With more studies, fewer regulations and increased acceptance, CBD hemp extract is gaining in popularity – with good reason. CBD hemp extract is attracting entrepreneurs who want to make a quick buck on the heady crop. These capitalists tend to source their hemp from less-than-organic farms, use cheaper petroleum-based extraction methods, and provide no lab results or testing of their product to ensure potency. This makes it difficult for the consumer to decide what is high-quality CBD extract and what isn’t. Below are our recommendations for five ways to identify high-quality CBD:

How do I identify high quality CBD extract? Consider the source

As any New Yorker will tell you, bagels are better in Manhattan. Why? Because of the water. A very precise combo of minerals in New York metro water makes it perfect for producing delicious bagels. The same goes for industrial hemp.

We source our hemp locally — in Europe, the U.S. and Australia — from organic farmers who are committed to quality hemp. It’s more expensive than hemp from China, but it’s worth it. Our specially bred industrial hemp plants are primarily grown as an agricultural crop, by farmers we have relationships with and who care about the plants they tend. This is important. If there’s ever an issue with a harvest, we know about it and make decisions that maximize the quality of the products we produce.

Petroleum-Free Processing

That care doesn’t stop at the farm. How CBD hemp extract is extracted from the plant is crucial. While our specially bred industrial hemp plants have a naturally higher level of CBD, the direct plant extracts are still low. To obtain a higher concentration of CBD, we use a Super critical CO2 extraction method. This chemical-free “cold” CO2 extraction method is more expensive, uses safer solvents and ensures a highly potent and pure extract. It’s also eco-friendly, non-toxic and has negligible environmental effects.

Contrary to the safer CO2 method, the Rick Simpson extraction method uses petroleum solvents to extract the active compounds from the cannabis plant. These solvents leave petroleum-based residues, which end up in the CBD extract and have been shown to impact all sorts of our body’s biological functions. Additionally, while this method is efficient (and cheaper), it generally produces products with a lower concentration of CBD.

Check Independent 3rd-Party Lab Results

We are the only global brand to post independent laboratory test results online and follow a strict pharmaceutical-grade testing process. Our testing includes two different labs. We test for over 300 chemicals, including pesticides, residual solvents and heavy metals as well as for microbiological contaminants. Our testing analysis is available here.

Less than .3% THC

High quality CBD hemp extract contains less than .3% of THC. Speaking of bagels, that low amount of THC can be equated to the same amount of opiates found on a poppy seed bagel. While both poppy seeds and heroin come from the poppy plant, eating fifteen bagels will not get you high. (It’ll probably make you sick to your stomach, however!) Similarly for CBD, while hemp and marijuana are related, industrial hemp is, “… low in resin, does not produce a natural abundance of THC and can be sold and imported in all 50 states (according to the 2014 US Farm Bill).”

Look for Whole-Plant Extract

Additionally, we use “whole-plant” CBD extract. Whole-plant CBD extract is extracted from the stem, seeds, and stalks of the hemp plant. This extract includes not only CBD, but the full range of other natural constituents (terpenes, sugars, flavonoids, and secondary cannabinoids) that are found in all parts of hemp and are believed to work better together.

We’re big fans of the “healthy, not high,” benefits of CBD hemp extract. We’re dedicated to making sure that our customers have the highest quality products, sourced from the best hemp plants, using the safest methods. While our extract may not taste as delicious as a New York bagel, we think it’s still pretty good and we encourage you to find out for yourself. You can browse for products in our online CBD store here.