You might have heard that your neighborhood convenience store is stocking products like CBD oil. You have probably even seen some on display at the CVS down the street. Also, CBD is even getting mixed into beverages such as coffee, tea, and even water. With CBD being infused into everything, you must be wondering, does it have health benefits? Is it legal? And, is it even safe for me?

The laws surrounding CBD are inconclusive, meaning there is no clear answer no matter who you ask. To get a better understanding of how these regulations and laws work, we’ll need to get technical but not too technical; this is not a legal class.

Much of the studies on CBD and its many applications are still in very early stages. The same thing goes for the laws, but as the compound becomes more mainstream, things will eventually clear up, and a definite answer will be in order.

What Does the Law Say Regarding CBD?

As a quick refresher, CBD is defined as a natural compound found in hemp plants. Unlike marijuana, hemp contains no more than 0.3% of THC. Under federal law, CBD derived from hemp is legal. However, the new Farm Bill does not allow individuals or businesses to grow hemp wherever they want or however they want. There are still some restrictions in place and standards that have to be met.

At the state level, the laws regarding CBD are still unclear (here are CBD laws in different states). If you didn’t know, let’s clarify, for a substance to be completely legal, it has to be legal under federal and state law. Right now, the federal law broadly covers the legalities of the compound; however, some states still consider it illegal.

There is a lot of uncertainty regarding the legality of CBD products. Yes, under the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp-derived products are legal, but this does not mean that all CBD products are legal. CBD can also be derived from marijuana, which is still illegal under federal law.

Does CBD Have Benefits?

People take CBD for multiple reasons. Although the compound has not yet been cleared by the FDA to be considered as a full-fledged alternative to traditional medicine, people are not shying away from using it for personal needs. You might be wondering why are people using CBD oil? We will discuss this in the next section, so follow on.

The FDA currently prohibits anybody from making health claims associated with CBD products. That’s perfectly understandable. The compound still has a long way to go. Scientists agree that a lot more research is needed before CBD can be prescribed as medication for certain maladies.

Is It Safe to Use CBD?

Although CBD has no apparent side effects in humans, you still need to be careful where you get your CBD product from. Despite this on-going progress, lab testing of hemp-derived products remains voluntary, meaning not every company out there is trustworthy and deserves your money. There are a few things you can do to make sure the CBD you’re using is safe.  

Consider a notable, well-reviewed brand. Where you get your CBD from matters more than you think. Not all CBD is formulated equally. There is a difference between local convenience store CBD Oil and award-winning CBD oil. Since the CBD industry is not heavily regulated, companies can make health claims as marketing initiatives. Here are some tips for choosing a safe CBD product.

When shopping for CBD, read the label carefully. Read it twice if you have to. Make sense of the ingredients and the CBD and THC content present in that product. Sketchy companies don’t even put that information on their packages. Just seeing the words CBD is not enough. 

Look for the Hemp Authority Symbol. This piece of information confirms that the company has passed an audit of its manufacturing processes and that the products have been tested.  Next, look for a Certificate of Analysis; all companies that sell CBD should provide their consumers with this piece of information. 

Where to Buy Your CBD Oil?

Now that you know what the red flags are, you know the laws, you can be confident when shopping for a CBD product. Remember what to look out for, what to ask, and you’ll be on your way. Green Roads takes pride in their high quality, pharmacist-formulated CBD Products. Their fixation on the purity and potency of ingredients and formulations are all part of their commitment to their consumers (more on this green roads cbd review).