If you are looking to buy CBD oil online, maybe you could use a few pointers to help weed through the available options. Advancements in the world of science have resulted in some great discoveries in the health and fitness industry. One of the most exciting discoveries taking place in recent times is the rise of CBD oil or Cannabidiol. CBD has gained immense popularity because of its versatility and the wide array of benefits it offers. The oil is made of the hemp plant or cannabis sativa, and has some exceptional medicinal properties. Scientists have discovered CBD can be beneficial in fighting inflammation, stress, anxiety, and even one of the most severe forms of epilepsy.
Cannabis Sativa
Let’s first look at the origin of CBD, and the difference between hemp and marijuana. Both plants carry the Latin or scientific name cannabis sativa. This can of course result in some confusion, especially when aiming to navigate the borders of what is legal, and what isn’t!
Unlike the medical marijuana-based products, CBD oils and tinctures are often made from plants that are very low (as low as 0.3%) on THC. Marijuana strains are either a cannabis sativa, a cannabis indica, or a hybrid/blend of the two. Some strains may even contain genetics of a third type, cannabis ruderalis.
CBD, THC and Other Cannabinoids
A lot of marijuana strains are bred specifically for their high-THC flower. These cannabis plants contain CBD and THC, as well as many other cannabinoids. There are over 80 different cannabinoids present in marijuana, very few of which have been researched thus far. THC and CBD are the most well known ones, and the percentage of CBD and THC (as well as the ratio) can vary widely depending on the strain.
A select few strains are created with not so much the THC, but the CBD in mind. The famous ‘Charlotte’s Web’ strain is one of them, and was bred specifically for its very high CBD and very low THC content, to help children with a rare form of epileptic seizures. CBD used in supplements, oils, and tinctures can also be extracted from the industrial hemp plant. Since hemp is a fair bit easier to deal with – being non-psycho-active, and therefor not illegal in many places – CBD oil and supplements are often made from the “other” cannabis plant: hemp.
Cannabis sativa is the name for marijuana plants that produce flowers that will get you high. It is also the name for hemp plants that won’t get you stoned. CBD is present in both, but how much of it depends on the specific strain. While the non-psychoactive hemp plants are grown for their fiber, they do contain enough of the cannabinoid called CBD or cannabidiol, which is used in products with CBD for therapeutic uses.
Using CBD present in industrial hemp plants allows suppliers to bring CBD oil and related products to the market at a more affordable price. The best part of this oil is that offers a range of significant health benefits without causing any high. You can buy cheap CBD oil from any reliable store online in order to enjoy its health benefits, without having to worry about breaking the law.
CBD Specific Health Benefits
CBD interacts with the human body via the ECS or endogenous cannabinoid system. It helps human body to attain homeostasis. As a result, users experience significant improvement in their sleep, mood, appetite, pain, immunity and hormone regulation. In addition, CBD oil reduces anxiety and inflammation, relieves nausea, and manages insomnia, diabetes, acne and chronic pain effectively. It can even help you in enhancing your cardiovascular health. The oil is also often used for treating neurological disorders. The potent medicinal properties of CBD oil have made it a popular name in the medical industry.
Differences Between Cheap & Expensive CBD Oil
Within the wide range of CBD products available nowadays, you will still find a lot of variety. There are both cheaper and pricier CBD oils on the market. This has been a major cause of confusion for the buyers. You may be wondering how the more expensive CBD oil is different from the cheaper versions of the oil. Let’s have a look at the factors that determine the price of CBD oil.
Potency
The term potency is used for the concentration of CBD in the oil. Potency of CBD oil is usually measured in milligrams per serving. The CBD oil known for having the highest potency in the market contains 190 mg CBD per serving. However, there are also products that offer 50 to 80 mg of CBD in each serving. It’s obvious that the oil with higher concentration of CBD will be more expensive compared to the products with lower concentration of the active ingredient.
If you are new to CBD oil, don’t feel as though you have to jump right into the most potent (and expensive) kind. Cheap CBD oil with a lower potency isn’t a bad place to start. While feeling it out and getting an idea of how your body responds to CBD, a less concentrated CBD oil allows for a gradual build-up. Should you wish to take “more”, that’s as easy as just doing it. The worst that can happen is that you’ll work your way through the bottle (or capsules) of CBD oil quickly, and establish the need for a more potent version.
