Amazon is an e-commerce giant that sells nearly everything and anything under the sun – but does that long, LONG list include CBD Oil?
You’re damn right it does.
And with the newly introduced hemp farm bill, you can expect Amazon to carry A LOT more CBD oil than before. But you might think all is gravy, as in the explosion in its availability means it’s going to be easier to purchase.
Sadly, this isn’t so.
Simply because – not all CBD oil products are created equal. Matter of fact, some are outright fakes and don’t have any CBD at ALL. Not a typo.
So, how can you ensure your CBD oil from Amazon is the real stuff? With our guide, you’ll have all the tips, tricks and guidelines.
So without further ado, here are the most important precautions to take before clicking that Amazon “checkout” button for CBD oil.
But first, let’s remind ourselves of why CBD is on the minds of just about EVERYONE.
What is CBD?
CBD or cannabidiol, is a compound extracted from the resin of both hemp and cannabis sativa plants, and, unlike its sister THC, it differs in many ways.
One important difference of CBD is its non-psychoactive feature, while, another, is its role in our biology when consumed.
These two important features and much more, lend CBD it’s quite marvellous medical use, treating a range of symptoms from inflammation, skin acne, anxiety and epilepsy. Just to name a few.
In addition, CBD can be consumed in so many ways, from edibles to tinctures, from topical balms to capsules, from vape pens to, even, teas.
But for our purposes, we’ll be focusing only on CBD oils in the form of tinctures.
So with this refresher out of the way, let’s deep dive into the things you absolutely must know when buying CBD oil on Amazon.
What Everyone Should Know When Buying CBD Oil on Amazon
1. Hemp Seed Oil vs Hemp Extract – Will the real CBD oil please stand?
Complete a search for “CBD oil” on Amazon and be prepared to face an unending list of hemp products by third party sellers. Many of which contain ambiguous terms like “hemp extract”, “hemp oil”, or “hemp oil extract”. Anything but the acknowledgment of CBD.
So what’s the deal?
Basically, products sold as “hemp oil” are actually “hemp seed oil”, something very different from CBD oil, whereas “hemp extract” is the REAL CBD oil product.
Here’s a deeper comparison:
Although “hemp oil” and “hemp extract” are both derived from hemp plants, they’re extracted from different parts of the plant, thus having different chemical profiles.
More precisely, “hemp oil” or “hemp seed oil” is extracted from hemp seeds, whereas “hemp extract” is extracted from hemp flowers and leaves.
This proves to be a major factor because hemp seeds don’t have CBD or cannabinoids, instead, it carries A LOT of omega fatty acids, and many other positive supplements, which makes it still useful as a lotion, soap, protein supplement and/or cooking oil.
As for “hemp extract”, which is extracted from hemp leaves and flowers, its where the prized CBD compounds are, not to mention the many other valuable cannabis compounds.
So in other words, “hemp oil” or “hemp seed oil” is anything but CBD oil, whereas “hemp extracts” are.
The real CBD oil has stood.
2. Why the Confusing Labels for CBD Oil on Amazon?
What’s up with all this mystery?
The truth behind the cloud of such ambiguous product names is due to the legality of cannabis.
CBD derived from hemp is deemed legal at the federal level ever since the passing of the 2014 Farm bill, yet Amazon has restricted sellers from offering CBD through their platform.
Essentially, CBD oil is not allowed to be sold on Amazon, which is explicitly stated in their outline of restricted products because cannabis remains illegal at the federal level.
Therefore, in order to remain as a listed product on Amazon, suppliers are finding loopholes to bypass this rule, loopholes in the form of VAGUE product listings, which proves to be the reason why CBD oil is often labelled as its alias term, “hemp extract”.
3. Rules to Have When Buying CBD oil on Amazon
Since anyone can slap on a product label and sell it as “CBD oil”, there are a few precautions to take. The last thing anyone would want is to be fooled by obscure product listings. Here they are:
Make Sure it’s Labelled “Hemp Extract”
First things first is to ensure you’re buying products with the title “hemp extract”. This should be visibly displayed under the bottle’s description of supplement facts. The higher the milligram content, the higher the amount of CBD it contains.
Make Sure it’s Measured in MG
Also, it’s important to note that milligrams (mg) are the standard measurement of dosage in hemp or marijuana ingredients. Therefore, if the CBD oil you’re interested doesn’t list any of its ingredients in mg, move on to the next one!
Make Sure it’s in a Dropper Bottle/Tincture
In addition, consumers should seek products that come in dropper bottles or tinctures. One of the biggest telltale indicators of whether you’re looking at CBD oil or “hemp seed oil” is by the bottle it comes in.
CBD oil or “hemp extracts” tend to come in small concentrated amounts, specifically 1 to 2 oz dropper bottles with a pipette at the top. Hemp seed oil, on the other hand, often comes in larger bottles which have a strong resemblance to olive oil bottles.
Ask Seller Questions
Lastly, if you’re unsure about anything, simply inquire about it! Directly message the seller to clarify what ingredients are included.
For instance, to validate the brand’s credibility, check/ask to see if its extracted from American-sourced hemp. This can be a major difference, because, given the new legislation changes, farmers are required by law to cultivate hemp on good conditioned US soil, which means higher quality CBD oil production.
On top of this, you may check/ask for its lab results. This ensures whatever CBD product you’re purchasing does not contain any unwanted pesticides, heavy metals or solvents, and most importantly, actually has CBD!
The Takeaway on Buying CBD Oil Through Amazon
The CBD wave is just beginning, so you can expect its availability and hype to continue.
But with this, finding REAL products with CBD remains a challenge.
By incorporating our guidelines and rules, you can minimize your risk of buying from suppliers looking to capitalize on misinformation.
Another way of also minimizing your risk is to purchase from trusted and reputable companies, such as our own.
Each of our CBD oil products are put against the highest requirements, not to mention carefully selected from local vendors here in British Columbia, the cannabis capital of Canada.
It’s a step forward when compared to the open marketplace frenzy of Amazon, in our view.
But ultimately, its for you to decide!