If you perform an internet search for CBD (cannabidiol) oil, you will have millions of results with thousands of companies offering a variety of CBD products for sale . But how do you know which companies are actually worth buying from? There are so many options, it can feel overwhelming trying to weed out the good from the bad.
We here at Panacea Life Sciences are dedicated not only to providing our customers with high-quality CBD products, but we also want to be sure that our customers have a firm understanding of CBD and the world surrounding it. So, let’s talk about what you should look for in a good CBD company.
To start with: what even is CBD?
It is likely that you have heard of CBD before, but do you know what it actually is? Even if you do know, a little refresher can be very helpful.
CBD is one of a type of chemical compound known as a cannabinoid. Cannabinoids are found in cannabis plants, like hemp and marijuana. There are a lot of different kinds of cannabinoids out there. Scientists have discovered over 113 so far, and there are likely more to discover. CBD is probably one of the better-known cannabinoids. Another famous one is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
You have probably heard more about THC than CBD. The reason for that is because THC is psychoactive. That means that it creates the inebriating high that is so commonly associated with cannabis. Because of THC’s reputation, many people think that CBD is also psychoactive. However, those who believe that are mistaken. CBD does not have any psychoactive effects whatsoever.
Most CBD manufacturers extract their cannabinoid from hemp rather than marijuana. This is because hemp has high levels of CBD and low levels of THC. It is also because hemp is federally legal in the United States. Marijuana is pretty much the opposite of that. It has high levels of THC and is still federally illegal. There are some states that have legalized marijuana on some level (whether it is for medicinal or recreational uses), but that is only a handful so far.
There are three main kinds of CBD extract that manufacturers use to make their products. These are full spectrum, broad spectrum, and CBD isolate. The differences between them are based in the other cannabinoids and compounds that are found in the extract with the CBD. Full spectrum has all of the compounds and cannabinoids that come out with the CBD. This includes THC, though the THC content legally cannot be more than 0.3%, which is not enough to create a high. Broad spectrum is similar in that it has a majority of the cannabinoids and compounds that the full spectrum has. The one exception is that it does not have any THC. These two are popular options because of something known as the entourage effect. This is where compounds build on each other to create a stronger effect. However, if you are looking for a clearer CBD experience and do not mind it being weaker, then you will want to look for CBD isolate. This kind of extract is exactly what it sounds like. It is just CBD. There are no other compounds or cannabinoids in it.
Now that you have a foundation of CBD information (or, at least, a review), let’s talk about what makes a good CBD company.
What to look for in a good CBD company
There are many factors to pay attention to when looking for a good CBD company to buy from. But what it boils down to is the biggest thing that you need to be willing to do: read. You are already part way there, just by reading this article. But it does not stop here.
When looking for a reputable CBD company, do your research. Be sure to read reviews about their products and the company as a whole. These reviews should be both from the company’s site and from third party sites. This way you avoid bias and get a clear idea of how good their products really are.
Any trustworthy CBD manufacturer should be as transparent as possible about their processes. They should have their extraction process laid out somewhere on their site for you to read. They should also be open about the rest of their manufacturing process as well. If they do not have this information readily available, then you should stay away.
Reputable CBD companies should also test their products. They should have their testing information available on their site. They should be testing not only the quality of their products, but also to be sure that no unwanted compounds are in the CBD. It is not a problem if they do their own testing, but if they do, they should also have a third-party test their products to be sure that there is no bias in the tests. If they have no information about their testing on their site, you should avoid them.
It also helps to understand what the most recent information that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released on CBD is. If a CBD company is not compliant with what the FDA has laid out or does not even talk about it anywhere on their site, you may want to avoid them. All CBD companies should be keeping up with FDA regulations and guidelines.
Price is another factor you should pay attention to when it comes to high-quality CBD. Some manufacturers charge an exorbitant amount, just because the industry is relatively new, and they feel like they can. This is not an indication as to whether or not the company has quality products. But, on the other end of the spectrum, there are some companies whose prices feel like they are too good to be true. In those cases, they often are. If a CBD product seems dirt cheap (even before it goes on sale or has a coupon), there is a chance that it has been made with synthetic CBD, or the company does not follow safe practices. More often than not, it is best to find products that are a bit more middle of the road in their price. Of course, reading reviews, as talked about above, helps weed out the overpriced and untrustworthy a lot.
