How to find a CBD supplier you can actually trust: Guest article

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Go to Google and type in “CBD oil.” You will instantly find thousands of CBD companies, and products ready for purchase, with just one click of the mouse. But how does a retailer know which CBD product to stock, and how does a company know which ingredient supplier to purchase raw materials from? Are you really supposed to just take a chance on a CBD company, spend money on a product or ingredient, and cross your fingers that you made the right choice?

You could blindly choose to order from the first CBD company that you find, but you’re bound to encounter some hiccups if you don’t do your research. It can be a challenge to find appropriately priced products/ingredients and to verify the quality, safety, and compliance of the CBD supplier.

The CBD market is price driven in many ways, and you may encounter the same product sold by different brands for wildly different prices. Most first-time CBD buyers are unable to pinpoint an appropriate price for CBD products because of this huge price range, and thus many end up overspending on a product that might not be as good as it says it is.

Likewise, every CBD company claims to have top-quality CBD products...but what does that even mean? What does top quality actually look like? The truth is, a large number of CBD companies can’t verify the quality of their products because they don’t invest enough time and resources in finding the right farmers, suppliers, and laboratories to test the quality and safety of their products. If they don’t understand the quality of their products, how are you supposed to? How do you know that what you’re buying is even safe?

Furthermore, there’s still a great deal of confusion about how the FDA and other government bodies regulate CBD and hemp products. Hemp was made federally legal through the 2018 Farm Bill, yet the FDA is still determining how to best govern this emerging industry. Even so, many CBD companies are irresponsibly ignoring FDA guidance and creating misleading advertising in pursuit of more sales.

One of the best ways to narrow down your options and find an actually trustworthy CBD supplier is through the U.S. Hemp Authority program. The U.S. Hemp Authority certification was recently created by the U.S. Hemp Roundtable and several other industry-leading firms, top-tier testing laboratories, and quality assessors, to create guidance for growers and processors of hemp. The purpose of this certification is twofold: to educate hemp farmers and processors about good manufacturing processes established by the FDA and good agricultural practices, and to indicate to consumers and law enforcers which hemp products they can trust. So far, 15 hemp companies have been granted this certification.

When you select a CBD supplier, make sure to review their website and marketing materials to ensure they are compliant with the FDA. CBD manufacturers are not permitted to make any health claims about CBD or the other ingredients used in their products. Companies that do are in direct violation of FDA regulations. These regulations are important because they protect the safety of the consumer by ensuring that companies don’t sell false promises about their products. Claiming that CBD cures “this” or treats “that” is dangerous to customers because they may forego advice from a trained medical professional in favor of persuasive advertising from an aggressive CBD company.

Finally, it’s very important to choose a company that demonstrates complete transparency and commitment to quality assurance. As discussed, it can be very difficult to verify which CBD companies produce high-quality products. Look for companies that share third-party lab tests for their products, and make sure these tests include reporting on potency and possible contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, mycotoxins, and residual solvents.

Grace Kaucic is a digital marketing specialist for Bluebird Botanicals, an award-winning hemp extract and CBD company. Bluebird Botanicals was the first CBD company to be certified glyphosate residue free. Look for certifications like these, indicating proven quality from seed to bottle. Visit the company’s website at https://bluebirdbotanicals.com