Breaking Down the Barriers for First-Time Shoppers

Whenever you are learning about something new, something unfamiliar, your search for information is likely to turn up a significant amount of confusing terminology. As your quest for knowledge continues, you may end up with more questions than when you began.

If you’ve delayed investing in the many potential health benefits of hemp CBD because of confusing or conflicting information, you are not alone. Many people are hesitant to make their first purchase. Some are afraid of purchasing inferior products; others delay purchasing because they lack confidence in their understanding of potentially confusing terms and industry jargon.

We can clear the confusion, explain the jargon, and break down the barriers so you can make an informed, confident purchasing decision.  

Why Does CBD Have So Many Potential Benefits?

Many people are hesitant to make their first CBD purchase because they are not sure they are comprehending what CBD is or how it works. That’s understandable. Here’s what you need to know.

The oil extracted from the stalks and stems of hemp plants has 113 potentially beneficial plant elements called cannabinoids. The most abundant is the cannabinoid cannabidiol. CBD is the scientific abbreviation for cannabidiol.

CBD’s potential health benefits are explained in the way it supports the communication system that regulates the important processes in your body. This recently discovered system is called your endocannabinoid system. Just a few of the numerous functions regulated by this complex network of neurotransmitters and receptors include:

• Pain perception and inflammation
• Moods and emotions
• Memory and learning
• Sleep and sleep cycles
• Cardiovascular and immune system function
• Metabolism and digestive processes
• Thermoregulation and neuroprotection

Your body makes the messengers of this essential system. They are called endocannabinoids because they are made within. Endocannabinoids function as neurotransmitters. If your body needs more endocannabinoids that it makes, communication stalls.

Fortunately, the plant-based cannabinoids in hemp oil mimic the functions of endocannabinoids and influence the endocannabinoid receptors. That’s why hemp CBD has so many seemingly unrelated benefits.  

Is There Potential for Intoxication?

Because CBD is found in the extract of cannabis plants, many people are initially concerned that hemp CBD could cause intoxication. We understand the confusion.

For decades, people have used the words cannabis, hemp, and marijuana in the same context. We somehow misplaced our ability to differentiate between marijuana and hemp. Knowing the important differences between cannabis plants could help alleviate your concerns. Consider the following points:

• Marijuana contains high levels of THC (5-30 percent), the cannabinoid responsible for the psychoactive effect
• CBD sourced from marijuana is purchased through a dispensary, most often with a prescription
• Hemp plants don’t contain enough THC to cause intoxication (hemp is 0.3 percent or less) even when consumed in large quantities
• Since hemp cannot cause intoxication, hemp CBD is accessible to anyone interested in the many potential benefits

Why are CBD Products Described as Hemp Oil?

You may have noticed that a few strokes of the keyboard direct your search to a significant number of hemp CBD products. Then things get confusing. When you click on product images, the product description refers to the item you’re viewing as hemp oil, hemp extract, or a hemp oil supplement.

This seemingly conflicted bit of information is a significant source of confusion for many people. Here’s what you need to know:

• CBD is extracted from the fibrous stalks and stems of hemp plants, like an essential oil
• CBD manufacturers are not allowed to use the term CBD on product labels
• Since CBD is found abundantly in hemp extract, the terms CBD oil, hemp oil, hemp extract, and hemp supplements are used interchangeably throughout our industry
• When you can identify the amount of CBD a product contains, you know you are on the right track

Does All Hemp Oil Products Contain CBD?

Now that we have just specified that CBD is hemp oil, it’s important to point out that not all hemp oil contains CBD. The hemp oil that contains CBD is extracted from the stalks and stems of the plant.

A growing number of retailers are describing the oil pressed from the seeds of the hemp plant as hemp oil. While hemp seed oil has its own list of potential benefits, hemp oil and hemp seed oil are not the same product. Knowing the differences between hemp oil and hemp seed oil will help you select the right product for your needs. While you are shopping, consider the following:

• The oil pressed from the protein-rich seeds of the hemp plant does not contain CBD
• Hemp seed oil does not provide endocannabinoid system support
• Products containing a significant amount of CBD will specify the amount in milligrams (mg)

How to Identify Quality Hemp Oil Products

To avoid selecting products that contain an insignificant amount of CBD, avoid selecting products that use vague terms like “highest potency” or “extra-strength” without specifically stating how much CBD the product contains. If the CBD content is not specified, the product is unlikely to contain enough CBD to obtain any noticeable benefits.

