For both the beauty and wellness industries, CBD has become the trending product. Due to its numerous benefits which include reducing sleeplessness and inflammation and healing acne and anxiety, the sales have continued to grow, and more products are coming into the market (from vapes to patches, to edible). However, as with every booming product, not all brands are what they claim to be. On top of that, CBD is mostly unregulated.
Although the FDA is looking for research and recommendations from experts that will aid CBD regulation, there are still some challenges that concern every CBD user. There have been reports from toxicologists showing that CBD contains impurities that are harmful to users. These impurities include pesticides, heavy metals, and bacteria. According to a study from the JAMA Network Journal, more than two-thirds of CBD products tested by experts were mislabeled. Some of these products had more CBD than what was indicated on the label, and others had no CBD at all. What’s worse, some CBD products contained tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive agent in cannabis plants.
Before purchasing any CBD product, here are a few things you should consider:
- When CBD is taken in high doses (over 800 mg daily), there is a high risk of interaction with other drugs. It may also lead to sedative effects or gastrointestinal side effects. You should, therefore, buy a product that indicates the amount of CBD per dose other than the whole pack.
- It is crucial to start with a small dose and then adjust up if needed.
- CBD is more effective when it works with other cannabinoids (there are over 100 cannabinoids in the cannabis plant). It is therefore important that you use a full-spectrum product other than a product that has isolated CBD molecules. If a product is labelled “whole-plant” or “full-spectrum” it has enhanced therapeutic benefits.
- Before purchase, ask for the product’s Certificate of Analysis (CoA). CoAs come from independent testing facilities, and they have a report of the CBD and THC levels in the product, and screenings for any contaminants.
- Many CBD skincare products like creams, oils, or facial masks actually use hemp oil instead of CBD oil. CBD oil is the more superior of the two because it controls inflammation, sebum production, and keeps your skin balanced, while hemp oil is mainly a moisturiser.
- Vaping products are not adequately regulated. Some of the oils used in vaping products have thinning agents and additives that make them easy to burn. Good CBD oil only vaping products do not contain substances like propylene glycol, trendy flavours, or any impurities that could be harmful to your health.
- CBD products cannot claim to be organic. Due to this US regulation, you should check if a company follows scientific testing standards, good manufacturing practices, and third-party certifications that verify that the cannabis used was cultivated following ethical growing practices.
- Always by CBD products from trusted sources.
