Regardless of the CBD oil store you use, whether online or brick-and-mortar, there are ways to determine whether a product is worth your time and money. In a crowded marketplace, the onus is on the shop to prove that it is selling a legitimate, high-quality product.
It is a buyer’s market with increased competition driving prices down. Top-quality brands understand the importance of setting themselves apart from the competition and provide all the information a customer needs to make an informed decision. For example, those who use the Premium Jane CBD oil shop know exactly what they’re getting.
So, how does a reputable CBD oil shop guarantee the quality of its products? Let’s find out.
Hemp Source
China is the world’s largest hemp producer by a significant margin. In fact, New Frontier Data’s research indicates that just two provinces within the global superpower account for almost 70% of the world’s hemp fiber production. Therefore, you would expect the top brands to use hemp from China, right?
Wrong! In reality, almost every top-rated CBD oil store sources its hemp from the United States or the European Union. The main reason is that both the U.S. and EU have strict rules and regulations regarding the growth of hemp, not to mention testing. Many hemp experts claim that China doesn’t have laws anywhere near as robust.
Therefore, a CBD oil shop gets a tick in the credibility box if its hemp is cultivated in America or in selected European nations. It would seem that if a brand fails to mention where they source their hemp, they probably get it cheap from China.
Extraction Method
In simple terms, supercritical CO2 extraction is believed to provide the purest CBD oil around. It is a complex process involving sophisticated machinery and involves the use of carbon dioxide as a solvent. Ultimately, the final product has no traces of solvent, giving peace of mind to consumers.
Finding a reputable CBD oil shop that uses food-grade ethanol as the solvent is possible. Ethanol extraction is generally fine as long as the manufacturer sticks to FDA maximum limits on residual solvents. However, some customers don’t like the idea of any solvents, even trace amounts, being in their CBD products.
We have heard of some brands using hexane oil to extract cannabinoids from hemp. Proponents say it is low toxicity with a low boiling point. Yet, the consensus is that such CBD oil is not desirable.
Third-Party Lab Reports
Another major way for a CBD oil store to guarantee the quality of its products is by including updated third-party lab reports for every batch it sells. Also known as certificates of analysis (COAs), this documentation should prove that the product in question has been tested for the following:
- Cannabinoids
- Terpenes
- Microbials
- Heavy metals
- Pesticides
- Other harmful chemicals
Simply put, if a CBD oil shop can’t or won’t provide this information, it has no business operating in the marketplace. We recommend taking your business elsewhere because such products could prove harmful. They might contain less CBD than advertised or excessive THC, if nothing else.
A recent study found that a shocking proportion of CBD products have detectable levels of THC. If someone consumes such a product and inadvertently fails a drug screening, they could suffer serious repercussions. In many nations, particularly the United States, employers are legally allowed to terminate the contract of anyone who tests positive for THC metabolites.
While some American states now have protections for recreational and MMJ users, tens of millions of people remain exposed. No matter how much money you think you’re saving by purchasing a cheap CBD product, you could pay a very heavy price if it doesn’t have a third-party lab report from a real laboratory.
Final Thoughts on How CBD Shops Guarantee Legitimate Products
We wanted to make this article as simple as possible to ensure you find it easy to separate a trustworthy CBD oil store from a shady one. Look at the hemp source, extraction method, and third-party lab reports when searching for high-quality products. While there are other important factors, these three will put you a long way down the road toward finding the right CBD products for your needs.