Reputable hemp CBD companies identify the amount of CBD in their products in milligrams (mg). While products like CBD capsules and edibles may break down the number of milligrams of CBD per piece, you will likely find that most CBD tinctures, topicals, and vape products identify the total amount of CBD in the entire package.

What is the Significance of CBD Concentration Levels?

While shopping, you may have noticed that there is a significant range in the amount of CBD contained in individual products, particularly with CBD tinctures. The bottles are the same size, but the number of mg of CBD in the bottle varies significantly, anywhere from 250-2500 mg per bottle or more. Those who hesitate are commonly afraid of making the wrong decision.

It may be easier to understand the significance of the CBD concentration if we walk through a product comparison. Let’s start by comparing the CBD content of two products. Product A is a 250 mg CBD tincture. Product B contains 1000 mg of CBD. The products come in the same sized bottle; each contains 30 milliliters (ml) of CBD tincture.

Within the bottle is a dropper that holds 1 ml of hemp oil. By dividing the total CBD content by 30, you can determine the total mg content of each dropper. Here’s what that looks like:

• Product A 30 ml at 250mg =   250 mg ÷ 30 ml  = 8.3 mg CBD/ml
• Product B 30 ml at 1000 mg = 1000 mg ÷ 30 ml = 33.33 mg CBD/ml

If you were to decide to begin your CBD journey with 25 mg of CBD per dose, product A would provide 10 doses (3 ml), while product B would supply 40 doses (.75 ml). By using a higher concentration of CBD, you will use less tincture per dose and likely pay less per ml.

Difference Between Full-Spectrum and Isolates

You may have noticed that some products are identified as full-spectrum CBD while others specifically state they are made with CBD isolate. Selecting between these vastly different product options is a matter of personal preference. The following distinctions could help you make an informed purchasing decision:

• Full Spectrum CBD

  Full- spectrum CBD contains more than 480 potentially beneficial plant elements. Within full-spectrum CBD you will find all the cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, vitamins, and minerals of the original plant, including trace amounts of THC. Many CBD enthusiasts consider full-spectrum CBD to provide more benefits than isolate products because of a fascinating phenomenon called the entourage effect. The entourage effect explains the interaction between plant elements that magnify and multiply the effects of the others.

• CBD Isolate

  CBD isolates are a purified form of hemp extract. When you select products made with CBD isolate, all of the other plant components, including the THC, have been removed. The remaining substance is more than 99 percent pure cannabidiol. Because CBD isolate is flavorless and odorless, isolate products are commonly preferred by those who don’t care for the flavor of full-spectrum CBD, or want to avoid ingesting those trace amounts of THC found in full-spectrum products.

Why is Organic Farming Methods are Essential?

The reason hemp farming methods are important is because of hemp’s natural ability to pull toxins from the soil. If organic methods are not followed, harmful contaminants could end up in your products. You can verify the quality, the purity, and potency of the products you select by shopping with companies willing to provide access to their third-party batch verification. In addition to testing for product potency, batch testing screens for potential contaminants.

Make Informed Purchasing Decisions

Selecting hemp-sourced CBD is much easier when you know the significance of the terms and industry jargon. While purchasing CBD can be intimidating for those less experienced, once you understand the basics of hemp CBD, it’s easy to proceed with confidence.

For hemp CBD in La Crosse, WI, visit CannaBiz Depot. We offer an extensive assortment of hemp CBD products, including products from CBDistillery, Lazarus Naturals, and our private-label CannaBiz Depot branded products. All CBD products at CannaBiz Depot are third-party tested to ensure their purity and potency.

Visit CannaBiz Depot for hemp foods and beverages, hemp clothing and accessories, and hemp-derived bed, bath and beauty products. Every product at CannaBiz Depot is made with hemp, an eco-friendly, renewable natural resource.