Pure CBD or Snake Oil?
As many of us know by now, not all CBD brands are created equal. Some people go into this business with pure intentions while others don’t. We went into this business because we truly believe in our products and the benefits they can provide to consumers. Others are in it strictly out of greed in a booming, fairly new green industry. Read more about what makes Happy Trails different.
We want to shed light on the difference and help you find trusted retailers and brands. There should be no question whether your product contains pure CBD or snake oil! Let’s first dive into dilutions, since this is typically how people get away with false advertisements.
Diluted Products for Different Reasons
Dilution is one of the most talked about topics in CBD. Why? When it comes to hemp, manufacturers must dilute their end products to ensure that they comply with legal guidelines in terms of THC percentage. The end product must have 0.3% THC or less to be considered a legal hemp product in the US.
Even if the product is THC-free, dilution often still occurs so that the product has the appropriate content ratio of cannabinoids and phytonutrients to carrier oil. Other, less favorable reasons companies may dilute their products is to mask contaminants that may be present, such as heavy metals, fillers, or pesticides. This can be very dangerous as ingesting those ingredients proves to be harmful to our health.
Companies may also be trying to save themselves money and will fill the bottle with cheaper solutions. This results in a potentially toxic, ineffective product with very little to no quality CBD. Ultimately, as consumers, it is our responsibility to do our research on the products we come across before we decide what CBD to purchase. Don’t worry, we know it’s a lot and we’re here to help you understand.
Questions to Ask
One of the biggest concerns we face today with many brands is lack of transparency and test results to back up the claims that a product contains pure CBD. Many labels don’t contain what they say they contain. Here are some questions we can ask the seller/brand:
- Has this product been third party tested in a qualified lab?
- Can I see the Certificate of Analysis (COA)?
- Is it safe to ingest?
- What are the other ingredients?
- What is the cannabinoid content/ratio?
- How was the product grown?
- How was the product extracted?
It is vital to speak to someone that is happy to answer these questions for you, like any of our cannabinoid consultants at Happy Trails. If you’re reading this, you’re probably on your own mission to feel better and live a healthier lifestyle. Here at Happy Trails we’ve made reading labels a habit to see what, if any, additives are in the products we are purchasing.
Feel free to reach out to us if you ever have questions, we enjoy hearing from you and we love sharing our love for cannabinoid therapy.
Companies may also be trying to save themselves money and will fill the bottle with cheaper solutions, resulting in a potentially toxic, ineffective product with very little to no quality CBD.