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Tests Reveal How Much CBD is Really in CBD and Hemp Oils -- Some Don't Provide Amounts of CBD Listed on Labels
White Plains, New York, February 15, 2018 (UPDATED 2/11/19) — CBD (cannabidiol) has become popular for treating pain, helping with anxiety and insomnia, and a variety of other conditions, despite the fact that the FDA has stated it cannot legally be sold as a supplement. It can also be very expensive -- and many products do not list the amount of CBD they contain on the label. So does it really work, how much CBD is really in products, how much does CBD cost, and which, if any, products are best?
To find out, ConsumerLab.com carefully reviewed the clinical evidence, and purchased and tested popular CBD and hemp products (liquids and capsules) sold the U.S., checking to see how much CBD each contained, and if it was contaminated with lead, cadmium or arsenic, and calculating the cost of CBD. Amounts of CBD in products varied widely, from just 2.2 mg to 22.3 mg per serving. The cost to get an equivalent amount of CBD (10 mg) from a product ranged 5-fold from 80 cents to $4.54. None of the products were contaminated with heavy metals nor contained significant amounts of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
[UPDATE (2/11/19): Test results for 10 additional products have been added to the Review, including CBD oil gummies, softgels, oral sprays and topical lotions. Five of these were selected by CL based on reader suggestions, among which three contained significantly more or less CBD than listed on their labels. Five other products were included for having passed ConsumerLab's voluntary Quality Certification Program.]
The findings are available online in ConsumerLab.com's CBD & Hemp Supplements Review. In the Review, products are compared and, among those that passed tests, ConsumerLab.com identifies its Top Picks -- indicating high quality CBD at lowest cost. The Review also explains the clinical evidence for CBD, CBD dosage, the difference between hemp oil and hemp extract, discusses safety concerns and potential side effects of CBD, and provides tips on what to look for in products. The Review explains that most clinical benefits found with CBD have been shown using large doses -- hundreds of milligrams per day, but many products on the market contain smaller amounts.
The Review includes results for nine products, including two for pets: Bluebird Botanicals Hemp Classic 6 x Concentrated, Canna-Pet Advanced, CW [Charlotte's Web] Everyday Plus - Infused Oil Mint Chocolate, CW [Charlotte's Web] Paws, Elixinol Natural Drops Hemp Oil + Coconut Extract, Endoca Raw Hemp Oil, Plus +CBD Oil, PrimeMyBody Nano-Enhanced Hemp Oil and SOL CBD Pure Hemp Extract. [Update (2/11/19): Test results for 10 additional products have been added to the Review: Highland Pharms 10 mg Hemp+ Gummies, Revive P.M. Restore, Im-Bue Em-body, Mary's Nutritionals Muscle Freeze, Nature's Love Organic Topical ReLeaf Salve, Plus CBD Oil Hemp Balm Extra Strength, Plus CBD Oil Hemp Drops - Peppermint, Plus CBD Oil Hemp Gummies - Cherry Mango, Plus CBD Oil Hemp Softgels, and Plus CBD Oil Hemp Spray — Peppermint.]
Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to reviews of more than 1,000 products from over 400 brands. The company is privately held and based in Westchester, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
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To find out, ConsumerLab.com carefully reviewed the clinical evidence, and purchased and tested popular CBD and hemp products (liquids and capsules) sold the U.S., checking to see how much CBD each contained, and if it was contaminated with lead, cadmium or arsenic, and calculating the cost of CBD. Amounts of CBD in products varied widely, from just 2.2 mg to 22.3 mg per serving. The cost to get an equivalent amount of CBD (10 mg) from a product ranged 5-fold from 80 cents to $4.54. None of the products were contaminated with heavy metals nor contained significant amounts of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
[UPDATE (2/11/19): Test results for 10 additional products have been added to the Review, including CBD oil gummies, softgels, oral sprays and topical lotions. Five of these were selected by CL based on reader suggestions, among which three contained significantly more or less CBD than listed on their labels. Five other products were included for having passed ConsumerLab's voluntary Quality Certification Program.]
The findings are available online in ConsumerLab.com's CBD & Hemp Supplements Review. In the Review, products are compared and, among those that passed tests, ConsumerLab.com identifies its Top Picks -- indicating high quality CBD at lowest cost. The Review also explains the clinical evidence for CBD, CBD dosage, the difference between hemp oil and hemp extract, discusses safety concerns and potential side effects of CBD, and provides tips on what to look for in products. The Review explains that most clinical benefits found with CBD have been shown using large doses -- hundreds of milligrams per day, but many products on the market contain smaller amounts.
The Review includes results for nine products, including two for pets: Bluebird Botanicals Hemp Classic 6 x Concentrated, Canna-Pet Advanced, CW [Charlotte's Web] Everyday Plus - Infused Oil Mint Chocolate, CW [Charlotte's Web] Paws, Elixinol Natural Drops Hemp Oil + Coconut Extract, Endoca Raw Hemp Oil, Plus +CBD Oil, PrimeMyBody Nano-Enhanced Hemp Oil and SOL CBD Pure Hemp Extract. [Update (2/11/19): Test results for 10 additional products have been added to the Review: Highland Pharms 10 mg Hemp+ Gummies, Revive P.M. Restore, Im-Bue Em-body, Mary's Nutritionals Muscle Freeze, Nature's Love Organic Topical ReLeaf Salve, Plus CBD Oil Hemp Balm Extra Strength, Plus CBD Oil Hemp Drops - Peppermint, Plus CBD Oil Hemp Gummies - Cherry Mango, Plus CBD Oil Hemp Softgels, and Plus CBD Oil Hemp Spray — Peppermint.]
Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to reviews of more than 1,000 products from over 400 brands. The company is privately held and based in Westchester, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
CBD: What to Look For and How Products Have Changed
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