Where to Buy CBD oil?

While cannabidiol (CBD) has gained massive popularity in recent years, it’s not always easy to find a high-quality and legal product. A blurry legal status and an influx of low-grade CBD oil producers have made knowing where and how to buy CBD oil difficult. 

If you’re new to CBD, you’re probably wondering where you can get it, what the deal with the confusing legalities is, and how much you’re going to have to pay for it.

So where can you buy CBD oil? Let’s take a look:

It depends on the laws in your state

As nice as it would be to have a solid answer for all of the United States, the laws regarding CBD actually depend heavily on your location. If you want to purchase cannabidiol oil, you’ll need to brush up on the laws in your state first.

Hemp-derived CBD is legal

Hemp, an agricultural resource effective at making rope, clothing, paper, and other materials, is a classification of cannabis. It resembles the cannabis plants used recreationally and medicinally but has a few key differences in appearance. 

The biggest difference between hemp and other cannabis is THC content. Hemp has a much lower THC content than other cannabis, while still containing high amounts of CBD.

The 2018 Farm Bill clarified some of the previously convoluted language about hemp in agriculture. The bill made it legal to transport hemp across state lines as well as take extracts from the plant, such as CBD. 

So, you’d think figuring out where to buy CBD oil would be easy considering the 2018 Farm Bill that defines hemp as an agricultural commodity. But it gets trickier than that. 

CBD is legal if it is derived from hemp following governmental guidelines (THC levels below .03%), adheres to the state-federal guidelines of the state, and is sourced only from licensed producers. 

So if the CBD is sourced from hemp that follows all of the governmental guidelines, it is legal. If the CBD is not sourced from hemp, and instead sourced from other cannabis or outside of the guidelines of the law, you’re in tricky territory.

Non-hemp derived CBD

If the CBD is sourced from other cannabis rather than hemp, it falls under the DEA’s classification of a Schedule 1 controlled substance. If you want to purchase CBD oil from cannabis, legality will depend on the state you’re in. 

In states where recreational cannabis is legal (Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington) you can purchase CBD oil legally even if it is not derived from hemp. 

This is also the case in states where medical cannabis is legal, though you’ll need to be a registered patient to legally have non-hemp-derived CBD.

Of course, just like cannabis is still a Schedule 1 drug, even if it’s legal in the state, it is illegal on a federal level.

Where do I buy CBD oil?

If you’re wondering, “where can I purchase CBD oil if my state doesn’t have legal cannabis”, don’t worry. Luckily CBD derived from hemp or cannabis is still that: CBD. 

If you’re from a state where recreational cannabis is legal, you can get CBD from the dispensary. These often have some level of THC, which can be beneficial for many patients but is something to avoid for others. 

If you have a medical card in a state with medical cannabis, you can also go into a medical dispensary and get CBD that way. 

But where to purchase CBD oil in a state without medical or recreational cannabis is another story and that’s where hemp-derived CBD comes in. If hemp-derived CBD has adhered to all the federal guidelines under the 2018 Farm Bill, that CBD can be transported all across the United States. 

This means you can order CBD oil online and have it shipped legally so long as you purchase from a reputable company that follows all the rules. 

What to look out for when buying CBD oil online

The most important thing to keep in mind when shopping for CBD is quality. Cannabidiol rapidly garnered the attention of millions which has led many companies to hop on the train and provide low-quality CBD without doing their research. Look for a company willing to provide 3rd party lab testing to confirm the contents of their CBD oil.

If they have an issue with providing lab results, go ahead and move on to a more reputable company. 

The extraction method is also important to assess. With little guidelines, CBD producers can use whatever extraction method they see fit. Cheap companies might go for harmful solvents like propane or butane to extract their CBD, which will leave toxins in the product. 

High-quality companies will extract their CBD using healthier, cleaner extraction methods like CO2. Using CO2 to extract CBD produces a safe and pure product.  

Sourcing is another important factor to take into account. Healthy soil is crucial to getting a quality product, so steer clear of anything with pesticides or fertilizers. Some sources with poor soil are even contaminated with heavy metals, so it’s important to thoroughly understand where the CBD is coming from before purchasing.

Full-spectrum or isolates?

Another key consideration for what kind of CBD oil to purchase is whether you want a full-spectrum product or an isolated CBD. 

As the name suggests, an isolated CBD oil is just that: CBD. It is usually listed as 99% pure CBD and contains zero THC. Full-spectrum CBD contains small amounts of other cannabinoids present in cannabis, including THC. 

While CBD isolates have plenty of valid uses, a full-spectrum product is usually favored over pure CBD isolates. The efficacy of CBD tends to improve when it’s paired with a little bit of THC and other cannabinoids as it produces what is known as “the entourage effect.”

The term was coined to describe how terpenes, the organic molecules in cannabis that offer its distinct taste and aroma, synergize with other compounds in the plant. The symbiosis between terpenes, CBD, THC, and other molecules creates a stronger and more therapeutic effect than CBD by itself. 

This loops back to the legality of CBD. Full-spectrum products may still be derived from hemp as long as their THC level falls below the legal limit. There is not enough THC in CBD products to cause users to get intoxicated, though it’s important to take caution if you have a drug test or any reason you’d want to avoid trace amounts of THC.

Does CBD Oil Get You High?

How much does CBD oil cost?

Like most things, you get what you pay for when you purchase CBD oil. If you purchase the cheapest bottle of oil you can find, the odds of available third-party test results and a toxin-free product are low. 

One of the biggest issues that cause potential CBD users to shy away from trying it is the price tag. With such little oversight on CBD production, the range of prices can be confusing and disheartening. 

Even the cheap stuff can fall over $30+ for a small bottle, which would be reasonable if it didn’t translate to lower quality. The extraction process is a big reason why more expensive CBD products are that way – because they were produced in a way that takes more time and money to create a pure, toxin-free product. 

While you should expect to pay upwards of $50-100 for a quality product, you can also expect the CBD to last for a while depending on how much you use.

Final thoughts on how to buy CBD oil 

If you’re ready to take the plunge and try CBD, it’s important to do it with intention and a reliable product. This means you’ll want to take a little bit of time to make sure the CBD is third-party tested, free of toxins, organic, and for the best results, full-spectrum. 

Depending on your state, you may be limited to hemp-derived CBD. This means you’ll be able to order it online because it is legal to transport the agricultural commodity hemp across all of the United States. 

If you’re in a state where medical or recreational cannabis is legal, you may be able to just go to the nearest dispensary, ask for CBD oil, and leave with all you need. 

It’s also important to not price shop too much because the cheaper the product the more likely it is going to be low-quality and not help you get the results you’re looking for. 

Of course, throwing a bunch of money at a product you’ve never used is risky, and it’s understandable to not want to waste your money if it doesn’t work. Buy CBD oil from reputable shop.

“Representations regarding the efficacy and safety of [CBD Oil] have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA only evaluates foods and drugs, not supplements like these products. These products are not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease. Click here [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304394018304099] to find evidence of a test, analysis, research, or study describing the benefits, performance or efficacy of [CBD Oil] based on the expertise of relevant professionals.”