Shopping for quality CBD products can be quite a daunting task. Not only is the market is filled with industry-specific lingo that can be hard for a newcomer to navigate, but many low-quality products seem designed to profit off consumers who didn’t do their homework. Luckily, differentiating the good products from the weak ones isn’t too hard. Here’s what you should keep an eye out for when shopping for CBD products.

1 - Who is selling the product?

There are many ways to get your hands on CBD. You can buy from resellers, from online retailers, from local shops and pharmacies, or you can buy directly from manufacturers online. The latter option is generally the safest and most cost-effective since it cuts the middlemen. On top of that, a manufacturer with a well-established brand has a huge incentive to deliver a quality product.

Since it takes a lot of expensive equipment and qualified personnel to become a well-regarded CBD manufacturer, the company will get a lot less return on that investment if unable to maintain its reputation.

2 - What type of CBD is it?

There are three main types of CBD: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate. Full-spectrum products contain CBD combined with various other hemp extracts, while CBD isolate, as the name suggests, is just pure CBD. Broad-spectrum CBD is a step between the two -- it contains other cannabis byproducts, but it’s entirely free of THC.

Each option comes with its set of advantages, but full-spectrum CBD is generally accepted as being both healthier and more effective. CBD isolates are cheaper, and they have the advantage of being flavorless. Many CBD edibles and drinks in the market use isolate for that very reason.

You can decide which type of CBD is best for you. But do make sure to check the labels to ensure you are getting what you wanted. There are big differences between full spectrum CBD gummies and gummies made with CBD isolates, for example.

3 - Extraction method

Any CBD manufacturer worth their salt will list how they extract CBD from hemp on their website. The process is quite complicated, and there are many ways to do it, but the safest is to use CO2. It’s the safest because most other methods involve the use of potent solvents, which can contaminate the final product.

Check the manufacturer’s website before you buy. If they list how their CBD was extracted, that’s a good sign. And if they use CO2 extraction, that’s a great sign.

4 - Concentration in milligrams

If you are buying a product with the primary goal of getting CBD into your system, then you need to pay attention to how much CBD that product contains. Check the label and you should be able to find the total number of grams or milligrams of CBD present in the product you are trying to buy. The more CBD a product contains, the more potent it’ll be, and likely the more expensive it’ll be.

Stay vigilant around products that offer way too much CBD for way too little money. It may sound cliche, but in the CBD market: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Author's Bio: 

Author, Freelance writer