How to shop CBD

The world of CBD has exploded into the mainstream, as the benefit of CBD for sleep and to reduce stress has been firmly established. Although CBD is now commonplace (even to the extent you’ll find it listed on the front of fizzy drinks) my interest in and passion for it spans years and my viewpoint comes from experience of having travelled far and wide, experiencing and testing all kinds of CBD variants, and speaking at length to numerous farmers and cultivators.

What became clear early on is that there are countless types of CBD on the market and as a consumer it is almost impossible to tell the differences between them.

So, here’s what you need to know before you shop for CBD…

There are 3 types of real CBD on the market (by real I mean actual CBD, not to be confused with hemp oil which, whilst nutritious, is not therapeutically active in terms of sleep/stress).

1. CBD Isolate – Is 99% pure CBD, extracted by a refinement process that strips away all phyto-cannabinoids, including THC, and any plant matter. While this might sound ideal, it is actually a less effective product, as it lacks the other complimentary plant chemicals that contribute to the ‘entourage effect’ which amplifies the benefits of CBD.  In layman’s terms: cannabinoids plus terpenes have a synergistic interaction which boosts the efficacy of one another. Which isolate simply doesn’t provide.
2. Broad Spectrum – This form of CBD does create the desirable ‘entourage effect’, so is my gold-standard. The more complex and expensive extraction process retains the majority of the vital plant chemicals additional to CBD-  cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpenes (but not THC and CBN which are banned in the UK) – to maximise the effects of CBD. Broad spectrum CBD is also known as CBD distillate.
3. Full Spectrum – This form contains everything within broad spectrum CBD but can contain traces of THC and CBN, which are psychoactive compounds prohibited in the UK.

Further to looking for a broad/full spectrum product, I also advise looking out for the following buzzwords on the packaging:
• Non-GMO and certified organic: For the sake of purity, you will want your CBD oil to be free from pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilisers and solvents.
• Concentration of CBD: There should be a lab certificate of analysis (either packaged with the product or on the brand’s website) showing the amount of CBD in the product. The lowest is about 300mg (3%) although in our opinion this doesn’t even touch the sides! I advise a concentration of 2400mg to really feel the relaxing and sleep-enhancing benefits.
• Percentage of THC: Any more than 0.2% THC is illegal in the UK and unregulated.
• Supercritical CO2 extraction: This is generally considered the cleanest, purest, non-toxic and most efficient method of extracting CBD, although it is expensive and can hike the price up. This is the process Dreem Distillery uses.
• Trust: Always do your research, read reviews and check the reputation of the brand.

I hope you’ve found this opening blog more insightful and that it empowers you to navigate the CBD market with confidence. Of course, I hope that you will choose our Night Drops – for more information on and to shop our range click here.

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