How to Spot Fake CBD Oil
Cannabidiol (CBD) is big business. In fact, CBD sales are projected to reach $11 billion by 2027. About 60% of U.S. adults have tried CBD at least once, and a growing number are incorporating CBD into their daily life.
This is great news for everyone who has discovered the benefits of cannabidiol, but it also presents a need for caution. An industry with this profit potential inevitably attracts scammers, imitators, and unscrupulous vendors who cut corners.
There are a lot of excellent CBD products on the market. But now more than ever, it’s very important to know how to spot fake CBD oil. Here’s how to tell if CBD oil is real.
Analyze the THC Content
Under the terms of the 2018 Farm Bill, industrial hemp is defined as any cannabis sativa plant that contains a maximum of 0.3% THC. If it contains more than 0.3% THC, it’s considered a cannabis product.
That’s not to say that the product is automatically fake. For instance, plenty of highly rated products have a 1:1 THC:CBD ratio or 5:1 THC:CBD ratio by design. These are commonly sold in medicinal and recreational cannabis dispensaries.
However, if you’re specifically shopping for CBD oil, you have to be mindful of the cannabinoid ratios in order to know how to spot fake CBD oil. Some unscrupulous vendors will repackage their cannabis products as “CBD” or “CBD-rich” just to capitalize on the popularity of cannabidiol—even though the product isn’t actually made from hemp or subject to CBD extraction.
Look at the CBD Content
In addition to assessing the THC concentration, you have to consider the amount of CBD present—or at least the amount advertised on the label. A typical bottle of CBD oil will contain 30 milliliters of liquid. Contained within that carrier liquid is a specific concentration of CBD—sometimes 250mg, 500mg, 1,000mg, or more.
A typical serving is about 1ml of liquid, meaning that a 250mg bottle will contain roughly 8mg of CBD per serving, and a 1,000 mg bottle will contain 33mg of CBD per serving. There’s only so much CBD that you can pack into 30ml of liquid.
A typical CBD product will contain between 100mg and 2,000mg of CBD. Some lab-grade products can even get as high as 3,000mg of CBD. With these numbers in mind, you will know how to spot fake CBD oil. If you find a product that promises north of these amounts, proceed with caution. You might be dealing with a fake CBD product.
Examine the Product’s Label
Sometimes, you’ll know how to tell if CBD oil is real from the product’s label. An impossibly high CBD concentration is one red flag, but there are other deceptions worth noting as well. Some manufacturers and retailers will offer you hemp seed oil when you’re really looking for CBD oil (hemp oil has benefits, but it’s not CBD oil). Amazon sellers are notorious for this.
Amazon prohibits CBD sales, but some hemp seed oil sellers try to capitalize on the interest by using CBD-related keywords to drive prospective CBD buyers to their products—in the hopes that these buyers won’t know the difference. But there is no CBD in hemp seed oil. The cannabinoids are contained in the flowers and leaves, not the seeds. So don’t be fooled.
Also, make note of any details on the label that can’t possibly be true. One way for how to spot fake CBD oil is to see a CBD product that’s advertised as “full spectrum” but boasts “zero THC.” All full-spectrum CBD products contain trace amounts of THC (broad-spectrum and CBD isolate products are THC-free). If something doesn’t add up, keep shopping.
Ask for a Certificate of Analysis
You can learn a lot from a product label, but the label will only get you so far. If you really want to know how to tell if CBD oil is real, you have to ask for proof. That’s why you should only buy CBD products that are lab-tested by a third-party testing facility.
Always ask for the certificate of analysis. This will help you confirm the total CBD concentration in the product and the concentration of other cannabinoids and terpenes. It should also confirm that there are no foreign ingredients or contaminants in the product.
Another way for how to spot fake CBD oil is to research the product’s laboratory. Make sure that their certification is current and that they haven’t been subject to any controversy or punitive action. In rare cases, CBD lab results have been falsified, so it never hurts to cover all your bases. Also, if the manufacturer doesn’t offer lab testing, that’s automatically a red flag.
Research the Brand Carefully
If you want to know how to tell if CBD oil is real, the most important thing you can do is know who you’re buying from. How long have they been in business? What are customers saying about them? What are their growing and extraction processes? In what type of facility are their products manufactured? The brand makes all the difference.
At Sound CBD, for example, we’re passionate about going above and beyond industry expectations. Not only are our products manufactured in an FDA- and USDA-registered facility, but our state-of-the-art cryo-ethanol extraction process enables us to achieve a naturally full spectrum CBD product that isn’t decarboxylated or reconstituted.
The result is a higher cannabinoid concentration and a cleaner product, and we’re able to offer it at a competitive price. Every batch sold in our online CBD store is lab-tested, and the quality is second to none.
Shop Authentic CBD Oil at Sound CBD
No matter where you buy your CBD products, it’s very important that you know how to spot fake CBD oil. It’s not just a matter of getting your money’s worth—it’s a matter of safety. At Sound CBD, we offer third-party lab-tested CBD oil to ensure the highest quality and purity. Shop authentic CBD oil to enhance your wellness with the power of plants.
