What Every Retailer Needs to Know About Selling CBD

It would seem that CBD products can be found almost everywhere. From natural foods stores to grocery stores; vitamin shops to truck stops, CBD-based products are on every shelf, with some making fantastic claims.

Consumer packaged goods containing CBD can often claim to cure everything from anxiety to arthritis. Is the packaging really allowed to make such claims? Moreover, if you sell any CBD product, can you get in trouble with local, state or even federal authorities?

The decision to sell CBD isn’t an easy one, and should be well researched. Is CBD right for your business? This guide can help you determine if your store should jump on this health bandwagon.

What Exactly is CBD?

CBD is short for cannabidiol, one of many different cannabinoids found in industrial hemp plants grown in the United States. When taken in conjunction with the other CBD compounds, studies suggest an “entourage effect” can improve how the body uses the CBD.

Although CBD is extracted from hemp plants, it can’t actually give you the “high” feeling associated with cannabis use. That’s because while full-spectrum CBD oil contains a trace amount of THC – the psychoactive ingredient found in hemp – legal and industrial guidelines mandate that legal CBD products can’t contain more than 0.3 percent THC by dry weight.

While there are still questions about CBD’s efficacy, plenty of research has focused on how it interacts with the body. Many different double-blind, placebo-controlled studies put CBD in the center of potentially aiding treatment of joint pain, anxiety, seizures, and sleep disorders. Across the board, those who used the CBD compared to the placebo group reported better overall results.

What is the Government Stance on CBD Products?

Although there are demonstrated benefits from peer-reviewed studies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken a very lassiez-faire approach to it’s use. While the agency has only approved the use of CBD in one setting, everything else sits in limbo.

In 2018, the FDA approved the use of Epidiolex as the first prescription medication based on cannabidiol. The drug is used in the treatment of two different and rare cases of pediatric epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. The approval opened the door for other cases of CBD-based medication to go into trial for both humans and household pets.

But outside of that one isolated case, the FDA remains somewhat neutral on the actual use of CBD oils and other consumable products. They do not consider CBD to be a dietary supplement, and do not evaluate statements made about CBD oil. Thus, CBD oil is not intended to treat, diagnose, prevent or cure any disease.

Is it Legal to Sell CBD Oil?

On a federal level, marijuana is still considered a “Schedule I” drug, making it illegal to possess in federal jurisdiction, including aboard airplanes. Although the use of cannabis is quickly becoming a state’s issue, CBD oil falls into a gray area. Can you get in trouble for selling CBD oil at your store?

CBD oil is legal to sell in all 50 states, as long as it’s THC content remains below 0.3 percent by dry weight. While CBD oil and products sourced from isolate or broad-spectrum harvesting will usually fall below that threshold, full-spectrum CBD oil can sometimes go above guideline levels based on several factors, including growth control and extraction process.

That’s not the only problem that can come from CBD products. With so many companies starting to sell CBD oil, there is a huge problem with counterfeits. Although it might claim to contain CBD, it may not in fact contain any.

What to Look for If You Decide to Sell CBD Oil

If your store decides to sell CBD oil, there are several things you need to look for. This goes beyond pricing and product placement, but goes into quality assurances and industry compliance.

·      Always Look for USDA Organic CertificationThe U.S. Department of Agriculture certifies industrial hemp crops as organic if they are grown in the United States, and meet the same strict certification process as fruits and vegetables. Hemp crops grown for CBD oil can be found in California, Colorado and Kentucky.

·      Sell CBD Oil Extracted in the United StatesCounterfeit CBD oils can come from anywhere in the world. Instead of purchasing based on price, always source organic, full-spectrum CBD oil that is extracted in a cannabis-friendly state.

·      Always Look for a Test CertificateAs an industry standard, CBD oil is tested for purity and cannabinoid concentration before it is offered to the public. Before agreeing to sell any product, be sure to request to see the test certificate. If they can’t produce one, it may not be real CBD.

While CBD oil and other edibles can give your business a boost, it’s also important to make sure you are getting the right product. By understanding the laws surrounding CBD and how to buy CBD oil, you can ensure you are only offering the best to your customers.