Why Is CBD Expensive? 9 Reasons That Make CBD Oil Expensive But Worth It
You have likely heard of CBD in some form (whether it be CBD oil, CBD cream, CBD topicals, or CBD gummies) as a potential therapy if you've looked for relief from health issues ranging from anxiety to pain to insomnia.
This adaptable cannabinoid has gained popularity in recent years for its therapeutic effects and capacity to instill a peaceful sense of well-being.
Even though you would anticipate a product with such versatility to not be inexpensive, the cost of a small bottle of CBD oil occasionally causes pause, if not outright sticker shock.
In this article, we will look at the factors that influence the costs of CBD products, why they're worth it, and why you should not buy cheap CBD products.
What Is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical in the Cannabis sativa plant, also known as cannabis or hemp. The United States has approved one specific type of CBD as a medication for seizures.
The Cannabis sativa plant contains more than 80 cannabinoids, also referred to as psychoactive substances. The component of cannabis most widely known as THC is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. However, hemp, a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant with very little THC present, is where CBD is obtained. Different from THC's effects, CBD appears to have some effects on certain brain chemicals.
CBD in a prescription form is used to treat epilepsy. In addition to these uses, CBD is also used to treat pain, anxiety, dystonia, Parkinson's disease, Crohn's disease, and a host of other conditions, but there isn't any solid scientific evidence to back these claims.
How Much Do CBD Costs?
The price of your CBD products is influenced by a number of elements, including the origin of the hemp, the process used for extraction, the strength, and the standing of the brand, to name a few.
The price of CBD products can range from $9.99 to over $400. There are various formulas, sizes, and strengths to take into account.
9 Reasons Why Expensive CBD Is Worth It
High-quality, organic ingredients
Dedicated CBD farmers are frequently motivated by an ethical cause that is just as important to them as their corporate goals. Because they are firm believers in the benefits and worth of high-quality CBD, they aren't concerned with making a lot of products at a low cost. They make investments in research and development, are careful to follow all legal requirements, and give their CBD products the strictest quality control. The cost of CBD oil is impacted by all of this.
Additionally, the individuals who conduct the research, carry out the tests, examine the product, and make it ready for distribution are all highly qualified professionals with years of training and experience under their belts. Additionally, the equipment they use is expensive and sophisticated.
Extensive lab testing
There are some aspects of the manufacturing process that result in additional costs for CBD brands. The costs associated with growing hemp have already been mentioned, but there are still other requirements for brands.
Reputable companies always make their product's lab reports available. They are required to send samples of their products to an impartial laboratory on a regular basis so that the sample can be examined for heavy metals and toxins. They also check the number of cannabinoids.
These tests can be pricey, and the brand is responsible for the costs. Unavoidably, the consumer will pay a portion of this cost.
However, it is important to demonstrate the product's reliability and security. Only the top CBD brands go above and beyond to verify their goods.
CBD Companies Are Facing Banking Issues
Despite the fact that cannabis is becoming more and more accepted in the USA and around the world, many financial institutions avoid supporting cannabis businesses by restricting certain services to them.
Because of the risk, banks and credit card processing businesses that choose to work with CBD brands may charge more for their services, which would account for the high cost of CBD.
CBD producers are turning to private investors because financial institutions are still wary of cannabis. What’s more, investors frequently seek a rapid return on investment (ROI), which may also drive up prices.
Specialized extraction methods
As one of many substances present in hemp, CBD must be extracted into a CBD concentrate, which is a delicate process requiring specialized knowledge and tools.
Typically, one of two methods—using ethanol or supercritical carbon dioxide—is used to extract CBD (CO2). Using ethanol is more cost-effective and highly scalable. Many small-batch CBD vendors choose CO2 extraction because it is more expensive but results in high-quality CBD oil, and their focus is on quality, purity, and potency rather than quantity. They must then adjust their product prices accordingly, which helps to explain why there's a significant difference in prices between different manufacturers.
Complex regulatory requirements
Reputable companies don't just pump out CBD oils for sale. They invest the time and effort necessary to create the best development and quality control procedures, and they manufacture their products in accordance with GMP (good manufacturing practices) guidelines.
