CBD 101

How To Choose CBD Oil - 10 Tips For Buyers

Do you know how to choose CBD oil? If you want to make informed buying decisions on the CBD market, you need to follow a simple buyer’s checklist.

Many people often feel intimidated or daunted by the prospect of buying CBD oil for the first time. This stems from a general lack of confidence in their ability to make buying decisions. The truth is, you don’t need to be an expert in the field to identify the very best products. With the right checklist, you can find the best CBD products on the market.

In this article, we are going to be exploring how to choose CBD oil. With more brands entering the market, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to identify the best CBD products. Our CBD checklist for buyers offers an easy approach to choosing the right CBD oil. If you’re asking the right questions, you will identify the best CBD products in no time at all.

The CBD market is often mischaracterized as being mysterious. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. It’s only mysterious to those who are yet to develop an understanding of this hemp-derived compound. If you don’t have time to read the full article, here are our top 10 tips for buyers on how to choose CBD oil and navigate the marketplace:

  1. Establish A Budget From The Beginning
  2. Learn The CBD Terminology
  3. Check The THC Content
  4. Read Third-Party Lab Reports
  5. Determine The Product Usage
  6. Read Through The Product Ingredients
  7. Speak With Customer Service Support
  8. Check The Online Product Reviews
  9. Engage With The Brand On Social Media
  10. Consider Alternative CBD Products

Subconsciously, as you’ve browsed through the market in the past, you may have already been considering some of these points. By running through our checklist, you will gain clarity on what to look for in a CBD product. We want you to become a savvy CBD buyer because we know how much of an impact this can have on a person’s CBD journey.

Please note: At Spero CBD, we are not attorneys. We do not provide legal advice. Every effort has been made to provide useful and accurate information. Regardless, this information should not be relied upon in place of consultation with appropriate legal advisors in your jurisdiction. These questions and answers may not be correct at the time of reading.

If you are at all unsure of the laws and regulations relating to specific CBD oil products, we strongly recommend that you seek advice and information from the relevant authorities. This article will only be providing a brief overview of the laws and regulations surrounding CBD – not an in-depth exploration. Before you make any buying decisions, it’s vital that you go and do further research into this matter and consult with the relevant authorities.

It should be noted that we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the content. We would like to once again reiterate that legal advice is not being given in this article. If you have been looking for legal advice on whether you can purchase CBD products in certain states, you should speak with an attorney or contact the local authorities in your state.

How To Choose CBD Oil: 1 – Establish A Budget

As you browse the market, you will begin to notice the price disparity between products. There’s often an assumption that all CBD oil is the same. This is not true. As a chemical compound, CBD can be extracted from the hemp plant in a variety of ways. The extraction method can influence the type of CBD oil product you end up with.

You will often find CBD oil products being sold at premium prices. Usually, this is because of how they have been extracted and the associated benefits of these methods. While it’s easy to assume that CBD brands are selling their products at premium prices simply because they can, this is rarely the case. When done right, hemp cultivation is an expensive business.

In some cases, a premium price tag may be an indicator of quality. Broad spectrum and full spectrum CBD products are typically sold at higher price points than regular CBD products. This is because you are getting more bang for your buck. Broad spectrum and full spectrum CBD oil will usually contain a wide variety of chemical compounds from the hemp plant.

2 – Learn The CBD Terminology

If you want to know how to choose CBD oil, you need to learn the terminology. By now, you’ve probably heard a few terms or phrases you don’t fully understand. This is perfectly normal. Once you understand the key terminology, everything starts to become much more clear. First of all, let’s break down the crucial differences between broad spectrum and full spectrum CBD.

Broad spectrum CBD oil usually contains a range of chemical compounds, all of which have been derived from the hemp plant. These compounds all have their own unique properties and characteristics. Broad spectrum CBD oil typically does not include any THC. As you may know, this is the psychoactive component of the cannabis plant.

