Although CBD oil may look consistent regardless of the brand, its quality depends on that of the source plant. In this blog, we’ll talk specifically about hemp and how its quality may be different depending on where it’s grown.
Not all hemp is created equal.
There are a growing number of items we use today derived from hemp: clothing and textiles, rope, paper, plastic, cosmetics, building materials, biofuel, and food and beverages.
In North America, cannabis is much more regulated than it is in Asia. The 2018 Farm Bill in the US legalized hemp cultivation federally, but each state must create their own cultivation regulations and have them reviewed and approved by the USDA. Producers can make CBD and hemp products from all the parts of the cannabis plant.
In Canada, hemp is controlled by Industrial Hemp Regulations, and CBD is regulated by the Cannabis Act.
China is believed to be the largest hemp producing country, producing more than half the world’s hemp supply. According to a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service report published in 2020, China accounts for 11% of the $800 million global CBD market, behind the US and Europe.
Because of the regulations (or lack of them) in countries like China—whose government hasn’t approved CBD for food or medicine—we do not know how much herbicides or pesticides are contained in mass-produced items. A lot of hemp is required to produce CBD extract, so when you’re looking for CBD products, the quality of the hemp matters.
When hemp arrives in Canada from the European Union, it is no longer fresh and must be treated with pesticides because of the transport time.
Organic hemp is the best option if you don’t want to intake any chemicals that might have been used in the growing or exporting process.
Not all CBD oil companies disclose where their hemp comes from.
When it comes to CBD products, it’s hugely important to trust the brand you buy, especially if you use CBD for health and wellness.
Many CBD companies don’t disclose where their hemp is from. That can be frustrating for consumers who want to ensure the quality of the CBD they’re taking.
If you can’t source where the hemp is grown, check whether it’s organic and whether the company engages in third-party testing.
The hemp used in ICARIA’s CBD oil products is organically grown in North America and third-party lab tested, which ensures there aren’t any residual chemicals in the CBD extract. We want our customers to get the safest and best quality CBD oil so they can trust our brand and get the best results out of our products.
If you are buying CBD oil for the first time, please check out our guide for new buyers!
