CBD has taken the world by storm, and if you live in a location where CBD is legal, you are probably seeing it everywhere.
Why is it so popular? Millions of users and some scientific evidence have found that CBD isolate in UK can be very helpful for a variety of uses.
However, because the compound is so relatively new to the market, there is a lot of confusion about what it can be used for, its legality, and why you may want to use it.
There are a few steps that all users should take when they want to buy CBD. Here are 4 key steps that all people should keep in mind when buying CBD.
Talk To Your Doctor or Medical Professional
Yes, CBD is being marketed as an over the counter supplement, and with one exception, no prescription is required for purchasing CBD.
However, that doesn’t mean that you should start regularly using CBD without first consulting with a medical professional.
Why? Well, despite it’s over the counter nature, CBD does have negative interactions with certain drugs and illnesses.
This is because of the way CBD works. CBD strengthens the interactions between your body’s naturally occurring cannabinoids and your cannabinoid receptors, often keeping cannabinoids locked into receptors for longer periods of time then they would have without CBD.
As a result, CBD may have an additive effect on medications. This can make the impacts of certain medications – such as sedatives – stronger than intended.
Furthermore, certain illnesses (such as liver dysfunction) can be made worse with CBD. As a result, it’s always safer to talk with your doctor or medical professional before starting CBD.
This is a good rule of thumb with any product that may have a medical impact on your body, even if it is something you can purchase over the counter. CBD certainly applies here as well.
Find A Reputable Realtor
CBD’s explosive growth has been fueled by a boom in retailers and websites which sell the product.
Unfortunately, the veritable gold rush of this business has left many consumers exposed to unscrupulous vendors who have taken advantage of the virtual lack of federal regulations over CBD.
Indeed, this is one of the problems with CBD in general: The federal government, via the Food & Drug Administration, has yet to enact consumer protections in terms of CBD labeling and testing, though those regulations are hopefully coming soon.
As such, it is up to you, the consumer, to make sure that you purchase your CBD from a reputable CBD vendor. While there is no set guide, there are a few steps you can follow. These include:
- Is a Certificate of Analysis Available? A 2017 study showed that 70% of tested CBD products were mislabeled. To combat this lack of trust, a reputable CBD company has taken to using third-party vendors to produce a Certificate of Analysis for their products. These Certificates – which should be available to any potential customer – are produced by a neutral third party and list all of the ingredients and amounts in any CBD product. If these certificates are not available or have not been produced, find another seller.
- Does the seller make any medical claims? Remember, so far, only one prescription drug which is CBD based has been approved for use in the United States. While some studies have shown there may be medical benefits to CBD use, that research is far from complete or agreed upon. Furthermore, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has issued cease and desist orders to CBD companies that have made medical claims. No CBD vendor should be making any medical claim. If they do, you should avoid buying from them.
- Where is the CBD produced? Consumer Reports advises that you purchase CBD from states where hemp production has been legalized, as these states are more likely to have appropriate regulations over the manufacturing of the compound. If you purchase CBD which is manufactured overseas, make sure it is from a country where the production of CBD has been legalized. If you cannot locate the CBD’s country of origin, don’t buy the product. This is basic information to which you should have access.
THC or No THC?
CBD comes in three varieties. These include:
- Full-spectrum: Minimally processed and with all naturally occurring CBD products, including THC.
- Broad-spectrum: Identical to Full Spectrum, but with the THC removed.
- Isolate: All products have been removed except for the actual CBD, which comes in a powder form.
Legally available CBD will have no more than .3% THC, which is far too low a level to get anyone high. However, it is possible that CBD will show up on a drug test, depending on a variety of factors, including the sensitivity of the drug test, the type of test performed and a user’s previous use of cannabis products.
As such, if you are concerned with a positive drug test, broad-spectrum CBD is a safer purchase.
How Quickly Do You Need The CBD To Work?
CBD comes in a slew of different products, including balms, creams, cosmetics, edibles, vapes, tinctures and more. The type you choose is up to your preferences and needs, but each type takes a different amount of time to work.
Vaping typically works the fastest (10-20 minutes), followed by sublingual consumption through tinctures (15-25 minutes). Next fastest is eating or drinking CBD (20-30 minutes), with balms or creams taking the longest to work (25-45 minutes).
This is a rough guide, and each person is different, but if you need something to work fast, vaping or sublingual consumption are the way to go.
Hi, I’m the Founder and Developer of Paramedics World, a blog truly devoted to Paramedics. I am a Medical Lab Tech, a Web Developer and Bibliophiliac. My greatest hobby is to teach and motivate other peoples to do whatever they wanna do in life.
wow i didnt know all that about cbd. Thanks for the well written article