Is there actually CBD in the product(s) you purchase?
Cannabinoid products (CBD) are appearing everywhere and in different forms. We can find salves, chews, gummies, bath bombs, oils, concentrates and beverages on store shelves and online. While high quality CBD can be effective in addressing some of our health challenges, the key is making sure we are using products that actually include CBD.
Leafreport, a CBD watchdog, is introducing transparency into the CBD industry through its patient-focused, educational content and medical reviews. Their medical review team consists of physicians, chemists, nutritionists, pharmacists, chemists and naturopaths. Their work is science-based and peer-reviewed; resulting in a website designed to help consumers navigate the confusing landscape of CBD products.
Recent independent laboratory testing on 22 CBD-infused beverages identified discrepancies in product quality and labeling. The results of testing, conducted by Canalysis Laboratories, found significant inaccuracies in the amount of CBD in each product.
Among the report’s key findings:
- 54% of the products (12 products) contained less CBD than advertised
- Two products contained no CBD at all
- 81% of beverages (18 products) had CBD levels that were more than 10% higher or lower than what the label claimed
- 64% of beverages (14 products) had CBD levels that were more than 40% higher or lower than what the label claimed
- Only 18% of tested drinks (4 products) had CBD levels within 10% of the claimed amount, which is equivalent to an excellent (A) rating
- Unlike our first report, we didn’t see a positive association between a company’s overall reputation and their test results. That means that leading CBD brands were not more likely to score well on our tests than lesser-known companies.
“This is in line with our expectations because CBD beverages are difficult to formulate and contain relatively small amounts of CBD, which means that variations of even a few milligrams can have a big effect,” said Lital Shafir, head of product at Leafreport.
Leafreport highlighted inaccuracies in CBD tinctures in another study, which showed that some CBD oil brands still sell products that contain much less or more CBD than advertised. According to cannabis industry experts, +/- 10% is a reasonable amount of variance for cannabis products, which means that a high-quality CBD product is expected to have CBD levels that are within 90–110% of what’s stated on the label.
They are also bringing transparency to the industry and educating consumers on costs; as outlined in their report on CBD prices.
“The CBD industry is completely unregulated and there have been many cases of companies selling products that contain little to no CBD. That’s why third-party testing is important for brands in this industry,” added Shafir.
These results may explain why some state that the CBD they tried didn’t help. Perhaps if they had tried a quality product they would have found relief. Advocate for yourself and ask questions. Also, research brands before you make a purchase. Two of my posts on understanding and selecting CBD may be good starting points for your individual research.
Understanding Cannabidiol: The CBD Compound
The full study is available at : Testing of CBD Beverages
Originally published at https://thielst.typepad.com.
