What Is Pure CBD?

Revised April 2022

It’s no secret that cannabis supplementation is currently booming as an industry. But the sudden flood of new manufacturers into the marketplace means more than just more choices for consumers, it means buyer beware. By now you may have seen CBD companies promoting their “pure” CBD oil, but what exactly does that mean? And how can you tell the quality of CBD anyway?

FDA Regulation on Pure CBD Oil

Unfortunately for consumers, there’s currently no FDA regulation of the CBD marketplace. This means it’s up to you to do your own research and due diligence when choosing a cannabinoid oil provider.

With regard to essential oils, terms like “therapeutic grade” and “pure” can lead to confusion, as there’s no industry standard that defines what these terms actually mean. While CBD oil is not an essential oil (though it does contain some essential oils in the form of terpenes), the CBD industry is finding itself in a similar regulatory situation as essential oils, where industry standards remain unclarified.

So What Does Pure CBD Mean?

As a general rule, “pure” typically means there are no synthetic chemicals added. However, due to the lack of industry regulation, consumers can’t be certain that the CBD or other cannabinoid oil they’re purchasing is truly pure simply because it is labeled as such.

The good news is that despite the absence of regulation, various organizations have developed standards to help create consistency and quality across the supplement industry and empower consumers to identify which products are safe and high quality. As a consumer, when looking for pure CBD you should look for the following certifications  by some of the leading product testing, inspection, and certification organizations: 

• cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices)
• ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
• B Corporation

A Note on CBD Isolate: Is CBD Isolate Pure CBD?

Now, if by “pure CBD” you mean “100% CBD” or “nothing but CBD,” you may be looking for what’s known as CBD isolate. CBD isolate is just what it sounds like — the cannabinoid CBD in its isolated form. Whereas full spectrum CBD oil contains the majority of other beneficial cannabis plant compounds , CBD isolate contains no other cannabinoids. Isolate products usually come in the form of a powder or they’re mixed with a carrier oil for sublingual use, topical absorption, or ingestion. 

Studies show that when a variety of cannabinoids are ingested together, the effect they produce is greater than when taken on their own. This is called the entourage effect. This is why we only produce full spectrum products at NuLeaf Naturals.

How Can You Tell If CBD Oil Is Pure?

In the meantime, as we await FDA regulation, what can you do as a consumer to ensure you’re buying pure CBD oil from a reputable manufacturer? Here are some things to consider:

• How long has the company been in business?
• Does the company utilize a third party for lab testing by providing a certificate of analysis for each of their products? Transparency is key. While this is not yet a requirement for cannabinoid manufacturers, be wary of any company that isn’t completing this step. How else can you (or they) know what’s in their product and whether or not it is pure?
• Look for certifications or seals such as CDPHE, ISO, cGMP, Glyphosate Residue-Free, and U.S. Hemp Authority Certification. You won’t find these kinds of endorsements with brand new companies or those with questionable manufacturing or marketing practices.
• Read customer reviews. Are consumers happy with their experience with the brand’s products and support team?

Where to Buy Pure CBD Oil

Since 2014 NuLeaf Naturals has become an established industry leader offering pure cannabinoid products.  Explore our shop to view the most recent independent lab results for products produced in our ISO, cGMP–certified facility.

Do you have questions about our products, or are you not sure which one is right for you?

Our Expert Team is here to help via these convenient options:
Telephone: +1 (720) 372-4842
Email: [email protected]
Online chat: click the chat icon in the lower right corner of any page on nuleafnaturals.com 

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us Monday through Friday between 9am and 5pm MT.