How to Identify Standard Quality CBD Product?

One may have been planning to buy CBD products or use them for a long time. Choosing a standard and quality product may not be easy, especially if it is one's first time buying such products.

Most researches have found that CBD can be used to treat anxiety, stress, chronic pain and cancer symptoms. These benefits have pushed most people to try it and confirm the truth behind it. Most countries have indeed made it legal. Since companies may take advantage of most consumers' illiteracy, it is encouraging that each individual should know how quality and standard CBD products. This article will best suit people who have chosen to buy CBD but lack solid facts, which might lead them to purchase a low-quality product. This article will enable one to types of CBD, its benefits, side effects and what one should do before purchasing CBD products.

What’s About CBD?

According to VanDolah et al. (2019), CBD or cannabidiol is a compound extracted from cannabis sativa or hemp plant. There are about 113 compounds in the cannabis plant, but CBD is the most popular known. This is because it has more therapeutic benefits than any other compound. Some people may confuse it with THC, a compound responsible for the 'high' feeling felt after one has smoked marijuana. Cannabidiol does not bring a 'high' feeling, while THC causes such an effect. Besides cannabidiol, the other compounds in the cannabis plant include CBN, linalool, limonene, and pinene, amongst others.

Types of CBD and Composition

So far, CBD is found in three types according to the compounds they are made of and the level of THC. There are three types of cannabidiol, which include full-spectrum, CBD isolate and broad-spectrum. Below are pieces of information about each type:

CBD Isolate

This is the purest form of CBD which does not contain any compound from the cannabis plant. The compounds present in CBD products are always responsible for the smell felt. This implies that the more compounds used, the more the intensity of the product. According to Kamal et al. (2018), since CBD isolate lacks cannabis compounds, it does not have the smell; hence best suits first CBD users. However, one can use it to boost sleep and appetite and relieve pain.

Broad-spectrum CBD

It is made up of all compounds of the cannabis plant except THC. According to Haney et al. (2016), Broad-spectrum does not cause psychoactive effects, making it suitable for first and regular users of CBD. Moreover, it is suitable for individuals who want to enjoy the benefits of CBD without experiencing a weird feeling.

Full-Spectrum

It is comprised of all the compounds of the cannabis plant with atleast 0.3% of THC. Since this type of CBD has plenty of cannabis compounds, it offers more benefits than the initial types of CBD. According to Maayah et al. (2020) it is used to treat anxiety, chronic pain, stress and nervous disorders. However, it may not be suitable for beginners since it has an earthy smell, discouraging those not used to CBD and its products. One should consider using this and other types of CBD with a doctor's instruction since the product itself has not been fully legalized.

Where can one buy CBD?

Making up the mind to buy CBD may be a good idea since it allows one to enjoy the health benefits it has. However, one may ask whether CBD can be bought from the supermarkets, retailers, or a few individuals engaging in the black market. One can get CBD or its products from nearby CBD stations, stores, or dispensaries. Once the place has been reached, one must inquire about all information one may need. Mentioning but a few may be the safety measures, how to apply and the benefits of the products.

Identifying Quality and Standard CBD Product

Once somebody has decided to purchase CBD, one would like to know tips that can be used to identify quality products. This may help to avoid the risks and uncertainties that may arise in case of usage. Below are ways one can consider when choosing a quality product:

CBD Profile

One should make sure that the CBD profile is accurate by ensuring that essential cannabis compounds are included in full-spectrum and broad-spectrum types. These compounds are cannabichromene, cannabigerol and cannabidiolic acid.

Label Accuracy

Every CBD product should be correctly labeled, meaning the concentration indicated on the certificate of analysis is in line with the concentration on the label.

CBD Should Have a Third-party Test Result

This outside organization has taken the product and tested it for its safety. The company organization involved should not have a stake in the product.

Passed the Test of Heavy Metals and Pesticides

The product should have been taken to the laboratory, tested for heavy metals like mercury and lead, and found to be free from them.

