CBD Guide
CURIOUS ABOUT CBD? BEING A FIRST-TIME BUYER IN THE CBD MARKET CAN BE DIFFICULT AND CONFUSING.
There’s a lot of misinformation out there and even more options to choose from – which is why we’ve simplified everything into one easy-to-use CBD Buyers Guide. Check out what you need to know about all things CBD related, and discover how Releaf Social Enterprise makes buying CBD easy, tasty, effective and affordable!
01
IS CBD OIL RIGHT FOR ME?
With the resurgence of the cannabidiol industry in the 21st century, hundreds of companies have seemingly launched overnight to address the increased demand for CBD oil. With each of them making very similar claims, it can be difficult to determine if CBD oil is right for you.
CBD retailers are competing against each other online for the title of “Best CBD Oil Company.” Because of this, it can be very overwhelming to determine which is the best CBD oil to buy.
For a first-time buyer, education is the key factor in determining if and what CBD product is right for you. This guide will serve as a trusted source of information. It’s important to have a basic understanding of what’s actually in your CBD tinctures, capsules, topicals, and edibles.
02
FULL SPECTRUM VS BROAD SPECTRUM:
Broad Spectrum is where it is at
One of the biggest misconceptions about CBD oil is the idea it comes exclusively from marijuana. Although marijuana plants do contain CBD, products using CBD extracted from marijuana can contain higher concentrations of THC.
Both hemp and marijuana come from the same plant species – Cannabis sativa – but vary in THC composition. THC, otherwise known as tetrahydrocannabinol, is the most infamous cannabinoid due to its high-inducing properties.
Hemp is bred to have lower THC concentrations. Conversely, marijuana is grown to have high THC content. Only hemp-derived CBD oil is legal because it comes from industrial hemp containing less than 0.3 percent THC.
Full Spectrum CBD products contain THC. Broad spectrum does not.
All Releaf Social Enterprise products are Broad Spectrum THC free Pharma-grade third party certified!
03
THE IMPORTANCE OF BUYING HIGH-QUALITY CBD OIL
Plants grown on American farms are subject to higher quality controls, including limited exposure to pesticides and better growth quality.
When looking for and buying quality CBD oil, be sure that it comes from American grown hemp plants for superior quality.
04
DOES HIGH PRICE EQUAL HIGH-QUALITY CBD Products?
At Releaf Social Enterprise, our prices correlate directly with the quality of CBD you are purchasing from us. If it seems it is expensive, it IS because it it of top-shelf quality.
When it comes to buying CBD products, focus on learning about the company’s manufacturing process and viewing their lab reports or Certificate of Analysis (CoA) to determine what you’re getting in each product batch.
05
BUYING POWER: WHERE TO BUY CBD PRODUCTS?
Now that you understand what CBD is, your next question may be where to buy CBD. You can often buy CBD online, at dispensaries, and in specialty retail stores.
One of the downsides of buying CBD at a dispensary or specialty retail shop is quality control. Because retailers are purchasing products from external extractors, they often don’t provide lab reports or purity analysis.
When you buy CBD directly from Releaf Social Enterprise with information about their manufacturing process and verified lab reports, you know you’re getting nothing but the best in high-quality CBD.
06
HOW TO ENSURE YOUR CBD OIL CONTAINS THE RIGHT AMOUNT
Reputable CBD companies like Releaf Social Enterprise use US derived hemp that employ proper manufacturing techniques, and provide third-party lab reports.
Our CBD oil products will have a number on the front of the bottle, often ranging from 300 milligrams (mg) to 10,000 mg. This number is not the amount of CBD oil you get in every tincture dropper or capsule but is instead the total amount of CBD contained within the CBD oil product.
The actual amount of CBD you receive should be the total CBD number on the front, divided by the number of servings in the bottle.
07
What’s the proper dosage for me?
This questions varies depending on your age, size, and weight. You also need to take into consideration the severity of your case. Some people take it daily while others use CBD for pain. In the picture to the left, you can see a nice table. You can also check out this cool CBD dosage calculator.
The second image to the left is a nice chart documenting the CBD dosage based on your weight.
08
Oil-Based CBD vs Water-Soluble CBD: It’s All About Bioavailability
When CBD is swallowed, it undergoes a first-pass effect. The compounds must pass through the body and into the liver before reaching general circulation. During this process, much of the CBD is destroyed by the liver, and only a fraction of the originally consumed.
Bioavailability is defined as: “the amount of a substance that enters the bloodstream when introduced into the body and so is able to have an active effect.”
For example, when oil-based CBD is swallowed, studies show that it can be as low as 4% bioavailable. This means that the other 96% of the CBD ends up being flushed from the body as waste. This is obviously a significant issue as this inefficiency is extremely wasteful and costly.
Seeking alternative delivery methods that bypass the first-pass metabolism is one way to work around this problem. Tinctures, when held under the tongue, allow the CBD to be absorbed sublingually by the mucous membranes. Vaping or smoking allows the same compounds to be absorbed through the lungs.
These alternative products don’t address the issue of swallowed CBD however, and consumable products like capsules and edibles are very popular in the industry. Water-soluble technologies aim to confront the problem head-on. The increased surface area of the tiny oil particles helps to significantly increase the amount of CBD absorbed by the body.
Oil-based CBD comes on slower, last longer, but are absorbed less completely. For example, sublingual tinctures take 20 -60 minutes to come on, come on more gradually, and may last for up to 8 hours. Swallowing an oil-based product, though not recommended due to it’s low bioavailability, takes 60-90 minutes to come on gradually and can last for as long as 8 hours.
Water-soluble CBD comes on faster, is absorbed more readily, but have a shorter duration. For example, swallowing water-soluble softgels make only take 20 minutes to become active in the body, have a more pronounced come on, but only last for up to 5 hours.
If you’re going to swallow your CBD, choose a water-soluble product. The severe bioavailability issues of swallowing an oil-based product make them inefficient and costly. Since water-soluble products are up to 10x more effective, you only need to take a fraction of the dose for the same benefits.
Five Things to Look for When Buying CBD Oil Online
BUYER AWARENESS
Before you buy cbd oil online, be sure to keep an eye out for these five factors –
