There’s no question that CBD products are hot commodities these days. The industry is worth billions of dollars, and cannabidiol has millions of advocates in dozens of countries worldwide.
If you choose a brand such as PureKana when seeking CBD for sale online, you will have no concerns. After all, it is one of the top-rated sellers in the industry, offering third-party tested CBD products free from harmful ingredients.
Unfortunately, not every organization in this crowded marketplace is as diligent as PureKana. Indeed, the industry’s rapid growth means there is a regrettably large number of dubious brands selling potentially harmful products. This article investigates the darker side of the CBD market. Hopefully, it will prompt you to be more careful when sourcing CBD products.
CBD Products Aren’t Always What They Seem
A study published in 2018 looked into the problems associated with CBD oil. The researchers outlined a World Health Organization (WHO) review, which concluded there was no evidence that using pure CBD leads to any public health-related problems.
The key word there is ‘pure.’ It is a sad fact that many CBD products on the market are decidedly impure. The researchers wrote that many cannabis plants come from uncontrolled sources and could be contaminated with many harmful substances. Scam brands deliberately add chemicals to increase the crop’s weight, potency, or yield.
Disturbingly, the researchers found that pesticides were found in cannabis sold under state law in California! If any contaminants are present in hemp used for cannabidiol extraction, they will likely end up in the final CBD products.
The Trouble with CBD Extraction
A particularly big issue is the extraction method. Top-rated brands use supercritical CO2 extraction. This process uses carbon dioxide, guaranteeing no residual solvent.
However, many brands use ethanol to extract hemp cannabinoids. This isn’t necessarily concerning. After all, reputable brands ensure that the level of residual ethanol remaining is below the FDA’s limits. Yet, this is not always the case. If a brand doesn’t publish updated third-party lab reports, you have no idea what is inside the product.
Inaccurate Labelling
The researchers also analyzed data from the Netherlands, which looked at almost 50 cannabis oil samples. These samples were collected from patients and analyzed for their cannabinoid content. Almost 40% were purchased from a store, while the rest were homemade.
Nearly 60% of the samples had at least 1% THC, with one product containing over 57% THC! In 40% of the samples, there was hardly any CBD. As well as showing the difficulties of creating high-quality CBD products at home, it was an eye-opening look at how perilous the market is from a consumer’s perspective.
Some CBD Products Are Outright Harmful
Adverse effects of decent standard CBD products include diarrhea, dizziness, and fatigue. However, such instances are rare and usually only happen if someone uses an extremely high amount.
Things are very different when it comes to low-grade CBD products, however. News reports outline how some people have used CBD vape products only to end up in comas. In such cases, the item is spiked with synthetic marijuana. Street gangs also spike CBD edibles such as gummies.
In the United States, the Associated Press investigated CBD products sold online. They found that one-third of the products they sampled contained K2, also known as Spice.
Meanwhile, a survey of law enforcement agencies across America tested over 350 samples of CBD. Incredibly, over one-third contained synthetic marijuana. Testers even found fentanyl in some products. For reference, fentanyl is a highly addictive opioid linked with over 30,000 overdose deaths annually.
Final Thoughts on the Dangers of Low-Grade CBD Products
It is genuinely terrifying to know that there are so many potentially harmful CBD products on the market. This information is enough to cause people to avoid the cannabinoid entirely. However, there are a significant number of great CBD brands like PureKana too. Such companies are highly trustworthy and sell CBD you can rely on.
When shopping for CBD products, please ensure you stick with tried and trusted brands in the industry. All products should come with updated third-party lab reports, and the company should clearly state where it sources its hemp.
