Seven Things You Must Consider Before Buying CBD In 2022

Whether you’re a regular weed user or if you never go near it, it’s still likely you’ve heard about CBD. CBD, like THC, is a cannabinoid, and it comes from the cannabis family of plants. Here’s a pro-tip for you! The best weed will have at least a bit of CBD in it – especially if you’re using it for medicinal purposes!

CBD stands for cannabidiol and it’s been used historically to make oils for pain relief. For years, CBD was banned in the USA and Canada because of its association with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol – the molecule in marijuana that gives you a ‘high’ feeling). It’s true that CBD comes from the cannabis plant – the same plants that contain THC. But CBD itself can’t give you any kind of high feeling.

CBD products contain little or even no THC. CBD has unique and powerful medicinal qualities, and more and more studies show that CBD has the potential to help everything from pain to cancer.

CBD products are flooding the market. You can buy CBD at cannabis stores or online, and new CBD brands seem to be popping up every day. So, if you search ‘weed store near me,’ or if you try to buy CBD or cannabis online, how do you even know where to begin?

In 2022, you have the ability to be savvy when making your purchase. You have lots of options, but you don’t need to feel overwhelmed.

This article should be very helpful to help you decide what CBD oil to buy when you’re shopping, how to choose excellent quality CBD, and how to know which brand to buy from.

What To Consider When Buying CBD

1. Know Why You Want to Use CBD.

While weed is often used recreationally, CBD is not exactly a fun-loving product. It’s more of a supplement; in fact, it’s sold and regulated similarly to vitamins and minerals. Basically, you won’t get high off of a CBD product.

However, it’s important to realize that THC products may contain some CBD. So it’s possible to have both cannabinoids in your products.

If you’re buying a supplement marketed as CBD, though, there will not be THC in the product (or at least not enough to make you high). So, you’re more likely buying CBD to help you treat a specific ailment. CBD is anecdotally and scientifically shown to help with:

• epilepsy/seizures
• anxiety
• pain
• social anxiety
• nervous system health
• PTSD
• poor memory
• depression
• fibromyalgia
• mood disorders
• stress
• insomnia
• cancer
• inflammation and DOMS
• nausea
• acne
• skin conditions
• multiple sclerosis
• arthritis
• migraines and headaches
• drug withdrawal symptoms
• diabetes
• Immunity

This list seems to grow every day!

CBD products often contain other cannabinoids and can be enhanced with the addition of terpenes and flavonoids to increase their health benefits. So learning what other cannabinoids can be beneficial to your specific condition might help you choose a better product.

TIP: Look for products that specifically say how the product is meant to help you. Some companies just tell you the ingredients, but if you need a little more guidance, look for a company that explains the uses on their website.

2. Decide if You Want to Incorporate the Effects of THC.

Like we said earlier, THC is the cannabinoid that gives you a feeling of euphoria or high. Some people like it and others want to avoid it. There are 3 ways to buy CBD in relation to THC content:

• In a product that contains ONLY CBD and a carrier oil (these products come from hemp).

• In a product that contains primarily THC and a very small amount of CBD (these products come from marijuana).

• In a product that contains primarily CBD and a very small amount of THC (these products come from hemp).

If you want to use either marijuana or hemp products for their medicinal qualities, it’s likely you want to use either the first or third options from this list, as CBD has so many great healing properties! These products also won’t give you a high feeling, so you can use them more regularly without being ‘under the influence’ at work or behind the wheel.

If you use a product from the second option, the product may still help with some of your physical ailments, but you’ll miss out on the goodness of CBD.

3. Know Your Supplier.

Not all CBD products are created equal. It’s very important that you trust your supplier so you don’t get ripped off or get hurt or sick.

Indicators of a Trustworthy Supplier:

• They clearly label their products – Products should say exactly what they are and how much active ingredient is included in the container.

• They show a full list of ingredients – ALL ingredients should be listed, not just hemp or CBD, and it should show the amount (usually in mg).

• They advertise or disclose where their hemp or marijuana is grown – The state or province should be listed somewhere on their website.

