How Certified Is Your CBD?

content provided by Bluebird Botanicals • June 1, 2019

With the growing popularity of CBD oil as a health supplement, hemp extracts are suddenly flying off the shelves and showing up at all kinds of retailers. However, most people don’t know what goes into their hemp extract or how their product is being tested. Several hemp extract companies share some sort of Certificate of Analysis (COAs) for their products on their websites. However, many of these reports still lack important information for determining the safety and quality of a product.

Here are the most important items to look for on hemp extract lab tests:

1. Look for batch test results versus one sample test result.
While companies often share their lab tests online, they might just be sharing one result for one batch out of the many used to make their products. The contents of hemp plants can vary widely, from terpene distribution to the concentration of various cannabinoids, so even if one batch seems fine, the next batch could turn up completely different results. Make sure that you are able to see the test results for the specific batch of your hemp product to guarantee you know exactly what’s in your bottle.

2. Check the potency of your extract.
Recent consumer studies have revealed that many CBD manufacturers falsely overstate the concentration of cannabinoids in their products. When you purchase a full-spectrum hemp extract, it means that your product contains a whole array of cannabinoids in addition to CBD. This includes minuscule amounts of THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the cannabinoid that’s responsible for the high that users feel; however, by law, there can be no more than 0.3% THC present by dry weight. Be aware that some advertised CBD products don’t actually contain any cannabinoids at all. So, when reviewing third-party lab tests for a product you are interested in, look for an exact measurement of CBD, THC and other key cannabinoids like CBDA (cannabidiol acid), CBG (cannabigerol), and CBC (cannabichromene). A trustworthy and legitimate company will always make this information available to their consumers.

3. Discover any harmful substances that could be in your extract.
Another common safety concern about CBD oil is potential contamination. The hemp plant is very absorbent and tends to soak up and retain whatever elements are in the soil it’s grown in — including pesticides, heavy metals, mycotoxins and microbial life. Glyphosate, for example, is a harmful ingredient found in some of the world’s most popular pesticides like Roundup. When determining the safest hemp product to try, go for companies with pesticide-free certifications that share lab reports verifying your product is free of contaminants.

4. Read up on your oil’s terpene profile.
A vital part of your hemp extract lies in its abundance of terpenes. Terpenes are the molecules that give the taste and aromas to most of our favorite fruits, vegetables, and plants. There are over 55,000 types of terpenes that naturally occur in the environment and many of them show up in a variety of botanicals. Like the cannabinoids, terpenes also contribute to the “entourage effect” in the cannabis plant and thus are a beneficial component of your extract. Bluebird Botanicals, founded in 2012 in Boulder, CO, specializes in manufacturing and distribution of hemp extract supplements, cannabidiol (CBD) and more. With Bluebird’s industry-leading quality control system, customers are able to look up third party lab test results for every batch of product they make, and their strict sourcing and business practices embody their dedication to a sustainable and healthy global community. Bluebird is a family-owned business that strives to showcase their commitment to compassion through offering assistance programs and supporting nonprofit organizations nationwide, treating all who engage with them as one of our flock. Find Bluebird Botanicals products at Marlene’s, and learn more about them at BluebirdBotanicals.com

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