Some CBD Gummies Don't Have As Much of the Ingredient As Advertised, Consumer Reports Found
We also looked at pesticide and heavy metal levels in products from Keoni, Medterra, Royal, and Smilz
CBD, which can come from marijuana or hemp plants, is going mainstream: Twenty-eight percent of Americans have taken CBD—cannabidiol, a compound in marijuana and hemp that doesn’t get you “high” and is used a handful of medical and physical conditions—at least once in the past two years, according to a nationally representative CR survey of 2,125 U.S. adults (PDF) in July 2022.
Find the Product's Certificate of Analysis
The COA shows results from third-party testing for THC, heavy metals, and more. A QR code on the product may link to the COA. (Codes like these are required for products sold in Indiana and Texas, and may appear on products sold elsewhere.) If it’s not there, check the manufacturer’s website or ask the retailer for the document. Good to know: Make sure the COA test results match the product by looking at batch numbers or other identifying information to link test results and the product together.
Don't Buy CBD at Gas Stations, Delis, or Convenience Stores
Stick with groceries, natural food stores, or pharmacies—where products may have been better vetted.
Shop in a Dispensary
That’s the best option if you live in a state with legalized recreational marijuana. “States with legal cannabis have enforcement protocols ironed out better,” says Mitch Earleywine, PhD, a professor at the State University of New York at Albany who has studied cannabis laws. As of early November 2022, 21 states and DC have legalized recreational marijuana use for adults, including the newest, Missouri, and in 2021, Connecticut, New Mexico, and Virginia, according to the advocacy group NORML.
Realize That 'Hemp Oil' May Not Be the Same As CBD
Hemp oil comes from the seeds of the hemp plant, and contains little or no CBD, according to the Hemp Industries Association, a group that represents hemp growers and producers of CBD. Hemp oil is often used in hemp-based soaps and cosmetics.
Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the January 2023 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.