• They grow reasonably close to their factory (not overseas) – If the factory is within a few days’ drive, it will still be fresh when it arrives at the factory. If it’s coming from Asia or another continent, it will lose its potency before it reaches the factory.

• Their COAs (Certificates of Authenticity) are available – COAs show the clarity and potency of the product and are prepared by an independent laboratory.

• They have verified reviews and decent social media accounts – They don’t need to have a million followers, or even 100K. But if they have a few thousand followers and are active in their channels, that’s a good sign that they care about customer engagement and customer service.

4. Think About Dosage Versus Cost.

You’ll quickly find CBD comes in many dosages. The industry standard dosage is to start around 15mg a day and progress up to as much as 75mg a day. Most people find 25-50mg a day is excellent for helping them manage their medical conditions, but you can ask your doctor for advice.

This is where dose really matters. You may buy a bottle of CBD that has 1300mg/bottle, while another company may sell a bottle that only has 250mg. To figure out how much you’re paying per dose, you can do a little bit of math.

For example, let’s say I find a tincture of CBD online that looks like it’s from a great manufacturer. The listing says it contains 1300mg of CBD and other cannabinoids. The tincture costs $75.

First, figure out how many doses are in your bottle with this mathematical formula:

mgs in bottle DIVIDED BY mgs in your dose = number of doses in bottle

eg: If I want to take 25mg doses and I have a 1300mg tincture: 1300/25 = 52. My tincture has 52 doses in it.

Then, figure out the cost per dose:

cost of product DIVIDED BY number of doses in the bottle = cost per dose

eg: My tincture costs $75 dollars and contains 52 doses: $75/52 = $1.44 per dose. It costs me $1.44 every time I take a 25mg dose of CBD.

By taking the time to do this simple math, you’ll make sure you aren’t overpaying. Just make sure you also compare the other cannabinoids in your product. You might happily pay a bit more for a product that contains lots of good stuff, like CBN, CBG, limonene, pinene, etc…

5. Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum, or Isolate?

Just as we were explaining, you need to look at what’s in your product. You can buy CBD as an isolate, as part of a broad spectrum, or as a full spectrum product. Which is right for you? In most cases, people look for broad or full-spectrum products. Here’s the difference between them:

• CBD Isolate – These products contain ONLY CBD and carrier oil. While CBD is good for you, it works best when combined with other terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids (entourage effect). Hemp plants contain more than 100 different cannabinoids, many of which show their own medical benefits. So using an isolate won’t give you all the medical benefits.

• Broad-Spectrum CBD – These products give you all the goodness of CBD and the other terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids in hemp, but have all traces of THC removed. Some people prefer this, especially if they need to regularly drug test for THC.

• Full-Spectrum CBD – These products contain CBD, terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids, including THC. The THC found in CBD products is usually very minimal – less than 0.3%, and can’t make you high. With full-spectrum CBD, you also get the medicinal effects of THC that many users prefer.

6. How Do You Want to Take Your CBD?

While CBD used to be sold exclusively as oil, now that’s only the tip of the iceberg! You can decide how you want to take CBD and buy almost any type of product you can imagine! Here are some examples of how you can buy CBD:

• Oil tincture
• Topical oil or balm
• Edibles
• Infused tea
• Infused water
• Lotions
• Capsules
• Massage oils
• Suppositories
• Inhalants (like joints or vapes)
• And more are hitting the market all the time!

7. Talk To Your Doctor.

Of course, you know you should check in with your doctor whenever you begin taking a new supplement or over-the-counter medication. This is especially true if you’re already taking prescription medication. Your doctor will help you decide if CBD is right for your condition, and whether or not it will interfere with your other medications.

Doctors and health care professionals are becoming savvier and savvier about CBD and other cannabis products and are helpful when deciding how to incorporate CBD into your healthcare routine.

We know purchasing weed, CBD, and cannabis products can feel overwhelming. But with some basic education, you can be prepared to confidently make decisions that support your health while making sure you’re not wasting money on products. At CannaCurious and Weed Me, we’re honored you’ve chosen us to learn from and shop from in 2022 and beyond.