It’s official: CBD is now more popular than Taylor Swift. CBD’s popularity has grown over 260% since its online debut. And it’s about time you started considering CBD for the first time, too.

Want to know the top five factors to consider when you’re shopping for CBD products? Then you better keep reading because this one’s for you!

1. Figure Out Which CBD Product Is for You

Oils aren’t the only type of CBD products out there. You can get CBD vape cartridges, oral capsules, topical lotions, and edible gummies.

The difference between these products? How manufacturers formulate each product impacts how fast the CBD takes effect.

Inhaling vape cartridges and smoking flowers are the fastest ways to feel CBD’s effects. Tinctures dropped under the tongue and topicals rubbed into the skin come next. Edible products and oral capsules take the longest to affect you.

2. CBD Oil vs. Hemp Seed Oil

 

When shopping for CBD products, you may come across hemp seed oil. Hemp seed oil isn’t the same thing as CBD oil. In fact, the former contains 0% CBD.

Manufacturers press hemp plant materials, including seeds, to produce hemp seed oil. CBD comes from the flowers of industrial hemp. These flowers contain highly-concentrated cannabinoids, which are then chemically extracted in a lab.

3. Ask for the COA

One of the most important factors to consider when learning how to choose CBD is the certificate of analysis (CoA). The CoA shows the results of third-party lab testing on the product you want to purchase.

These lab results can help you verify the information on the product’s label. The CoA will show the cannabinoid content and the product’s safety profile. If a company can’t or won’t show you the CoA for a product, that’s a big red flag.

4. Full-Spectrum vs. Broad-Spectrum vs. CBD Isolate

“Full-spectrum,” “broad-spectrum,” and “isolate” are three other terms you may encounter when buying CBD.

Isolates are the purest CBD products money can buy. They only contain CBD, no added ingredients or additional cannabinoids.

Broad-spectrum CBD extracts contain added hemp plant materials. Leaves, stems, terpenes, and non-psychoactive cannabinoids come in these oils. But broad-spectrum CBD is entirely THC-free.

Full-spectrum CBD is almost identical to broad-spectrum extracts. Here’s the difference: broad-spectrum products may contain up to 0.3% THC. While full-spectrum products are legal, the THC content will show up on a drug test.

5. Understand Potential Side Effects of CBD

Like all medicines (even natural ones), CBD does present with some side effects. CBD side effects are mild and include:

• Lowered appetite
• Digestive issues
• Dry mouth
• Fatigue

CBD may also interact with certain medications. If you use prescription drugs, talk to your doctor about whether and how CBD could impact the efficacy of the medicines you’re taking.

Ready to Start Shopping for CBD?

Shopping for CBD doesn’t have to be hard as long as you have this guide. Make sure you keep this article handy next time you’re searching for the best CBD products for you!

Ready to make your first CBD purchase? Browse our products to buy CBD online today!