Full spectrum CBD oil also contains a range of chemical compounds derived from the hemp plant. In contrast with broad spectrum CBD oil, full spectrum CBD oil can often contain trace amounts of THC (less than 0.3%). When consumed in trace amounts (less than 0.3%) the THC is typically not strong enough to produce a noticeable psychoactive effect.

When you are picking up full spectrum CBD oil products off the shelves, you should always read the product packaging to find out more about the THC content. You should also consider whether the products are legal under state and federal law. The best thing you can do is check and familiarize yourself with the laws on CBD oil before purchasing full spectrum products.

3 – Check The THC Content

How do you know if a CBD product contains THC? It’s essential that you know the answer to this question. Understanding the THC content of CBD products can help to give you peace of mind. After all, it’s important to know exactly what you are consuming. There really is nothing more frustrating than buying a product only to discover it’s not what you were expecting.

If you want to check the THC content of a product, there are a number of ways to do this:

  • Read through the labeling and product packaging.
  • Read through the online product description.
  • Contact the seller or manufacturer for guidance.
  • Access the third-party lab testing reports.

Before completing a purchase, you should aim to have a definitive answer on the level of THC content in a particular product. Ultimately, as the consumer, you can decide whether you want to pursue those four steps. From our perspective, we feel it’s important that consumers ask as many questions as they can to further understand what they are purchasing.

There’s really no harm in calling up or emailing a CBD brand to ask questions about their products. In our opinion, this is something that should be encouraged. This would also be the perfect time to ask about the THC content. If you’ve got questions about a product, ask them!

4 – Read Third-Party Lab Reports

Online CBD stores will have third-party lab analysis reports available for consumers to read. In some cases, you may need to request access to these documents. These reports are designed to provide consumers with an unbiased analysis of CBD products. They should provide you with essential insights on the ingredients of each product.

You want to be able to trust those who are manufacturing the products you are purchasing. Sometimes, a third-party lab analysis report can be enough to bolster the level of trust you have in a brand. Consumer confidence is everything – and brands know this. Unbiased reports are powerful documents providing you with a full analysis of CBD products.

5 – Determine The Product Usage

You should never try and guess how much CBD to take. Guidelines on usage should be easily accessible. If you cannot find any guidelines on the product packaging, you should be able to read through the information on the brand website. In the event that you can’t find any usage guidelines, you should contact the seller or manufacturer for professional advice.

Usage guidelines are clearly outlined by CBD manufacturers because they believe these will ensure consumers have the most desirable experiences with their products. These brands want you to have great experiences with their products. When you try new CBD oil products, following the usage guidelines for each product will help you to accurately compare them.

Sometimes, if you take too much CBD oil in a short space of time, you may experience adverse side effects. These side effects can vary considerably. When you fail to follow specific usage guidelines, you could potentially be more likely to experience adverse side effects.

6 – Read Through The Product Ingredients

If you don’t know what the ingredients are, how can you have confidence in a product? One of the biggest mistakes CBD consumers make is not looking at the product ingredients. Having a solid understanding of what is included in a product will inevitably boost your confidence. Read through the product ingredients and take ownership of your purchasing decisions.

The ingredients of a CBD product can dramatically change the user’s experience. If you were picking up CBD products off the shelf containing THC and other chemical compounds, would you want to know about it? Checking the product ingredients will provide you with clarity on exactly what is included in CBD oil, enabling you to make smart decisions on the market.

7 – Speak With Customer Service Support

Reputable CBD brands want to support you. A lack of confidence is the single biggest issue facing the CBD industry today. This will only be solved through the education of consumers. For this reason, CBD brands from across the globe are pouring tremendous amounts of time and effort into customer support initiatives. They want to guide you through the market.

When you are making buying decisions, you should always consider the level of support you have received from CBD brands. As a consumer, you should directly engage in conversations with CBD sellers and manufacturers. This will give you the opportunity to get answers to any questions you have. You will also be able to measure their willingness to be transparent.