It Should Be Free from Other Contaminants

Apart from heavy metals and pesticides that might be considered impurities in this case, other impurities that may endanger consumers' lives should not be found.

What One Should Do Before Planning on CBD Usage

Before one decides on using CBD, the following should be done:

• Consult your doctor
• Know the purpose of buying CBD
• Understand different types of CBD
• Know the medical status to avoid interaction of CBD with your medication
• One should ask for more information from regular CBD users

Benefits of CBD

Now that one has decided to buy CBD, one may ask about the benefits that will be got from CBD. Cannabidiol and its products have more benefits to the consumers. Below are the benefits of CBD:

Treat Cancer Diseases

According to Neumann-Raizel et al. (2019), CBD has chemical compounds that aid in killing cancer cells and preventing cancer development.

Prevent the Brain from Infections

CBD stimulates the body's endocannabinoid to release chemicals that help maintain brain health.

Treat Anxiety

Alger et al. (2013) found that the chemicals released by receptors when stimulated by cannabidiol help make one feel relaxed, thereby treating anxiety.

Treat Insomnia

Insomnia prevents one from getting enough sleep; thus can be prevented by incorporating CBD into the diet.

Risks and Side Effects of CBD

One may be exposed to some dangers when using CBD. The following are dangers that arise from using cannabidiol:

1. Dry mouth. This may arise due to interference with the salivary glands, preventing the secretion of saliva.
2. Diarrhea
3. Wong et al. (2012) suggested that CBD leads to addiction and overdependence. THC is responsible for this feeling making one unable to survive without CBD.
4. Leads to psychoactive effects.
5. Interferes with sleep.

Conclusion

Every individual needs a good product that can best meet the demands. As a result, safe and quality products should be bought. As CBD is gaining popularity, most companies may take advantage; hence playing around with consumers' security. The article has discussed ways one can know quality and standard product, touching on the certificate of analysis, CBD profile, label accuracy and free from contaminants. One should ensure that all the factors discussed are considered and the best measures are taken in case one is missing. CBD offers more benefits to the consumers; hence one should be compelled to its usage for good health. However the benefits one may get from using the product, there are risks and side effects associated with it; thus, one should consider the above guidelines before concluding to use CBD.

References

Alger, B. E. (2013, November). Getting high on the endocannabinoid system. In Cerebrum: the Dana forum on brain science (Vol. 2013). Dana Foundation.

Haney, M., Malcolm, R. J., Babalonis, S., Nuzzo, P. A., Cooper, Z. D., Bedi, G., ... & Walsh, S. L. (2016). Oral cannabidiol does not alter the subjective, reinforcing, or cardiovascular effects of smoked cannabis. Neuropsychopharmacology, 41(8), 1974-1982.

Kamal, B. S., Kamal, F., & Lantela, D. E. (2018). Cannabis and the anxiety of fragmentation—a systems approach for finding an anxiolytic cannabis chemotype. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 12, 730.

Maayah, Z. H., Takahara, S., Ferdaoussi, M., & Dyck, J. R. (2020). The molecular mechanisms underpin the physical benefits of full-spectrum cannabis extract in treating neuropathic pain and inflammation. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Molecular Basis of Disease, 1866(7), 165771.

Neumann-Raizel, H., Shilo, A., Lev, S., Mogilevsky, M., Katz, B., Shneor, D., ... & Binshtok, A. M. (2019). 2-APB and CBD-mediated targeting of charged cytotoxic compounds into tumor cells suggest the involvement of TRPV2 channels. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 10, 1198.

VanDolah, H. J., Bauer, B. A., & Mauck, K. F. (2019, September). Clinicians’ guide to cannabidiol and hemp oils. In Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Vol. 94, No. 9, pp. 1840-1851). Elsevier.

Wong, H. P., Chiu, Y. L., Shiu, B. H., & Ho, L. C. (2012). Preoperative MRCP to detect choledocholithiasis in acute calculous cholecystitis. Journal of hepato-biliary-pancreatic sciences, 19(4), 458-464.