LOOKING BEYOND A CBD WEBSITE: WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW WHERE HEMP COMES FROM
When people consider whether they want to jump on the CBD bandwagon, they are frequently operating from a background with little or no direct experience with hemp. There are many sources of information that are easily available to consumers for review in a time period when CBD-containing products are being sold in retail stores in most states. The major factor that impacts whether a product is regulated is the grade of the product from which it originated. If the source of a product is a plant that contains more than 0.3 percent THC, it is considered marijuana. If the THC amount is less than 0.3 percent, it is considered industrial-grade hemp. If a product comes from the hemp plant, it can be sold in all 50 states (including online and in retail stores). The ingredient THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is known to have psychoactive properties, essentially giving the user a feeling of euphoria.
LOOKING AT THE CLAIMS OF A CBD WEBSITE
Some companies that claim to be CBD distilleries, dispensaries, or pharmacies, both domestic and overseas in origin, are marketing their products strictly to people who want a solution that is natural but not containing a psycho-impactive level of THC. Others may be marketing to both people who seek the former and people with medical licenses from a physician in their state for products containing THC, which comes from medical marijuana plants. There are three big questions that consumers want to ask before trying any product:
1. IS YOUR TINCTURE, OIL, CREAM, CARTRIDGE, OR VAPE LIQUID SOURCED FROM INDUSTRIAL-GRADE HEMP OR MARIJUANA PLANTS?
The answer to this question is the amount of THC it contains. However, you should be reasonably sure you aren't breaking the law by sourcing a product from within your state.
2. WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF ANY LEVEL OF THC ON YOUR SYSTEM?
The answer to this question will vary from individual to individual. For example, a consumer could be very sensitive to the chemical THC and experience a reaction to a product containing less than 0.3 percent, which means it was sourced from a hemp plant. The person who has never ingested a product with this ingredient would have no way of knowing in advance of a potential adverse reaction. However, he or she could consider the use of a product by first consulting a licensed medical physician.
3. WHAT ARE THE OTHER INGREDIENTS THAT COULD BE IN A CBD PRODUCT?
When people use CBD tinctures, oils, vapes, creams, lotions, and other widely distributed products, they are placing their trust in the manufacturer to follow the highest standards of the pharmaceutical industry. However, the CBD market is not monitored in the same way as the medical marijuana industry. A manufacturer could be selling you a product directly or via a retailer without receiving any inspections from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A recent piece from ConsumerReports.org suggests consumers consider where a product's hemp source was (preferably Colorado) and how it was tested. This could include requesting a certificate of analysis (COA) from the manufacturer. The same article stresses that industrial-grade hemp plants can absorb many harmful chemicals from the soil just like any other plant. Harmful levels of toxins, including metals and contaminated water, for example, could be detected while hemp plants are being cultivated in the ground and during tests in the post-production process.
Becoming a CBD consumer is not something one must rush into. Furthermore, consumers don't have to test a range of products based on claims from people you know. Try a product because there is a specific therapeutic effect that you wish to obtain from it. There are many scientifically refereed medical journals that can help readers determine if a CBD product is appropriate to their health condition. Some consumers, for example, may not qualify for a medical marijuana license in their state, but they may use CBD products for relief from medical problems.
For free information on products such as our CBD tincture, we invite you to learn more today.