You need to find sellers and manufacturers who genuinely care about their customers. If they are not prepared to give you the time of day, it’s best to go elsewhere. It is your responsibility to make sellers and manufacturers work hard to secure your business. After all, there are plenty of CBD brands out there to choose from.

When you engage in conversations with CBD sellers or manufacturers, you could ask a combination of the following questions:

  • How much THC do your CBD oil products contain?
  • Are your CBD products broad spectrum or full spectrum?
  • Where can I read through the product ingredients?
  • Are there clear guidelines on how much to take?
  • Do you have any customer testimonials or reviews?
  • How are your CBD products made?
  • What extraction methods are used in the process?
  • Who is currently purchasing your CBD products?

Asking these questions will help you to further understand what they are selling and whether you would be interested in purchasing the product. In many cases, CBD stores will have a wide variety of different products for buyers to choose from. By asking the right questions, you will be able to further distinguish between each of the products.

8 – Check The Online Product Reviews

It’s always worth checking out the online product reviews to find out about other people’s experiences. They may be able to provide you with some useful insights on how to get the most out of a product. This doesn’t, however, mean you should divert away from any specific product guidelines. You should always follow the product guidelines set out by the brand.

Crucially, online product reviews are going to provide you with information on whether consumers are having positive experiences with certain CBD brands. When you are reading through reviews, it’s important to consider the positive-to-negative ratio. If the product pages are getting flooded with negative reviews, this doesn’t exactly fill you with confidence.

As a consumer, it can sometimes be challenging to look at reviews objectively. When you are excited about trying a new product for the first time, this can especially be the case. There are always going to be unhappy customers posting negative reviews, this is tough to avoid. If the good outweighs the bad, and you’re feeling confident, why not give the product a try?

Fortunately, consumers are spoilt for choice on the CBD market. There have never been more products to pick from. If you’re unhappy with the quality of a certain product, you can simply go elsewhere. With growing competition, brands are doing everything they can to innovate and provide outstanding levels of customer service.

9 – Engage With The Brand On Social Media

If you want to start assessing a brand’s reputation beyond product reviews, you should look at its social media presence. Have they attracted a large social following? Do they take the time to engage with their audience? These are the questions that you need to be asking yourself. A strong community of loyal followers is always a good sign.

Browsing through a brand’s social media content may even lead you to find out more about their products. Sometimes, in marketing materials, brands will share additional information on certain CBD oil products. As we’ve said before, the more information you can get your hands on as a consumer, the better. Choosing the right CBD oil is an information game.

Instagram seems to be the platform of choice for many CBD brands in 2021. Almost all major CBD brands have an Instagram presence. If you’ve come across a new CBD brand, take a quick browse through their Instagram profile to learn more about them. Many CBD brands are leveraging their Instagram audiences to provide consumers with educational content.

10 – Consider Alternative CBD Products

Rather than looking at just a few CBD products on the market, you need to explore a full range. This is important because you could be missing out on exceptional CBD products. When you are browsing the market, you should never settle for mediocre products. There are enough products on the CBD market to find exactly what you are looking for.

CBD oil is no longer hard to come by. New products seem to be emerging all the time. As a consumer, the challenge is to understand the often subtle differences between each of the products. With access to the right information, you can make informed buying decisions and have a positive experience in the CBD oil market.

We hope this article has provided you with some useful insights on choosing CBD oil. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at Spero CBD.

Dr. Jordan Talley

Dr. Talley is a Physician Anesthesiologist who completed his medical residency at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Prior to medical school, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Physiology & Biophysics from Georgetown University. He completed his medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM - Bradenton Campus). During his Anesthesiology training at Johns Hopkins he completed rotations in Chronic Pain Management and continues to manage acute and peri-operative pain for his patient as a private practice anesthesiologist in Virginia.