Where Can I Get CBD Oil and What Should I Look For

Where Can I Get CBD Oil and What Should I Look For?

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil has the potential to significantly affect the health and wellness landscape as we know it. This non-psychoactive substance from the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) is currently under research for possible positive effects in certain conditions. Much has yet to be discovered about the benefits of CBD oil, but we are enthusiastic about the possibilities it holds.

At the same time, the adverse effects of CBD so far haven’t shown a reason for concern. Sensitive people might experience lethargy and some digestive issues, but overall, CBD is a well-tolerated ingredient. The World Health Organization confirms that it doesn’t cause dependence in the way its psychoactive counterpart, THC, does. When you consume CBD, you don’t ‘get high,’ and you don’t run the risk of becoming addicted to it.

According to one study, almost 62% of CBD users are using it to treat a specific medical condition, while others are taking it for general health and wellbeing. Regardless of your reasons for turning to CBD, you should inform yourself what types of products are out there and what you should look for when buying CBD oil.

You may have already heard about some of these phrases: organic products, CO2 extraction method, third-party lab tested, etc. In this post, we will explain what all those mean and how you can use that information to purchase the highest-quality CBD oil product for yourself.

Organic CBD Oil

Cannabis plants come in different strains. The two important ones here are the industrial hemp plant and the marijuana plant. The hemp plant has high concentrations of CBD, while the marijuana plant has a higher amount of THC, the active compound in marijuana that causes psychoactive effects.

CBD oil is obtained from the hemp plant. You may not think it’s important to know where the plant grows or how it’s harvested, but these are features you should pay attention to.

Choose CBD products from hemp grown in the US. The US Department of Agriculture is responsible for regulating the quality of these plants, issuing licenses for cultivation, establishing procedures for sampling and testing, etc. Furthermore, focus on organically produced hemp plants. Organic farming relies on biodiversity and ecological processes to maintain healthy soil and ecosystem around the plant. Pesticide and GMO-free organic hemp plants are the best options.

CBD oil products made from hemp flowers are the highest in quality. Avoid those that include hemp seeds, stems, leaves, or stalks. Hemp seed oil, even though it’s highly nutritious cooking oil, also doesn’t contain CBD or any other phytocannabinoids; it won’t exhibit the same effects as CBD oil.

Extraction Methods

Once the plant is harvested, CBD oil needs to be extracted from it. There are three most common extraction methods for CBD, all of which have their pros and cons.

Liquid solvent extraction

This type of extraction happens in much the same way as CO2 extraction, but the solvent isn’t liquid CO2 but a different liquid that can easily turn into a gas state, such as ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, hexane, etc.

While inexpensive and efficient, this extraction method is not the safest. It can leave behind a toxic residue of the solvent, which is why it’s not the best choice for CBD extraction.

Natural solvent extraction

Natural solvents in this type of extraction are carrier oils such as olive oil. This type of extraction is one of the oldest and most commonly used in home CBD extraction. An advantage of this type of extraction is that the carrier oil doesn’t have to be removed from the oil the same way as liquid CO2 and other solvents.

However, carrier oils absorb chlorophyll from the hemp plant material that taints the extract and may cause the bitter taste mentioned above.

CO2 extraction

CO2 extraction is one of the most efficient and safest ways of getting a hemp extract. It involves soaking plant material in liquid CO2 so that the CO2 absorbs all the useful ingredients (CBD and other phytocannabinoids). Once the liquid CO2 pulls the hemp oil from the plant material, it moves on to a different chamber of the system where it turns into its natural gas state and evaporates, leaving the oil behind.

CO2 doesn’t leave any toxic residue, and it also doesn’t absorb chlorophyll from the plant, which colors the oil green and gives it a bitter taste. It is one of the best ways to extract CBD, though it is also pricey for the manufacturers.

Bonus: Winterization and Bio-herbolysis

Winterization is a process of purifying the CBD extract. After extraction, this method is used to further refine the CBD oil into a product that is ready for consumption.

Bio-herbolysis is a way to extract CBD without heat or carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. It promises a greater expression of cannabinoids and terpenes with a completely natural process. This is new technology that is being talked about mostly in Europe.

Third-Party Lab Testing

Before you purchase CBD oil, you need to make sure that a third-party laboratory has tested it. Because the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t currently test or approve any CBD products, your product of choice needs to have a certificate of analysis from a private lab.

These lab reports ensure that the product contains what it says it does on the product’s label and that other safety tests were performed, such as testing for heavy metals, pesticides.

Traceable Chain of Custody

Chain of custody is a paper trail (physical or electronic) of all the individuals, organizations, and institutions involved in creating a product. From the harvesters to transporters to the laboratory all the way to the packaged bottle in your hand – it’s essential that you can trace who exactly handled these processes. In case something is wrong with the product, a traceable chain of custody makes it easy to pinpoint precisely where the problem occurred.

Reputable Brands

While all CBD brands wish you to purchase their specific products (of course), steer clear of companies that make unfounded health claims. Many suffering from severe health conditions have said that CBD oil helped alleviate their symptoms, but keep in mind that science is still working on providing evidence for all these potential positive effects.

A reputable company will never suggest that CBD is intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. If you run into a brand that boldly declares this, it means they are just all too eager to take your money, without caring about the morality (and legality) of it.

Choose the Right Product Type

If you’ve found the right company that sells CBD derived from organic, locally grown hemp via CO2 extraction and third-party lab tested, you should also decide on the right type of product for yourself. There are many to choose from:

CBD oil types: Full-spectrum CBD, Broad-spectrum CBD, and CBD isolate

CBD product types: CBD tinctures, CBD edibles (CBD gummies), CBD vape oils, CBD topical, CBD capsules, and more.

Shopping for CBD products can quickly get overwhelming. You need to learn how to differentiate between low-quality products and high-quality CBD products, as well as to consider the reliability of the brand and what form of CBD works for you.

Miraflora is a science-based hemp company that emphasizes quality. We grow our hemp in a single location in Colorado, and it is organic, pesticide- and GMO-free, and tested both in-house and by a third-party lab. Please take a look at our product selection and see whether something catches your eye. We take pride in always providing consistent, superior quality to our customers.