Looking out for information on CBD lab testing is more critical than ever in a time where companies are itching to get on top of the CBD craze. While recent CBD lab test studies have brought to light CBD’s many benefits, many people still don’t understand how this compound works, so some brands try to pass subpar products full of artificial ingredients (and sometimes no CBD at all!) off as premium CBD.
While the 2018 Farm Bill effectively legalized hemp-derived products in the United States, the FDA doesn’t actually review or evaluate CBD products before they hit the shelves. This lack of regulation means that lab-tested, high-quality CBD oil from one company can be sold alongside untested, low-quality CBD products from another and both are technically deemed “acceptable” by the FDA. To make sure you’re getting a premium product that actually has CBD and does what it says, you need to do your research.
First off, without trustworthy CBD lab results, you cannot determine what the product you’re buying actually contains. Products can claim to have CBD when, in fact, they contain no CBD at all!
Even worse than no CBD at all is when a product contains harsh chemicals and artificial ingredients alongside the CBD. A cheap way to manufacture CBD oil uses strong chemical solvents to extract the oil. Oftentimes companies will stop the extraction process once the oil is produced, leaving you with a product riddled with solvents. Low-grade CBD might also be processed in unsafe or dirty environments, meaning that trace amounts of pesticides, mold, or other undesirable substances can sneak their way in.
We can’t understate the importance of making sure your CBD oil is lab-tested to avoid consuming these unwanted chemicals. CBD should enhance your body’s natural coast, not weigh it down with harmful chemicals and junk your body doesn’t need. That’s why, at EndoCoast, we derive our pure CBD using organically-grown hemp and then lab-test after our extraction process to ensure nothing snuck in along the way.
But what exactly do these tests determine?
Not all CBD is made the same. In fact, there are three major types of CBD that can undergo lab testing:
In general, CBD lab results will reflect the following for a product:
Cannabis plants contain over one hundred “cannabinoids.” Of these, by far the most well-known are CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Some of these cannabinoids are not very active in the body, but others, like THC, have a psychoactive effect, which is undesirable for some people.
Other common cannabis-derived cannabinoids you can look out for in your cannabinoid profile, include:
The combination of cannabinoids in a product is called a “spectrum,” which we’ve explored above. Exploring CBD lab testing results is a good way to verify that the spectrum of cannabinoids you want is reflected in the ingredients of your CBD product.
Note: If you see “ND” on your lab-tested CBD oil report, that stands for “none detected.”
Terpenes are the aromatic oils found in cannabis. In a phenomenon known as the “entourage effect,” terpenes can work with other compounds derived from cannabis for additional benefits. CBD lab reports that include terpenes will list the terpene compounds along with their quantities, generally displayed in parts per million (ppm).
All thorough CBD lab results should also screen the final product for undesirable ingredients, including heavy metals, solvents, pesticides, and microbes like mold and salmonella.
If the screening contains one or more of these ingredients in unacceptable quantities, the final product will either be ineffective or outright harmful.
A final step to check for during CBD lab testing is a Certificate of Quality Assurance (COA). This is an extra layer of verification that users can look for to determine that a product contains what it claims. COAs will generally outline all of the factors listed above (terpene, cannabinoid, heavy metals, residual solvents, THC and CBD content, etc.) in a concise, consumer-friendly report.
At EndoCoast, we’re passionate about creating all-natural, science-backed pure CBD creams, CBD-infused edibles, oils, and more that make a difference in our customer’s lives. We’ve done our research, and lab-test all our products to make sure you get what you’re paying for, every time. If you still have questions, check out our FAQ page or contact us at support@endocoast.com.