Whether less concentrated cheap CBD oil is a good fit depends on your reason for taking CBD, and the expectations you have. If you don’t notice any effect what so ever, or if your issues require a stronger approach, those are good reasons to move along to something stronger.
Quality
While the concentration or potency of CBD oil is truly a matter of personal preference, the quality is not. This is an area where you don’t really want to do any concessions. If a certain brand of CBD oil is cheap, because it is contaminated with pesticides as a result of the hemp plant not being grown organically, I would always recommend against it.
Organic agriculture has become a bit of a hype, and whether you think this is valid or not is totally up to you. Perhaps you are already trying to eat organic as much as possible, or perhaps you’ve made up your mind that you can’t be bothered with the whole organic trend. Either way, fact is that residual matter from pesticides used on a crop remain present in that crop, or in the end product made from it. If you are at all concerned about this, be sure to check whether the cheaper CBD oil you’re looking at purchasing is made from organically produced plants. Things to get clarity on in regards to the quality of a CBD oil and supplement are:
- Is the hemp/cannabis plant a product of organic agriculture?
- Does this happen in the USA, or abroad? (Some countries have a history of less trustworthy ways of operating, but being grown abroad doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing – actually, some countries have stricter regulations than the USA does!)
- How is the CBD extracted from the cannabis or hemp plant? (Look for information on the “extraction method”, or fill out this term in the search bar of a website to see what comes up. This information should be easy to find, but if not it is a perfectly valid question to reach out with to customer service. The brand or supplier should not flinch at it at all, and be able to provide you with the details.
Does CBD Oil Really Never Contain Any THC?
I think a quick word on whether CBD oil never contains any THC at all is on order.
Let’s say for example you would make your own cannabis oil. When doing this with cannabis flower or other marijuana plant material (leaves, stems), it will obviously contain whichever cannabinoids are present in the used plant or strain. Oil containing the entire range of cannabinoids present in a plant are called full-spectrum.
Some brands or types do indeed make a full-spectrum cannabis oil. Such an oil includes all cannabinoids, not just CBD, and as such they may contain the psychoactive component THC. However, the risk to “accidentally” purchase a full-spectrum cannabis oil when looking for CBD oil is basically non existent. Most places selling CBD oil and CBD related products are very specific about it. If a product containing CBD also contains THC, the supplier will usually be up front about that too, since it is in their best interest to properly describe the merchandise.
In the case of CBD oil, it is most often displayed front and center on a website is that this particular product does not contain anything illegal. In the case of full-spectrum oil (or anything containing more THC than is legal in most places), this information will also be displayed prominently, for two simple reasons. It is very sought after by those looking to buy THC oil, and a supplier would not want to miss out on those customers. Also, it is still illegal in many areas. Suppliers and brands prefer not to break the law and mess up their business. It is in their best interest to reassure you – the (potential) customer – that everything they offer is what it says it is, and is perfectly legal.
Cheap CBD Oil Buying Guide
- Check on the sourcing of the CBD used in the oil. Is the cannabis or hemp used for production grown in a certified organic setting?
- Try to find out more about the extraction method. WHich process is used to isolate the CBD or cannabidiol, and are there any possible contaminants involved?
- Determine the potency you’re comfortable starting with. The least potent CBD oil has the lowest price tag, within the same brand or supplier.
With the organic agriculture component and the purity of the extracted CBD established, all that is left is to make a choice in regards to the potency of the oil. Starting with a less potent and cheaper CBD oil is friendlier on the wallet, but you may have to take more to feel the effect. This isn’t an absolute rule, though! Depending on your personal sensitivity, a cheaper and less potent version can very well be all you need. For lack of a desired effect, the first thing to do is up the dosage, since you already have some of the entry-level potency CBD oil in hands. This can be either taking more at once, or taking a dose more often. Secondly, after using up the cheaper CBD oil, you may next want to try a stronger version to reach the desired effect in a more hassle-free and cost-efficient way.
In A Nutshell
The bottom line? Keep an eye out for the CBD sourcing, organic certifications and potential contaminants resulting from the extraction method, if those things are important to you. These components aside, potency is what determines the price tag. Cheap CBD oil doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It definitely allows room for some experimentation.
