By: Drew Hanson, Account Manager at Ayani Botanicals
With the recent passing of the Farm Bill legalizing the commercial production of hemp federally, the United States is seeing a rapid expansion in the hemp and CBD industry. With a myriad of options on the market at this point, it can be difficult to understand what sets a product apart from similar offerings. To help our client base understand what to look for, we have put together a short list of items to consider before choosing a product.
1. Purpose of Use
Are you looking for something to apply to sore muscles after a long day’s hike or are you looking for a tincture to take each day for mood improvements and sleep support? Are you looking for a simple lip balm with better restorative properties?
If you would like a quick onset, vaporizers are going to be the quickest way to feel the effects. Topicals applied to the skin work well for more immediate localized relief as well. Taking CBD orally can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours but ultimately will have the longest lasting full-body effects.
2. Concentration
The amount of CBD contained in the product is measured in milligrams. Companies should be able to responsibly inform a consumer about their products in regards to the total concentration of CBD in milligrams per unit. This leads us to our next item, third-party testing.
3. Third-party Testing
Third-party testing is important because you are getting lab tested results from an independent party who does not benefit from the sale of the product. Does the company in question provide third-party testing? This information should be available on their website and sometimes directly on a label through a QR code (Quick Response Code). This is the industry standard for validating a company’s claims of CBD concentration. This is undoubtedly a new and burgeoning industry and with that comes plenty of people cutting corners to make a quick buck. There have been numerous accounts of companies making false claims about the concentration of CBD in their products. To ensure you are getting what you pay for, be sure to check the QR code or the company’s website for test results.
4. Ingredients
Most people are interested in CBD for the health benefits. That being said, it is important to understand that your skin is your biggest organ. Topical products are absorbed through the skin and enter into the body; therefore, you shouldn’t put anything on your skin that isn’t safe to take internally. Ask yourself, what else goes into making the tincture, salve, oil, etc.? Is the company using organic ingredients to produce their products? Where are they sourcing their ingredients? Are they producing the products themselves or are they slapping a label on someone else’s formula and upcharging the end user?
Organic matters for your health. The risk of undesirable contaminants, including pesticides and heavy metals, is a commonly and overlooked problem in consumer goods. When you choose products made from certified organic ingredients, you support your own health and also agricultural practices that support the well-being of the environment.
5. Hemp Source
Does the company use organic or naturalized hemp? Where is the hemp sourced from? Now that the Farm Bill has passed the industry should see the monitoring of hemp quality improve. As the industry matures, we will hopefully see organic certification becoming a standard practice.
6. Extraction Process
What processes does the company use to extract CBD from the hemp plant? The safest proven methods are ethanol or CO2 extraction. Some companies use petrochemicals (hydrocarbons) which have the potential to leave unwanted heavy metal residuals. Would you purchase a product if you knew it had toxic heavy metals attached as a by-product during production?
7. Cost per Milligram of CBD
After ensuring you are looking at a product with third-party testing and a company that sources the highest quality ingredients, how do you know you are getting the most for your dollar?
Here is a method meant to help you calculate the cost of every milligram of CBD. The equation below will calculate the cost per milligram of CBD.
Take the price of the overall product and the overall claimed CBD content.
Let’s say the cost of a tincture is $50.00 and the concentration is 750 mg of CBD.
Take the price of $50 and divide it by 750 mg.
$50 ÷ 750 mg = .06666. The price per milligram for this tincture product is .06 cents. This is a great way to gauge the value of your CBD product.
Ultimately, quality CBD products should be adding relief and value to your life at a reasonable cost. If you follow these steps and ensure that a company’s values align with your own, you are sure to get a more quality product with greater benefits all around. Self-extraction and locally sourced ingredients create an environmentally conscious and sustainable product. Organic ingredients ensure that you are only reaping the benefits of CBD and not exposing yourself to other unknown toxins. Finally, if you understand what the cost is per milligram, you are sure to get the most value out of your dollar for a quality product.
If you would like to learn more about the ingredients Ayani Botanicals has chosen you can find them here: Ayani Botanicals Ingredients List.
If you have any questions about our products or would like to inquire about wholesale orders, please contact Drew Hanson at Drew@Ayanibotanicals.com