Vegan CBD Products That Are Actually Worth It
Personal recommendations from this CBD cynic-turned-true-believer
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A few years ago, when I was more of a verified stoner, I rolled my eyes at CBD products. But they don’t even get you high! But now I’ve come to appreciate the real effect of CBD — which is certainly noticeable to me now both in topicals and when ingested. With all the body and relaxation effects of marijuana, CBD gets you blissed out without the mental fog. Turns out you can get very relaxed without being technically “high.”
Since CBD is newly deregulated in many states where marijuana still isn’t, the market for CBD products has exploded. CBD must have less than .3% THC to be legal, since it’s not psychoactive under this amount. But don’t think that means it doesn’t do anything! CBD acts as an inhibitor to certain cannabinoid receptors, which studies show seems to help the body regulate pain, stress, anxiety, and even sleep.
That said, not all products claiming to have CBD are created equal, and you’re going to want to read the label to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth.
“CBD listed as cannabinol, full-spectrum hemp, hemp oil, or PCR extracts (polycannabinoid rich) are what you are looking for,” Dr. Kristine Blanche, CEO of Integrative Healing Center, tells Tenderly. The market isn’t properly regulated, she cautions, so if a product lists “hemp seed oil (cannabis sativa oil),” you’re not actually getting any of the benefits of CBD, just the price bump. For this reason, I haven’t included any of those products on this list of vegan CBD products; all contain actual CBD, not just hemp seed oil.
To further verify that you’re not getting ripped off, Dr. Blanche says you’ll want to look for how many milligrams of CBD are in the product. If you’re purchasing CBD oil outside of a dispensary, she suggests you make sure the product lists where the cannabis was grown. (It should be more specific than just “Asia” or “Europe,” she notes.) Otherwise, since there are currently few growing standards, “products can be contaminated with pesticides, heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and even bacteria and fungus.” You should also be sure the manufacturer has a “COA” (certificate of analysis).
