CBD oil — people are loving it, and the market is booming. But there’s one thing that seems to hold many people back from trying it or making it a regular part of their wellness routine: the price. There’s no doubt about it — CBD oil is costly. So, where can you go to get affordable CBD oil?
What is CBD Oil?
CBD oil is a liquid formulation created from pure cannabidiol (CBD) extract combined with a carrier oil to balance its potency. We use hemp seed oil as our carrier due to its nutritional benefits and its ability to enhance the absorption of CBD in the body. CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid known for its numerous restorative and therapeutic benefits.
Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum & CBD Isolate
Did you happen to know there are three types of CBD extract? Full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate CBD all share similar soothing qualities, but there is a big difference from one to the next.
In addition to rich levels of CBD, hemp contains micro-levels of over 100 other cannabinoids! Some come in small amounts, like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabigerol (CBG). THC in hemp is purposefully capped at 0.3% or less, and CBG is typically found at ≈ 1% or less.
When hemp goes through the extraction process, all of those cannabinoids remain in the resulting oil. In addition, compounds called terpenes and flavonoids, which give flavor, aroma, and beneficial effects to hemp, are also present in the extract. The different kinds of CBD extracts contain various amounts of these cannabinoids and compounds.
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Full Spectrum CBD Oil
Full spectrum CBD oil contains all of the cannabinoids and compounds that naturally occur in hemp. That includes 0.3% or less THC, the cannabinoid known for getting people high. However, 0.3% or less is not enough THC to make many people feel intoxicated.
Instead of intoxicating you, that 0.3% or less THC (along with the other cannabinoids and compounds) contributes to something called the entourage effect. An entourage effect is a synergistic event where all of the cannabinoids and compounds work together to increase each other’s benefits.
Broad Spectrum CBD Oil
Although full spectrum CBD oil won’t intoxicate you, prolonged consumption could potentially cause a buildup of THC in your system. This could result in a positive drug test. Although there’s a very low likelihood of this, some people prefer to avoid THC altogether just to be on the safe side.
That’s where broad spectrum CBD oil comes in. All the THC has been removed from the extract, but it still contains the other beneficial cannabinoids and compounds. You still experience an entourage effect with broad spectrum oil, but it’s ever-so-slightly less impactful than that of full spectrum’s.
Isolate
CBD isolate is hemp extract with ALL other cannabinoids and compounds removed, leaving only CBD molecules behind. It takes the form of a white crystalline powder, which manufacturers can then add to a carrier oil to achieve a purely CBD oil. It allows consumers to enjoy the effects of CBD and CBD alone.
Is CBD Oil Legal?
The legality of CBD oil can be complex and varies depending on where you live. Here’s a breakdown of the key factors that determine whether CBD oil is legal in your area:
Federal Laws
In the United States, the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the cultivation and sale of hemp and hemp-derived products, including CBD oil, provided that the product contains less than 0.3% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces a “high.” CBD products that meet this requirement are legal at the federal level.
State Laws
While federal law permits the sale of hemp-derived CBD oil, state laws can differ significantly. Some states have fully embraced the federal guidelines and allow the sale and use of CBD products freely. Other states have stricter regulations or outright bans on CBD, regardless of its THC content. It’s essential to check your specific state’s laws to ensure compliance.
International Laws
CBD oil laws vary widely around the world. In many European countries, CBD oil is legal as long as it contains very low levels of THC. In Canada, CBD products are legal but regulated under the Cannabis Act. Conversely, some countries have strict prohibitions against all forms of cannabis, including CBD. Before purchasing or traveling with CBD oil, it’s crucial to research and understand the laws of your destination.
Quality and Regulation
Even in places where CBD oil is legal, the market is still largely unregulated. This means it’s important to purchase CBD oil from reputable sources that provide third-party lab testing and transparency about their products’ contents. Look for products that are certified to contain less than 0.3% THC and are free from contaminants.
Medical Considerations
In some regions, CBD oil may be available only through a medical prescription. Patients with specific health conditions might qualify for medical CBD under their state’s medical marijuana program. This typically involves consultation with a healthcare provider and obtaining a medical marijuana card.
The legality of CBD oil is influenced by a combination of federal, state, and international laws. While hemp-derived CBD with less than 0.3% THC is federally legal in the U.S., state laws can vary, and it’s essential to be aware of local regulations. Always buy from reputable sources to ensure product quality and compliance with legal standards. If you have any doubts or specific legal questions, consulting a legal expert or healthcare provider is advisable.
What Are the Effects & Benefits of CBD Oil?
So you’re probably here because you’re interested in CBD oil, but do you know how or why CBD is able to take therapeutic, restorative effects within our bodies? It’s actually fascinating, and it has to do with a body-wide network of cannabinoid receptors that are dispersed across our nervous systems.
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
Those cannabinoid receptors are a key aspect of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) – a signaling system that all mammals have that helps to maintain our homeostasis. Our bodies produce endocannabinoids which bind to the receptors and signal the ECS to take action.
ECS Response to Negative Stimuli
Those signals are typically in response to negative stimuli, such as pain, inflammation, infection, hormone/chemical imbalances, etc. When the ECS is signaled by endocannabinoids binding to the receptors, it kicks into gear, remedying and soothing whatever issue is going on.
Example of ECS in Action
For example, if you fall off your bike and badly scrape your arm, your ECS would implement anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain-relieving), and immune responses. The ECS also regulates things such as mood, appetite, temperature, sleep, digestion, and many other bodily functions to keep us balanced.
