Want to Buy CBD Tincture but Not Sure What to Look for?

Things to look for when browsing Hemp CBD Tinctures

When purchasing almost everything- what works for you requires the why and some research. Regarding hemp CBD, the tincture that everyone recommends is a good place to start research, but shouldn’t be the main reason why it’s purchased. The consumption of any product, including CBD tincture, should be one that works for your needs, for your why.

Selecting and buying an oil tincture depends on many factors; are you looking for:

Is it all hemp CBD or is there THC in there?

Terpene enriched or not?

Flavored or not?

How many milligrams per dose?

Does the extraction method matter?

Is the extraction method/chemical and are the ingredients safe for you?

Generally, if shopping online, the CBD options will be CBD from hemp. THC in amounts more than 0.3%, are not allowed to be sold online because of legality. Hemp CBD is legal if THC is tested and is less than 0.3%. If someone is shopping for THC free CBD, a full spectrum product will not be best, you want to look for broad spectrum and isolate (more on this below).

Cannabis Ratios

Though focused on hemp CBD, it’s important to discuss Cannabis ratios: 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, and so on. These ratios generally tell how much CBD to THC is in the product. Examples of ratios:

1:1- a balanced half and half of CBD and THC. Still psychoactive.

4:1- More CBD than THC and considered a middle/mid. Less psychoactive.

8:1- High CBD, low THC and considered the ratio for wanting virtually no high.

Cannabis Spectrums

Generally, CBD tinctures are available in different spectrums: full, broad, isolate, and nano. These spectrums determine the range of cannabinoids in the tincture.

Full Spectrum: contains all of the compounds that the plant carries: the terpenes, essential oils, and cannabinoids- including THC.

Broad Spectrum: the middle point  option of isolate and full spectrums- Broad spectrum will have most of the plant’s compounds but in this spectrum, THC is removed.

Isolate: the purest form, this means that CBD was the only compound extracted by way of isolation from other compounds.

Nano: the water-soluble option- meaning, it dissolves in water.

Terpene Enriched CBD Tinctures

Terpenes are responsible for the fragrance of the Cannabis plant, and many other plants, and contribute to the plant's flavors, effect, and colors. Of the 20,000+ terpenes, plant Cannabis produces about 100 of them.

Terpenes are important because they contribute to the impact that each cannabinoid has on the endocannabinoid system. Knowing the terpenes added to the oil tincture is important so that understanding of the body with each terpene can become enhanced. .

Popular terpenes and their effects:

Myrcene: anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibiotic, sedative, anti-mutagenic

Linalool: pain reducer, anti-microbial, reduces anxiety, and lowers depression

Humulene: fights tumors, helps terminate cancer cells, antibacterial, antifungal

Limonene: elevated mood, stress relief, antifungal, antibacterial

Some cannabis oil tinctures are flavored, are infused with essential oils, and have added carrier agents. Research is the best place to start, after determining your why and your needs.

This piece was originally written by the Author for The Fresh Toast, and this version is an edited/repurposed version for the Plain Jane blog. 

About Veronica Castillo

Veronica Castillo is a writer from Miami, with a pre-Cannabis background in insurance and human resources. She advocates, writes about, and educates on the topic of cannabis and hemp for overall life. Currently, she is a resident of the road exploring all thing’s cannabis and hemp in the United States, with plans to travel abroad in exploration of cannabis and hemp culture in other countries.