5 Signs to Tell if CBD Products are Real or Fake

How common is it to find fake CBD products? Read our 5 Warning Signs to help you determine if the CBD product you are spending your money on is the real thing!

Since the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the production of hemp products, there has been real growth in the CBD industry. People have become more and more aware of the health and wellness benefits of CBD oil, and the manufacture and sale of CBD products has increased greatly over the past number of years. 

You may have noticed the increase in supply of CBD products available on the market or that stores solely dedicated to selling them are popping up everywhere. However, even though CBD products and the usage of them are legal, they are not regulated by the FDA in the same way that dietary supplements, vitamins and minerals are not required to be reviewed by the FDA before they reach the point of sale. 

Unfortunately, because of this, there are some companies out there that are prepared to cut corners and are producing CBD products that are of low quality, contain sub-standard or synthetic ingredients, and are not hemp-derived. 

How to Tell if CBD Oil is Real or Fake

To help you spot the warning signs, we have created this 5-step checklist so that you can make a more informed decision when it comes to purchasing your CBD products.

1. Lack of Testing Information

Any genuine CBD manufacturer should be able to produce a third-party COA (Certificate of Analysis). This should include the batch number, the levels of contaminants in the solvent residue (if any), and the levels of CBD and the levels of THC in the product.

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is one of the chemical compounds that is derived from cannabis, and it is the one that has the principal psychoactive effect (it causes the ‘high’ or intoxicating feeling). High-quality CBD oil should contain zero-trace levels of THC.

2. Content per Serving Information Not Available 

According to The Essential Guide to CBD, you should also be able to find information on your brand’s website or the bottle should label the amount of CBD or THC that you will be getting per serving.

This is essential information that will help you control dosages, assist you in avoiding any confusion, and allow you to make the most informed decision possible about the ingredients you are ingesting along with any possible side effects. 

3. “Too Good To Be True” Marketing Claims 

If the brand that you are buying your product from is making claims that seem “too good to be true,” they probably are! Promoting CBD products by claiming to ‘cure’ or ‘fix’ health ailments is a big red flag—after all, these are health supplements and not prescription drugs.

Also, if the purchasing process is very complex, you are being asked to sign up for a subscription of some kind, or you are required to pay for a membership service, beware! These are other kinds of marketing scams, and they should be avoided.

4. Low Price

Cultivating natural, high-quality, organic hemp in a sustainable way is an intensive process. The production of a trusted product also requires state-of-the-art extraction equipment, along with expert staff who are qualified in the most up-to-date techniques and methodologies for using this equipment.

Complying correctly with state-specific regulations and implementing third-party testing in order to ensure consistency and quality are also all costly procedures. While we all love a good bargain, sacrificing this quality for the sake of a cheaper product might not be the best thing to do when it comes to CBD.

5. It Doesn’t Come in an Amber or  Dark-Colored Glass Bottle 

This might seem like a trivial thing, but it is also a very important thing to consider when considering how to tell if CBD oil is real or fake!

The reason why high-quality CBD oil comes in amber or dark-colored glass bottles—brown, cobalt, or green—is because UV light gradually breaks down the compounds of oil. Darker colors provide more protection than clear glass. A reputable producer would naturally want to preserve the quality of the product as much as possible.

In the same way, plastic will gradually break down over time and this can contaminate the CBD oil. Glass is a better alternative to maintain the integrity of the CBD, and so this is more usually chosen by a high-quality manufacturer.

Final Thoughts

The legalization of growing hemp and the numerous studies that have been undertaken in recent years showing how CBD products can have a positive impact on nearly every biological process have meant that there are now a huge amount of CBD products out there to choose from.

High-quality CBD products can promote real health and wellness benefits in the areas of digestion, metabolism, hormone regulation, appetite, immunity, memory, emotions, and sleep. However, knowing whether your CBD product is real or fake is not as simple as just being able to ‘feel’ the benefits. 

Full-spectrum hemp oil is non-psychoactive. It works by activating your endocannabinoid system, circulating these through your bloodstream to bind to receptors wherever they are needed. They work by helping your body to achieve the balance that it might have been lacking. You should feel ‘good,’ but at the same time, you should not feel ‘different’ in any way.

For this reason, it is important to have other ways to be able to assess the quality of the CBD product that you are spending your hard-earned money on! We have given you some things to look out for to aid you with this and these are only some of the warning signs. For more information, our blog can provide you with even more in-depth details.