CBD’s Role in Supporting the ECS
CBD, a natural plant cannabinoid (also called a phytocannabinoid), can bind with our cannabinoid receptors and signal the ECS in the same way as our endocannabinoids. By adding CBD to your routine, you encourage your ECS to function well and take therapeutic action relieving your ailments.
Benefits of CBD Oil for Immediate Relief and Wellness
Taking CBD oil can be beneficial both for immediate, long-lasting relief from discomfort and as part of your daily or weekly wellness routine to help keep things running smoothly. In addition to tackling more intense discomforts like scrapes that break the skin, CBD is overarchingly soothing and calming.
Promoting Overall Wellness with CBD
CBD can promote beneficial sleep, encourage good digestion, elevate your mood, relieve muscle soreness, ease nervous thoughts/behavior, and much more through its interaction with the ECS. Taking CBD oil is a fantastic way to promote all-around wellness for the mind, body, and soul.
What Makes CBD Oil So Expensive?
A dizzying amount of factors play into the high price of CBD. If you find super cheap CBD oil, be cautious of its quality — not all companies adhere to federal standards that keep hemp and CBD clean and effective. It is possible to find affordable CBD, but quality CBD oil will at least be somewhat pricey.
First and foremost, growing high-quality, federally-legal hemp is a costly process. If it’s an indoor grow operation, the farmers need to pay for space, utilities (water and electric add up quickly), labor, licensing, materials, manufacturing equipment, etc. The list truly goes on and on.
Then, there’s the cost of safe and clean CBD extraction. There are a few different ways to extract CBD from hemp, but some methods are dangerous and may contaminate the CBD. The cleanest, safest way to extract CBD from hemp is CO2 extraction, which requires expensive machinery, materials, and electricity.
After extraction, the pure CBD still needs to be mixed with a carrier oil, tested by a third-party lab, packaged, and distributed. Third-party lab testing ensures the quality and efficacy of CBD products; it tells you exactly how much CBD and other cannabinoids are in a mixture, edible, vape pen, etc.
All of these costs rack up quickly, and most of them are constantly recurring. Many manufacturers do their best to keep their costs as low as possible — they’re in the business of helping people feel well and balanced, not in the business of gouging. But, the bills still need to be paid, and the cost of making CBD oil is high.
What to Look For in an Affordable CBD Oil
When looking for affordable CBD oils, you should still do your best to look for high-quality brands and formulas. There are companies out there who charge an arm and a leg for their high-quality CBD oil, but it is possible to find brands that charge reasonable, average prices for premium CBD tinctures. Look into several aspects of a CBD brand, including:
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- Hemp Source – Where do they get their hemp to make CBD oil from? Ideally, they’ll let you know that it’s from organic, federally-compliant hemp farms in the United States.
- Certificates of Analysis (COAs) – COAs tell you the results of the third-party lab tests, which a brand should always have done for their CBD products. If you can’t find a COA, move on to a company that provides them — you should get to know exactly what’s in your CBD oil.
- Extraction Method – Look for companies that use CO2 extraction as it’s the cleanest and safest (for the extraction lab employees, yourself, and the environment).
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- Ingredients – What kind of carrier oil do they use? Be sure that it’s a beneficial, organic/natural carrier oil like hemp seed oil, avocado oil, or medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil.
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- Brand Reputation/Reviews – Check out what a brand’s customers are saying about them. You can learn a ton from online reviews these days. Customer reviews will clue you in to how good the product really is and the consumer’s experience buying from the company.
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- Brand Values – What message does the company promote, and do their reviews line up with that mission? Look for the brand’s integrity and whether or not they live up to their promises.
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- PRICING! – The average cost of CBD per milligram (mg) is $0.05 to $0.20. If you find anything over $0.20/mg, the company is likely ripping you off. To calculate the price per mg of CBD oil, divide the bottle’s price by the total mg of CBD. For example, $29.99 ÷ 400 = $0.075/mg. That’s a pretty good price point!
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What is the Most Affordable CBD Oil?
What is the most affordable, high-quality, clean, trusted, and effective CBD oil? Cheef Botanicals 100% organic, natural, and vegan CBD oil, of course! Since day one, we have obsessed over creating the highest-quality CBD products, starting with CBD oil, and making them available to everyone.
Cheef strictly follows federal guidelines and sticks on the ethical side of business. We source from trusted, organic hemp farms in Colorado and Oregon and have each batch of CBD oil (and every other product) third-party lab tested for quality, safety, and efficacy.
We offer four different sizes/potencies of CBD oil – 300 total mg, 600 total mg, 1,200 total mg, and 3,000 total mg. Each bottle’s price per mg of CBD differs slightly, lowering as the product’s volume increases. This means buying bigger bottles is more cost-efficient! The average price per mg of our four bottle sizes of CBD oil is $0.059. That puts us just above the lower end of the price per mg spectrum!
The difference between us and some other affordable companies? Our CBD oil is THE highest-quality you will find. We work hard to create an organic and effective CBD oil that’s within everyone’s price range.
Final Thoughts
We hope this article helped you understand why CBD oil can be so expensive. We also hope it gave you some perspective on the average price range and armed you with the information needed to make an affordable yet quality choice for yourself. CBD oil doesn’t have to break the bank, but the cost of manufacturing it simply is what it is.
If you’re looking for high-quality, affordable CBD oil, you’ve come to the right spot! At Cheef Botanicals, we keep our standards high and our prices fair. Our goal is to help you feel better, more balanced, content, and peaceful — not to gouge you with high costs.
