CBD (cannabidiol) is being touted by manufacturers and natural health proponents as an alternative treatment for everything from fibromyalgia, to anxiety, to migraines. More and more types of products infused with CBD are popping up on drugstore shelves and retailer websites all the time. But with all the hype and easy accessibility, do consumers know what they’re really getting? Since over-the-counter CBD products aren’t FDA-regulated, CBD testing is an important step in answering that question.

What Are You Actually Buying?

A team of investigative reporters out of Massachusetts embarked on some CBD testing in their own investigation. They bought 3 different CBD products from area convenience stores: a beverage, a pack of gummies, and a tincture. Then they took those products to a lab for analysis. What they found might make you think twice about buying CBD products from just anyone.

Beverage

The drink the investigators purchased supposedly contained 75 mg of CBD, as stated on the packaging. But the lab found just 17 mg — 77% less than advertised.

Tincture

At $45, this was the most expensive item the investigative team purchased, and it claimed to contain 250 mg of CBD. The lab found just 142 mg…barely over half of what was on the label.

Gummies

The package of gummies advertised a much higher 500 mg of CBD, but lab testing revealed zero milligrams. That’s right…no CBD at all.

Accurate CBD Testing is Critical

As this investigation discovered, what’s on the label of a CBD product might be very different from what’s actually in it. And this wasn’t an isolated experiment. Mislabeling is actually a big problem in the CBD industry. In one study, 70% of the products tested claimed inaccurate amounts of CBD (either too much or too little). Even worse, 1 in 5 CBD products actually contained THC, the high-inducing substance in marijuana — when the label said there was none. The best CBD oil for migraines should offer verified proof that their label is accurate and the product is pure. These common inaccuracies are just one reason why Thuswell uses strict 3rd party testing so you know exactly what you’re getting. 

A Note About Purity

A lot of CBD supplements include “full spectrum” CBD, but what’s good for sunscreen isn’t great for your CBD. In this case, full spectrum means many different parts of the plant are included in the oil. However, as migraineurs know, you can’t always anticipate how those things might affect you and your condition. What’s more, that “spectrum” can change from batch to batch. So not only could you be getting additional substances you know nothing about, but your next bottle might affect you differently than your last. This is why Thuswell uses only pure, isolated CBD extract. Your CBD will never include other cannabis substances, and you’ll always know what to expect.

The bottom line here is that when buying over-the-counter CBD products, you’re very much in a “buyer beware” situation. Beware of your source, their methods, and how their product is tested.