As the popularity of CBD in the UK continues to grow, getting hold of CBD products has never been easier, but with so much choice available where do you start when it comes to finding a high-quality, reliable, and safe product?
In this guide to buying CBD oil, we’re going to explain what to look out for when it comes to buying the best CBD oil for your money. This includes a brief look at new regulations that came into effect this year and how to recognise reputable suppliers and premium products.
Buying CBD in the UK
In the past, navigating the UK’s CBD market was a nightmare. But thanks to new regulations put in place by the Food Standards Agency, finding a great quality CBD product, from a manufacturer you can trust, just got a little easier.
Is it Legal to Buy CBD Oil Online in the UK?
If you’re worried about the legality of buying CBD in the UK, then let us set your mind at ease by telling you that CBD is completely legal in the UK.
But (yes, there’s a but) there are several criteria that all CBD products must meet to be deemed legal including:
- It must be derived from industrial hemp
- It does not contain more than 0.2% THC
- It does not contain more than 1mg of THC or CBN
As you can see, the legality of buying CBD oil is mainly concerned with the THC content as although CBD is legal, the psychoactive delta-9 THC cannabinoid is not.
Understandably, there is a lot of confusion surrounding this industry because of the close relationship between hemp and cannabis. Your CBD oil should always be derived from hemp, which is a type of non-psychoactive cannabis, legally defined as cannabis containing less than 0.2% THC.
THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis that makes the user feel “high” or intoxicated. CBN has also been found to be very mildly intoxicating, hence the reason it is also restricted under UK law.
On the other hand, while CBD possesses many similar therapeutic benefits to THC, it is a non-psychoactive compound. Your CBD oil, even containing legal trace amounts of THC and CBN, cannot and will not imaker your abil you feel intoxicated in any way.
New CBD Regulations
New regulations were also implemented earlier this year (March 2021) which require CBD companies to submit a Novel Food Application with the Food Standards Agency, acquiring premarket authorisation for all of their CBD consumables.
All CBD gummies, oils, capsules, and tinctures, must be sent off for full chemical analysis and undergo rigorous testing into the product’s stability, potency, quality, and safety. So you can be sure that the product is everything it claims to be and is free from harmful microbes and toxins.
It’s an expensive process that companies must pay for, but these new regulations help to protect you, the buyer, from poor quality, unsafe products. Unfortunately, there are still some products being sold in the high street and online that are not yet compliant with the new rules, so how do you go about finding a trusted source able to provide quality products?
How to Buy CBD Oil Online in the UK
In the past, you’d have to conduct a huge amount of research on a product before knowing it was completely safe and of good quality. Last year we would have recommended that you look into:
- The Hemp Source - checking that the hemp biomass used for the extract was grown on an organic, pesticide-free farm on clean, arable land
- Production Methods - ensuring that the product was processed correctly to maintain quality and maximise bioavailability
- Potency - checking third-party lab reports to confirm the product’s potency
Thanks to the new regulations, however, all you need to do is to find a trusted source for your CBD products, which means looking for a company that is fully compliant with UK laws and regulations, like we are at Patch Adam.
Now, the only decisions you have left involve choosing the best extract, potency, and flavour!
Extract Type
When buying CBD oil, you will come across terms such as “full-spectrum”, “broad-spectrum”, and “isolate” that are used to describe different types of CBD oil extract.
You may notice that all of the CBD oils we sell at Patch Adam are infused with either full-spectrum or broad-spectrum distillate. The reason we limit our CBD oils to these two types is due to something known as the entourage effect.
Mounting research suggests that the effects of CBD are incredibly enhanced by the other naturally occurring compounds found in the plant. Other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids work in synergy to help create a more effective product, meaning you don’t need as much CBD oil for it to work.
These other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids also possess their own unique therapeutic benefits, adding to the overall feeling of wellbeing that can be achieved by taking a quality CBD in your daily life.
Potency
If you’ve never used CBD oil before, then we recommend that you start with a fairly low dose (10-15mg), gradually increasing it over time until you achieve the effects you are looking for.
All of our bodies are different, so you shouldn’t assume that the dose your friend takes is also the right dose for you. Many people find it helpful to keep a brief diary, so they can pinpoint their ideal dosage more quickly and accurately.
Flavour
Depending on how you plan on taking your CBD oil, flavour may or may not be important to you. If you plan on adding your full-spectrum CBD oil to foods and smoothies, then we recommend you choose a natural or unflavoured CBD oil, so that it doesn’t affect the taste.
But many people like to drop it under their tongue to take advantage of the greater bioavailability that sub-lingual dosing offers. In which case you might prefer a flavoured CBD oil so that consuming your CBD oil is more enjoyable.
Having said that, we love to drop our fresh peppermint flavour CBD oil into our morning coffee and think it tastes delicious!
Best Place to Buy CBD Oil in the UK
If you’re wondering where to buy CBD oil from, the best place is, undoubtedly, direct from the manufacturer. And you should only buy from a company that offers complete transparency into its products and practises.
More often than not, this will mean buying your CBD oil online, but this is ideal as it makes it much easier for you to conduct the necessary research you need to, to find out whether the company is reputable and safe. You’re unable to do this on Amazon or with other third-party retailers and you’re also in danger of ending up with a fake product.
Patch Adam - A Trusted, Reliable CBD Source
As an independent family business, here at Patch Adam, we’re passionate about CBD and the products we provide for our customers.
We offer customers full transparency regarding how we source our hemp, our production processes, product testing, and offer a cast-iron guarantee that all of our products are clean, safe, and fully compliant with CBD law.
We are also proud members of the UK Cannabis Trades Association, an organisation set up to help distinguish the best and most reputable companies in the business.
Benefits of Buying Direct From Patch Adam
Buying your CBD online, directly from us, also has many other benefits:
- Choose from our full range of products
- Access our third-party lab reports online
- Enjoy bonuses and discounts on future purchases
- Take advantage of exclusive website promotions
- Contact our friendly and highly knowledgeable customer support team
- Opportunity to participate in our affiliate program (earn commission selling our products!)
Is it Legal to Sell CBD Oil in the UK?
CBD that is extracted from hemp and processed outside of the UK is legal to sell within the UK. As of March 2021, the products you sell must also be registered with the Food Standards Agency. All Patch Adam products are fully compliant and legal to sell in the UK.
However you should be aware that unless you have a license from the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), CBD must be sold as a nutritional supplement, and you should not make any unsubstantiated medicinal claims about CBD.
Read more about our products in our blog section! If you still have questions about taking CBD products, please contact us. We are happy to help answer any questions you have!