What CBD products are out there?
Now that you have an idea of what to look for in a CBD company, let’s talk about what different products are out there.
Oils & tinctures
Oils and tinctures are probably one of the simpler forms of CBD. They are CBD extract that has been mixed with a carrier oil, like palm and coconut oil. You can take this either by mixing them in with some food or drink, or by placing the drops directly into your mouth. Most companies recommend the more direct way. This is because if you place the drops under your tongue, the CBD can absorb through the thin skin there and enter the system more quickly. This way it starts working faster.
Tablets & capsules
These are pill-like products that have been made with CBD. Tablets are normally sublingual, which means that you take them by placing them under your tongue and allowing them to dissolve. Like with the tinctures, this allows them to start working rather quickly. The capsules are usually soft gels. This means that they have been made with liquid CBD. This way they digest and start working faster than regular pills.
Edibles
You can probably guess what these are. Edibles are anything that is edible and is made with CBD. These are very popular, mainly because they taste great and are fun to take. However, they do tend to take the longest to start working. This is because the food or drink needs to digest before the CBD can enter the system and start working. But their effects tend to last the longest.
FDA-approved medications
So far, there have been a handful of CBD-based medications that have been approved by the FDA. The most famous of these medications is Epidiolex, an epilepsy medication. It is designed to help fight the seizures that are caused by two kinds of epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. The others are all medications that are made to help with the nausea that is often caused by cancer treatments.
Topicals
This category of CBD products includes anything that you use on your skin that is made with CBD. They can be lotions, salves, balms, hand sanitizers, and even patches. These will not provide the same overall effect that the oral products may. This is because their products do not enter the bloodstream. Instead, they have a localized effect that is caused by the CBD absorbing into the pores. The CBD does its work there and does not move much beyond.
Those are broad categories listed above. There are subcategories to each of these. To find the right product for you, you may need to do some exploring. But hopefully, this list has given you an idea of what you want to look for.
What is the right amount of CBD for me?
If you are looking for an exact number of milligrams, you are going to be disappointed. There is no set amount of CBD for someone to take. This is because everyone reacts to CBD a little bit differently. Some people require only a small amount, while others need a lot of the cannabinoid. This means that you will need to experiment a bit in order to find the right amount of CBD for you. There is a safe way to go about that, but first let’s talk about what you should keep an eye out for.
Overall, CBD is considered safe. As mentioned above, it is not psychoactive, so you do not have to worry about too much of it creating a high. It does, however, have some side effects. They tend to include things like fatigue and gastrointestinal upset. Clearly, they are not life threatening. But they are still not fun. These side effects are usually associated with taking too much CBD. So, avoiding them is simply a matter of making sure you are taking the right amount for you.
So, how exactly should you go about finding the right amount of CBD for you? As mentioned above, it does require some experimentation. Most CBD products do have a suggested amount on the label. It is not a bad idea to start with that much and see how it sits with you. However, it is best to start with as small of an amount as possible. Once you try your chosen amount, wait a little while to see how it sits with you. Remember that some products take longer to take effect than others. If, after a reasonable amount of time has passed, you still do not feel any positive effects or negative side effects, then you can up the amount a little bit at a time. Be sure to stop once you find the lowest amount that gives you benefits without any side effects. There is no need to test your limits.
An important thing to be aware of is that CBD does not always mix well with certain medications. These medications could not work as well, or not work at all, in the presence of the cannabinoid. If you are on medication and would like to start taking CBD, it is best to discuss it with a healthcare professional first. They should know whether or not the CBD will sit well with your prescription.
Hopefully, this article has given you newbies to the world of CBD more confidence to dive in and find the perfect CBD product for you. As for the CBD old hands, hopefully this article has given you some new information on what you should expect from your CBD manufacturer. There is a lot of exciting potential in CBD, but as its industry is still new, it is best to be careful and be sure that you are getting the best product available. Buy CBD oil from our shop with just a few clicks!
