Don’t Buy CBD From Just Anywhere – Here’s What to Look For
CBD has become so widely available and accessible to everyone over the past few years. It’s built a lot of hype – and for good reason! CBD has helped millions of people get relief and support for their everyday ailments. It has helped people with sleep, anxiety, pain, inflammation, soreness, stress, pandemic burnout, and so much more. However, if you are thinking about trying CBD or purchasing a new brand, it’s important to know what you’re looking for. Check for these 5 things before purchasing CBD:
- COAs – One of the most important things to look for in a CBD product is its COA, or Certificate of Analysis. COAs are a report created by a lab testing facility that check batches of CBD and other hemp derived products to make sure they actually contain what they say they do. COAs can tell you the amount of CBD and THC in a product (if any), as well as the levels of other cannabinoids, terpenes, and possible contaminants that were detected. These can include metals, pesticides, and bacteria, so it is extremely important to do your research. It is also worthy to note that a COA should ideally be from a third party lab test (not tested at the same facility it came from). This keeps everyone honest and ensures that all the information on the label is factual. It is required for all CBD and hemp-derived products to be tested, so make sure that your product has one available before you buy a product.
HG tip: All Heirloom Grove products have COAs readily available to view before or after purchase. We include QR codes on products from the exact batch it came from to give users peace of mind knowing exactly what is inside their product.
2. Medical Claims – Since CBD is not yet FDA-approved, makers of CBD products are not allowed to make any medical or health claims about their products. For example, they cannot say that they “cure,” “treat,” or “prevent” any disease. While we are firm believers that CBD helps support a host of issues in individuals, beware of buying CBD products from a company that is claiming to cure diseases or suggest that CBD can be used in place of a prescribed medication. They may not be operating with the most honesty.
HG tip: We believe in the power of nature and plants (we love our cannabinoids!) to help support overall wellness and assist in relieving pain and stress symptoms. While there is strong evidence that shows how helpful CBD can be, it is not an FDA-approved cure or treatment for any serious diseases or sicknesses. Make sure your CBD isn’t claiming to do so!
3. Source – This one can be pretty easy to get past as a CBD company. Make sure you can easily find where the company gets its hemp and CBD from. Is it grown by the company itself? Is it sustainably sourced? Was it organically grown? These are important factors to note because you want to make sure that the source of your products knows the source of their plants and exactly what is in them. In addition, organically grown ingredients have a higher likelihood of being high quality, more effective, and better tasting.
HG tip: Your best bet in knowing exactly where your products come from is to find a company (…like Heirloom Grove) that prioritizes organic and oversees every step of the process from seed to shelf. That way, you can be rest-assured that the folks making your CBD products care about what goes into them, and have been been continuously examined for quality at multiple checkpoints.
4. CBD Content and Type – It is extremely important to make sure that any CBD product you buy has the amount of CBD content clearly labeled (for example, 500 mg CBD or cannabinoids). Additionally, the type of CBD should be easy to find somewhere on the package. Look for the words full spectrum, broad spectrum, or isolate. These terms can be helpful in finding out whether or not the CBD product contains any THC or other cannabinoids such as CBG or CBN. If THC content (or lack thereof) is an important factor to you, make sure you check for these things. Full spectrum CBD products are allowed to have 0.3% or less THC in them. Broad spectrum products can contain CBD and other cannabinoids and terpenes, but no THC. CBD isolate is CBD that is in its purest form, isolated from all other cannabinoids and plant compounds.
HG tip: In addition to CBD content, make sure all ingredients are listed somewhere on your CBD products. The ingredients list can sometimes be the best place to find information about how your CBD was processed (full spectrum, broad spectrum, or isolate).
5. Ask Questions – Lastly, when shopping for a new self-care or wellness product, it’s important that the company selling it to you has information available on their website or social medias, and is willing to answer questions you may have. You want the distributor to be knowledgeable about what they are selling. If you are having a hard time getting a straight answer from a CBD company, that could possibly be a red flag.
HG tip: If there’s anything you have questions about while you’re browsing our website or social media, please reach out to us! We’re dedicated to helping people feel their best and feel even better about where they are getting their CBD products! With so much misinformation out there, it’s easy to get lost! We can’t wait to get you into to your new favorite daily wellness routine!
