So, do you think you would like to try CBD? Without question, the benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) are hard to ignore, and it seems many people are embracing the idea that this cannabinoid could be valuable. If you are totally new to shopping for CBD products, you may feel a little overwhelmed when you see everything that is available.

The popularity of CBD has made way for millions of new product options and thousands of new vendors. Before you go off in search of the best CBD product for you, let’s cover some of the most common curiosities.

Hemp Seed Oil vs Hemp Oil – What’s the Difference?

With all of the similar terminologies used to label CBD oil, getting confused is easy to do. Many product manufacturers will refer to their CBD oil as hemp oil, which sounds a lot like hemp seed oil—a totally different type of oil. Hemp seed oil is extracted by pressing the seeds of a hemp plant and its cannabinoid content is practically non-existent. The oil is great for nutritional purposes, but not if you want CBD in your wellness plans.

Hemp oil, on the other hand, is made from the flowers of the hemp plant where the cannabinoids are most abundant. Therefore, be sure to check the ingredient list for something listed beyond hemp seed oil. Otherwise, you could be paying an unreasonable amount of money for an ounce of oil you can buy by the bottle for cooking for a much lower price.

What is full-spectrum CBD vs CBD isolate?

Full-spectrum CBD is made with a full collection of cannabinoids and terpenes found in the hemp plant. CBD isolate is just that: isolated CBD. The difference can be pretty profound, especially where therapeutic effects are concerned. Many researchers have proposed that the constituents found in the hemp plant may actually work better when they are consumed together.

However, if you want to stay completely away from THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), it is good to stick to a CBD isolate product. While hemp-derived CBD can only contain fractional amounts of THC, this may be something you prefer to stay away from if you are concerned about drug testing.

What are terpenes anyway?

Terpenes are not solely related to cannabis or hemp; they are actually highly abundant in the natural world. These aromatic compounds are responsible for giving various plants their unique aromatics and flavor qualities. For example, terpenes are responsible for the smell of pine needles, the smell of lemons, and the smell of hops that are used to make your favorite beer.

Plants from the cannabis family, including hemp, are especially rich in terpenes. Scientists have found over 150 different terpenes in cannabis, such as linalool, terpineol, pinene, and farnesol. These compounds give different strains of cannabis their unique fragrances and flavors, but they may also offer some therapeutic potential. For example, limonene may be good for your heart and soothe inflammation.

Why should a CBD product have a certificate of analysis?

A certificate of analysis is critically important when you are shopping for CBD products. This analysis is done by a third-party lab to test the product for several different things, such as:

• Cannabinoid content

• Presence of contaminants

• Terpene profile

This lab report is a scientific analysis from an unaffiliated lab that proves what the company claims are in the CBD product is exactly what you are getting. If the company offering CBD does not publish its lab reports, there is no real guarantee of the quality, potency, or ingredients.

Will CBD make you high?

No, but with a caveat. If you are buying CBD products from a standard store or online vendor, you are buying a product derived from hemp. According to the 2018 Farm Bill, products that contain less than 0.3 percent THC that are derived from hemp are fully legal. THC is the primary cannabinoid found in cannabis that has psychoactive properties, and CBD is not the same—it does not cause euphoric effects and won’t leave you intoxicated.

However, if you were to pay a visit to a place like a Seattle dispensary in a legal state like Washington, you could find products labeled as “CBD” products that do contain higher levels of THC. For example, some dispensaries sell CBD oil that is derived from marijuana instead of hemp, so the oil is rich in CBD but has a fair amount of THC as well.

Shop Wisely to Experience the Benefits of CBD

Without a doubt, people have a lot of good things to say about CBD. Also without question, science is starting to shed light on the many ways this cannabinoid could be useful to humans. As long as you shop wisely and use the new knowledge learned here, you can walk away with a CBD product that is more likely to deliver true effects.

This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2021.