Given the explosion of popularity of CBD hemp flower, numerous stores and shops have sprung up across the web, each claiming to offer the best quality hemp flower online. But what are you really getting when you buy hemp online? Quality can vary substantially, which is why it’s so important to know what you’re buying.
In this guide, we’ll help you shop safely for CBD flower, including what to look for, how to evaluate quality CBD flower and more.
Know What You’re Buying
Before buying hemp online, you’ll need to know what you’re looking for. Most of what you’ll find online is CBD hemp flower, that is, the unprocessed flower of the hemp plant. CBD hemp flower is high in CBD and low in THC (legally under 0.3%) and delivers a number of therapeutic benefits without the psychoactive effects.
You’ll also need to choose between the three types of strains:
- Indica - Known for its relaxing and calming effects
- Sativa - An energizing and uplifting variety
- Hybrid - A mix of both, offering the best of both worlds
Knowing what product type and strain you want can help narrow down your search significantly.
Research the Site
Not all brands of hemp are created equal. To know if you’re buying from a reputable source, be sure to check reviews and ratings, not just on the site itself, but on social media, forums and other third-party websites. Trustworthy brands will offer clear information about where their hemp comes from, as well as their cultivation practices and third-party testing processes.
Here at Plain Jane, we’re proud of the hemp we sell and source our hemp directly from Colorado and Oregon, where items like soil quality, temperature and humidity are all carefully checked to ensure the highest quality results. We also submit our CBD flower and hemp to third party lab testing and offer Certificates of Analysis right on our website so you can feel confident in knowing exactly what you’re buying in terms of potency and quality.
Also, be sure to check the site’s customer support. Some companies will only offer email support, and never respond. On the other hand, we’re happy to offer support via phone, email and live chat. Our privacy policy, store locator, shipping and refund policy are also all prominently displayed on our website. For any questions you may have, we’re here to help!
Look for Third-Party Lab Testing
One of the more crucial parts of buying hemp online involves third party lab testing. These tests are designed to check the cannabinoid profile of the hemp to verify its CBD and THC content. By law, the THC content of hemp flower must be 0.3% or less. Third party lab testing also breaks down the hemp’s terpene profile, which is what gives the hemp its flavor and effects.
Last but not least, lab testing will also verify that the hemp is free of contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, mold and other harmful substances. If a company does not have their third party lab test results displayed prominently on their website, look elsewhere.
Understand the Laws in Your Area
Hemp-derived CBD is federally legal in the U.S. as long as it contains 0.3% or less THC. That being said, state and local laws can vary. For instance, some states restrict or ban the sale and possession of smokable hemp. Others restrict whether or not the hemp can be shipped. Be sure to check your state’s laws before you buy.
Check Product Quality
Since you can’t exactly handle the product or visually inspect it when buying online, you’ll need to take a few different steps to determine if the hemp you’re buying is high quality. Your first step should be looking at the source. Ideally, you’ll want to buy hemp grown in places like Colorado, Oregon and Kentucky, where cultivation standards are higher and the soil is perfectly adapted to growing quality hemp.
Third party lab testing reports can also give you a great deal of insights into important features that denote whether or not the hemp is of high quality, such as its trichome profile and the fact that it’s free of contaminants.
Compare Prices
Pricing isn’t always a direct correlation of quality, but beware of hemp that’s available at an extremely low price that seems “too good to be true”, as you really do get what you pay for. It’s a good idea to compare prices across several reputable brands to determine the average cost of the best quality CBD hemp flower.
Hemp flower that’s suspiciously cheap may indicate poor quality or a lack of testing, all of which can be dangerous. Don’t forget to figure in shipping costs when calculating prices.
Consider Payment Types and Privacy
When choosing a reputable site to buy hemp online, also be sure to check how they protect your privacy and what payment types they accept. Be sure that the online store uses SSL encryption to protect your financial information. Most online stores will also accept a variety of payment options, like credit cards, PayPal or even cryptocurrency. Note the privacy policy carefully to see how your data is used and stored.
It’s also a good idea to browse the company’s shipping and refund policy as well. Does the shipping time frame match up with your needs? What is the refund policy if for any reason you’re unhappy with your order? Does the company ship using discreet packaging to protect your privacy?
All of these are valuable questions to ask yourself and points to keep in mind when looking for reliable sites to buy hemp online. At Plain Jane, your privacy, security and peace of mind are our top priority, and everything we do is designed to delight you from browsing to purchase. Shop our store online and browse our many varieties of hemp for the perfect shopping experience every step of the way!
