Why CBD Oil Is So Expensive

Undoubtedly, CBD is a popular cannabinoid that has tripled in sales in the last three years. This article will explain more about CBD and why it's so expensive.

Many companies have popped up since the compound is infused in many different products, such as gummies and capsules, making it easily accessible for several users with different needs. Although the cannabis compound is not approved for medical use by the FDA, many researchers have backed up the various claims for the effects of CBD on the body, including pain relief, improving sleep, and alleviating different mental disorders such as anxiety and stress. However, many counterfeit products have flooded the market since getting pure, and good-quality CBD oil can be problematic.

CBD Oil: What Is It?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is the second most known cannabinoid derived from the cannabis and hemp plant. Hemp-derived CBD is legalized under federal law since the plant contains a higher concentration of CBD, unlike cannabis, which leads to THC levels. According to Watt & Karl (2017), THC is the most common cannabinoid in marijuana. It is well known for its psychoactive effects and alters the user's mental functioning. On the other hand, CBD does not have a hallucinogenic effect. However, it works by activating the CB1 and CB2 receptors to dispense its therapeutic effects to the body. Additionally, research suggests that CBD and THC work together by complementing the effects and the potency by creating an entourage effect.

CBD is extracted from the plant by the use of chemicals or CO₂. According to Rochfort et al. (2020), CO₂ is the best method of CBD extraction since it maintains higher purity and potency levels of CBD. Moreover, CBD takes its oil form by mixing it with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or hemp seed oil. The oils do not affect the potency of CBD.

There are three CBD types: full spectrum, broad spectrum, and CBD isolate. The full spectrum contains all the compounds derived from the plant, including THC. On the other hand, the broad-spectrum CBD contains different plant components, including terpenes, flavonoids, and all cannabinoids without THC. CBD isolate is considered the purest form of CBD, rated 99% pure when the compound arse is subjected to a more intense extraction process to retain just CBD.

You should note that the effect of CBD isolate more or less constant compared to full and broad-spectrum CBD, whose effect increase with the dosage.

Why CBD Oil Is Expensive

CBD Is Associated with Different Health Benefits

Among the main reasons for the popularity of CBD is that it is linked to various health benefits, including pain relief, alleviating anxiety and stress, improving sleep, and reducing inflammation. For this reason, CBD has attracted the attention of many researchers since it is considered a natural remedy for different problems in the body, thus making it more valuable. According to Teitelbaum (2019), CBD treats the childhood-onset form of epilepsy. Epidiolex is the only CBD drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Research shows that patients who administered Epidiolex significantly improved compared to a placebo.

Type of CBD

As mentioned, CBD is categorized into full spectrum, broad spectrum, and CBD isolate. The full spectrum has different compounds of the cannabis plant, such as terpenes, flavonoids, cannabinoids, and THC. Obtaining these forms of CBD is more costly than extracting CBD isolate. Additionally, the full and broad spectrum has more benefits since the user will enjoy the entourage effect, a phenomenon in which the chemical compounds of hemp work harmoniously to enhance a cannabinoid's therapeutic effects.

Change in the Labelling Criteria

Many CBD products have flooded the market, and consumers have greater chances of accessing low-quality products. Therefore, various laws have been developed to ensure customers earn value for their money by purchasing high-quality products. Labelling must be conducted professionally following state law. However, since CBD isolate is cheaper, most manufacturers tend to label the isolate products as a premium to misguide customers.

 The Dosage

People respond differently to CBD, making it harder to find the ideal dosage. Conversely, CBD products come with a guide on how many milligrams the user needs. Also, the dosage can be pinned down to the type of CBD; for example, the broad-spectrum CBD dosage is not limited to any amount approved by the FDA since it does not contain THC, which can intoxicate the user. It is essential to look at the total number of milligrams per bottle and dosage. Based on the research carried out, it is evident that most CBD products are subjected to mislabelling. Furthermore, stricter rules for the production of third-party test certificates have made the product more expensive since there are many tests to validate the quality of CBD products.

 Side Effects of CBD

CBD is a natural compound; thus, most people believe it has no side effects. However, since people respond differently to CBD, some reported effects include changes in appetite, body weight, increased fatigue, dry mouth, and diarrhea. According to Lamb et al. (2016), CBD can cause drowsiness mainly experienced by beginners or people who overdose on it. Therefore, all CBD users should take a limited amount of CBD that can serve their needs. It is good to start slow and small and gradually increase your dosage as your body gets accustomed to CBD.

Some research shows that CBD can cause serious damage to delicate body parts such as the liver and lungs. However, there is a need for more research on the extent of damage CBD can cause to the body.

Conclusion

CBD is naturally extracted in powder form and mixed with carrier oil, which acts as a carrier base. Additionally, CBD has many health benefits, including pain relief, alleviating stress and anxiety, and improving sleep. However, different factors make CBD oil expensive, for example, changes in labeling criteria, dosage, association with different health benefits, and types of CBD and extraction methods. However, CBD can have different side effects, varying from one user to the other, although some consumers do not experience any effects after using CBD. Drowsiness is experienced mostly due to overdose. Additionally, it can cause damage to the lungs and liver, which is a long-term effect; thus, there is a need for more research on the effects of the cannabinoid compound.

References

Lamb, R., Rohrer, J. D., Lees, A. J., & Morris, H. R. (2016). Progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration: pathophysiology and treatment options. Current treatment options in neurology, 18(9), 1-18.

Rochfort, S., Isbel, A., Ezernieks, V., Elkins, A., Vincent, D., Deseo, M. A., & Spangenberg, G. C. (2020). The utilization of design of experiments approaches to optimize supercritical fluid extraction of medicinal cannabis. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1-7.

Teitelbaum, J. (2019). A hemp oil, CBD, and marijuana primer: powerful pain, insomnia, and anxiety-relieving tools. Altern. Ther. Health Med, 25, 21-23.

Watt, G., & Karl, T. (2017). In vivo evidence for therapeutic properties of cannabidiol (CBD) for Alzheimer's disease. Frontiers in pharmacology, 8, 20.