, however, most people who are new to the world of CBD are likely to feel slightly overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available in Canada. With this in mind, we have put together this list of things to look out for when buying CBD oil online.
- Choose Full-Spectrum
Unless you really do not want to ingest any THC whatsoever, we suggest that you look for a CBD oil that is full-spectrum first, these contain a maximum of 0.3% THC. Do this instead of shop for CBD isolate, the purest CBD oil possible. The isolate was the most popular but not anymore. The main reason for this is something known as the ‘entourage effect.’
The entourage effect is the theory that CBD works synergistically with the full range of compounds with which it occurs naturally in the cannabis plant. The theory holds that CBD is much more potent when taken in conjunction with small amounts of THC, other cannabinoids, and terpenes.
Full-spectrum CBD contains the full range of phytocannabinoids from the plant extract used to make the oil. Broad-spectrum contains the same but without any THC, while CBD from isolate contains nothing by pure CBD.
2. Buy Organic
It goes without saying that organic is better if you are buying CBD oil to treat a health issue. Organic provides the added reassurance that no toxic chemicals were used in the cultivation of the hemp or cannabis plant used to make the oil.
Most brands will make no secret of their oil’s organic credentials. However, if you cannot find any mention of whether a product is organic or not on the website, it is usually safe to assume that it is not.
3. Research the Company
As always, when you are shopping online you should always do your due diligence on a brand before you buy. All it usually takes to find out whether a company is legit or not is a simple Google search. Upon doing this, you will usually discover the things that you need to know about to judge the quality of its products and services.
If nothing comes up, try typing the company name into Reddit to see what people are saying. Alternatively, you can check third-party review sites like Trustpilot or social media to look at customer ratings.
4. Do Not Buy Oil That Does Not State CBD Content
When you know little about CBD, it can often be easy to get sucked in by the low prices of products that are advertised as “hemp oil” or similar. You may be able to guess at why such products are sold cheaply – because not all hemp oil contains high concentrations of CBD.
A basic rule of thumb when buying CBD is to look and the label – if the CBD content in milligrams is not explicitly mentioned, the oil probably does not contain much at all!
5. Look for Lab Results
You should never buy any CBD oil product before looking at a third-party lab test result certificate first. Regulation is still weak in the CBD industry, and as a result, the market is flooded with products that have not been subjected to any proper quality testing.
At worst, buying CBD oil ‘blind’ without looking at the lab test results will leave you with a product that does not contain the amount of CBD that is advertised. At worst, your CBD will be contaminated with pesticides, toxic spores, or heavy metals that will be harmful to your health.
6. Check Extraction Process
CBD is extracted from plant matter using a solvent extraction process. When it comes to these extraction processes, the type of solvent used can have a marked impact on the overall quality of the product.
By far the best solvent used to extract CBD is good old CO2. Compared with other solvents that are typically used (ethanol, low-grade alcohol, and butane), CO2 leaves no harmful chemical residue in the finished product. It is always a good idea to look into the extraction process before you invest your hard-earned cash in a substandard product.
7. Beware of Companies Making Big Claims
The final piece of advice here is to avoid companies that make grandiose claims about the curative potential of their CBD oil. Although there is some extremely promising research pointing to the potential of CBD treatments for a wide range of ailments, as of yet the scientific evidence is still limited. Companies asserting that their CBD oil can cure cancer and other chronic diseases are being dishonest and are not worthy of your custom.
Conclusion: Choosing the Best CBD Oil
We know that selecting the best CBD oil can be a challenge. Nonetheless, if you take the seven points above into consideration when browsing, we are confident that you will not go far wrong in your search for the perfect product.