CBD products are all the rave right now. There is hardly any product from Lollipops to tampons and even pet food that isn’t infused with CBD. It is also widely talked about and recommended by many celebrities, dare I say Martha Stewart looks to be championing the cause for the use of CBD products in daily activities. However, a lot of Americans seem to be exposed to the word “CBD” and see it slapped on the product package of most consumables out there but are at a loss as to what it truly does or what is expected of a CBD product. It is no shame to want to know more about a product before introducing it into our bodies, making informed choices is way better than crowd following. It is only fair to know what exactly you are investing your money and trusting your health to. 

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical in the Cannabis sativa plant, also known as cannabis or hemp. Over 80 chemicals, known as cannabinoids, have been found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the most famous ingredient in cannabis. But CBD is obtained from hemp, a form of the Cannabis sativa plant that only contains small amounts of THC. CBD seems to have effects on some chemicals in the brain, but these are different from the effects of THC, which causes a characteristic “high” feeling. CBD is not psychoactive.¹Laws passed in 2018 made it legal to sell CBD products in the US. The CBD industry is flourishing, conservatively projected to hit $16 billion in the United States by 2025. CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant, then diluting it with a carrier oil like coconut or hemp seed oil.

What Does “CBD/Hemp Flower” Mean?²

CBD flower and hemp flower are synonymous with each other. Hemp flower refers to the unprocessed bud from a female hemp plant. When it’s dried and cured, it’s almost indistinguishable from traditional marijuana. 

The real difference between the two is in the different cannabinoids (CBD/THC/CBG) that the hemp plant is designed to produce. To be considered a hemp flower, the flower must contain less than 0.3% of Δ9-THC by dry weight. 

Is CBD Legal?

CBD is legal in most parts of the United States. In December of 2015, the FDA eased the regulatory requirements to allow researchers to conduct CBD trials. In 2018, a Farm Bill was passed making hemp legal in the United States, this made it easier for CBD-infused products to flood the market. More acceptance and approval of CBD research were evident in the country with the US government donating $3billion to CBD research in 2019. CBD comes in many forms, including oils, extracts, capsules, patches, vapes, and topical preparations for use on the skin. CBD is safe for consumption and has been known to improve health and support wellness. 

A few things to look out for when shopping for CBD products 

You have read up on CBD and now want to make purchases but then are wary of things to look out for when selecting a CBD-infused product. There are certain things a CBD product packaging should be able to tell a consumer about the product to help them feel safer and make informed choices as well. They include:

• Additional ingredients: Looking out for additional ingredients helps you know what else, in addition to the main ingredient, you might be ingesting. Some manufacturers may decide to add unique or flagship ingredients to the product and may state it within the ingredient section.

• Claims: Be on the lookout for companies or manufacturers that make claims about the potency or effects of the product on health. CBD products help and support health and wellness but they are hardly a remedy to cure all ills. Products that have a “cure-all” or “cure most” claim should be avoided as they are most likely a cash grab scheme.

• Labeling: If it's a dietary supplement, it should have a back panel with an FDA disclaimer and warning section, as well as the batch number and certificate of analysis showing that the product has undergone third-party testing. All these go to show that the manufacturers are following good manufacturing practices. Third-party testing is a real concern in the industry, the 2017 Journal of the American Medical Association study, tested 84 CBD products and found that 26% contained lower doses than stated on the bottle.³ Certificate of Analysis is a document provided by a third-party laboratory that certifies the potency of a specific CBD product. Always be on the lookout for a CoA when buying or considering CBD products. Herbal Goodness CBD products always go through third-party certification and approval before our products are rolled out.  

• Dosing: When thinking about dosing, also consider whether your CBD is full-spectrum or isolate: Full-spectrum could include other cannabinoids like cannabidivarin or cannabigerol. This is important, as an entourage effect can occur when they are all together; this is a phenomenon where they are more effective together than they would have been alone.³

Traveling with CBD

Traveling with CBD should pose no issues now. However, if you're traveling with a tincture, be mindful of TSA limits on how much liquid you can carry on an airplane. CBD products can also be mailed, companies that comply with the Bill can ship their hemp-derived CBD products anywhere in the U.S. Also, if the CBD product was third-party tested, it should not appear in a drug test. This is because most CBD products that are third-party tested contain little or no THC.

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Reference

1. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1439/cannabidiol-cbd. Accessed on October 19, 2021
2. https://sunsetlakecbd.com/what-does-cbd-stand-for-and-the-other-abcs-of-hemp. Accessed on January 9, 2021
3. https://www.health.com/condition/chronic-pain/what-is-cbd. Accessed on December 19, 2019