jason-crawford

Medically Reviewed by
Jason Crawford

Article Last Updated on January 15, 2023

Both the hemp plant and the cannabis plant have been used medicinally for treating certain conditions and general wellness. As the CBD market expanded across the USA as a result of the 2018 Farm Bill and the FDA legalized CBD products with only trace amounts of  THC (less than 0.3%), people have been swapping their prescription medication for pure CBD products to treat conditions like epilepsy, chronic pain, nausea, and others. The CBD market has expanded so much that it now sells multiple CBD products ranging from topicals, lotions, CBD capsules, CBD gummies, vapes, CBD with melatonin, CBD oil tinctures, broad-spectrum CBD oils, and many other products.

THC-free, full-spectrum hemp products with a high CBD content have been all the rage for people searching for a high-quality product, as the CBD market is expected to reach $13.4 billion by 2028. Since the pandemic (Covid-19) has forced people to shop online and omit closed spaces like dispensaries, CBD companies have focused on expanding the virtual CBD market and include the highest quality CBD oil products to suit the needs of every customer. But can you legally buy these products online? Read on to find out.

Cannabinoids and How They Affect Our Body

The cannabis plant is a complex one and it contains over 400 chemical entities combining cannabinoid compounds, terpenes, and other entities. Once you consume them, they interact with the endocannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system and produce their psychoactive and sedative effects. 

When taken together, cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), along with the terpenes, produce the entourage effect. This means that when used together, they are more effective in treating mood disorders and anxiety than any cannabinoid used alone. 

Full-Spectrum CBD vs. Broad Spectrum CBD vs. Isolate CBD Products

There are three main types of hemp extracts on the market, and each has its own specific characteristics:

  • Full spectrum CBD;
  • Broad spectrum CBD;
  • CBD Isolate.

Full Spectrum

Full-spectrum CBD is a whole plant extract that contains all the plant matter, cannabinoids, and terpenes that you can find in the stalk, leaves, and flowers. It has higher medicinal properties since you consume all the cannabinoids that the plant contains.

Broad Spectrum

The only difference between broad-spectrum CBD and full-spectrum CBD is that the former doesn’t contain any THC, compared to the latter. However, broad-spectrum CBD contains all the other cannabinoids, therefore, it’s pretty close to being a whole plant extract. 

Isolate

CBD isolates contain only the full concentrated amount of CBD and no additional cannabinoids or terpenes. This extraction method is made similarly to CBD oil and is used in tinctures and vapes.  

How to Decide Which Is the Best CBD Oil When Buying Online?

To get the benefits of the healing effects of cannabis, users need to find the right kind of CBD product for them, and decide between a lot of CBD brands to buy the specific high-quality product. To help you decide between thousands of products that are available online, you can look for some of the following telltale signs to decide on the right product.

High-quality products have the following characteristics:

They Should Be Tested by Third-Party Labs

The Certificate of Analysis (CoA) should be available on the company’s website and should provide information on the potency, purity, and safety of the product. Moreover, the test should be done recently and accredited by the International Organization for Standardization. If the CoA isn’t available online, you can always contact the brand and request it. 

The report should contain:

  • All the organic and inorganic contaminants of the product;
  • All the ingredients, natural or artificial flavorings, and carrier oils;
  • Cannabinoid concentration and profile that match the label;
  • THC levels (should be lower than 0.3%).

The THC Content Should Be Below 0.3% 

Under federal law and the 2018 Farm Bill, only CBD products that contain less than 0.3% THC can be legally sold in the US. Before ordering your CBD oil, you should make sure that the ingredients in the product you’re buying don’t defy state or federal laws.

Check the Ingredients on the Label

Since hemp seed oil and CBD oil are different, you should make sure you aren’t buying hemp seed oil. Even though both are hemp extracts, hemp seed oil barely contains any CBD. Industrial hemp strains contain less than 0.3% THC, and the hemp oil that comes from hemp seeds contains essential fatty acids like Omega 3 and Omega 6, so it’s used as a carrier oil for CBD oil.

Next, you should make sure that your CBD tincture doesn’t contain any thinning agents since they aren’t safe to consume. Easily digestible ingredients like hemp seed oil, MCT oil, olive oil, or other plant-derived oils are allowed.

FInally, the tincture should contain only natural plant extracts. While organically grown natural plant extracts are safe, artificial additives can damage your health.

Search For Information Regarding the Sourcing and Cultivation of the Hemp Used to Make the Products

The CBD oil should come from a regulated source, so the product has adequate levels of CBD and THC present. Find out if the CBD oil used for the products is made from homegrown hemp or not.

Research the CBD’s Extraction Process

The extraction process is also a key aspect of making CBD oil. The extraction with CO2 is the safest method since it doesn’t include using solvents or harmful contaminants, so the final product is pure and potent.

Can You Buy CBD Oil Legally Online? 

Whether you decide to buy CBD from Colorado, Kentucky, or another US state, buying CBD oil online is all the same, and also legal. CBD and CBD products derived from industrial hemp containing THC below 0.3% can be legally sold across the US. Getting your CBD products from companies that comply with the Farm Bill is legal across the states, and it can be done from one US state and received in another.

Final Thoughts on Ordering CBD Online

While some of the health benefits of CBD are still researched by scientists, it’s a fact that high-quality CBD extracts help with a whole array of medical conditions. And that’s the reason why the CBD market is thriving. However, this should also be the time when a person is most careful about buying CBD products online.

If you want to buy CBD oil online, make sure you double check the company you’re buying from by checking whether the product has been tested by a third-party lab, whether the THC levels are lower than the federally allowed maximum, and whether it contains harmful pesticides or heavy metals.

To get the best CBD products online all the time, check for the telltale signs explored above, and avoid ordering a low-quality CBD oil. Happy searching!

A passionate advocate for the benefits of cannabis. Fraser Horton, who has a background in botany and a strong love of nature, has spent years researching how cannabis affects the body and mind. He established Leaf Nation in 2020, where he has devoted himself to educating people about the legalisation of marijuana and its safe and responsible use. Fraser is committed to highlighting cannabis’ potential for improving wellness and working to dispel the stigma associated with its use.

Disclaimer

The information presented on this page is provided as a public service to aid in education and is derived from sources believed to be reliable. Readers are responsible for making their own assessment of the topics discussed here. In no event shall Leaf Nation be held reliable for any injury, loss or damage that could happen if using or abusing drugs.