This reveals a lot about the cost of CBD.
These procedures call for highly qualified, educated, and experienced laboratory personnel, state-of-the-art machinery, and open laboratories that will test the product for quality and safety.
Companies offering cheap CBD oils often cut corners on the above, which is unacceptable if the goal of the product is to enhance your well-being.
Patronizing companies that test their products at various stages of production is one way to ensure you're making the right choice. After these tests, batch-specific certificates of analysis (CoA) should be issued. A product's ingredients are listed in this document, which also attests that no contaminants or harmful additives were used at any point in the manufacturing process.
High demand and limited supply
Demand for CBD oil is very high because it has so many benefits for so many people without the risks and negative effects that other treatments occasionally have. Furthermore, the industry is so young and has such a difficult time growing that supply is currently unable to keep up. This always tips the scales in favor of higher prices until supply catches up to demand from an economic perspective.
Labor-intensive production process
To delve a little deeper into the subject of growing hemp, many farmers who have switched their attention from fruit and vegetable crops to hemp are discovering that the process is very finicky.
Despite being known as "weed" by some, the cannabis plant (and some of its products) doesn't grow as quickly or easily as one. Hemp must be grown under extremely strict guidelines, with a great deal of trial and error. It also requires a high level of care and inspection.
Farmers must spend resources to carefully monitor the growth of their hemp crops to ensure that they will be viable in order to avoid the significant financial hit that losing an entire crop would pose.
The difficulties don't end there. Another labor-intensive process is harvesting. Even though a combine, a piece of farming machinery, can be used to harvest hemp, most farmers don't own their own combines due to their high cost (with the exception of grain farmers, for whom the cost is justified). As a result, hemp plants are frequently manually harvested, which takes time.
CBD oil is not eligible for bulk discounts
Many large retailers, including Amazon and Walmart, do not accept CBD products. Additionally, some pharmacies are wary of CBD supplements, which makes them harder to access.
Prices are higher as a result of limited availability and high demand.
The sources of marketing are another issue for CBD vendors. Advertising for CBD and related products is now extremely difficult thanks to shadowbans imposed by major search engines, social media goliaths, and broadcasting networks.
Shipping and handling costs
The laws governing CBD vary from state to state. Due to the lack of cohesion, major retailers like Amazon have prohibited the sale of CBD on their websites. As a result, it is the manufacturer's responsibility to cover exorbitant shipping costs.
Smaller companies typically cannot afford this, so they factor shipping costs into the price of their CBD products. For more well-known brands, this might be less expensive.
It's Still a Pretty New Product
In the end, CBD is a relatively new phenomenon. It has only recently taken off, making it a new player in the larger supplements industry. As a result, the novelty contributes to some of the costs.
There has been some slight inflation, similar to that seen with the majority of new products.
The legitimate market for hemp products has only been fully operational on US soil for about five years since the US government legalized its production in 2018. Manufacturers' efforts to streamline the procedure and, in particular, their payment of farmers while they research the most profitable hemp-growing practices contribute to the costs.
Why Cheap CBD Oil Isn't Worth It
Alt image text: Reason Cheap CBD Oil Isn't Worth It
If you frequently use CBD, you may have thought about buying CBD oil from a less expensive supplier. Saving a little money, however, does not necessarily mean it's a good decision.
Some dishonest CBD manufacturers have taken advantage of the situation because of the sharp rise in demand for CBD products around the world. As a result, they offer CBD at a fraction of the price of more trustworthy and accountable businesses.
However, you should know that the reasons given above why expensive CBD is worth it is exactly why you shouldn't buy cheap ones. To reduce cost, farmers may cut corners, giving rise to a sub-par CBD product that may be harmful to your body. The following are reasons why cheap CBD oil isn't worth it.
Cheap CBD Translates To A Lower Quality
We've all heard the adage, "You get what you pay for," at some point or another. Purchasing a product that is very inexpensively priced almost always indicates that it is of inferior quality. Lower-quality CBD products, on the other hand, can be not only ineffective but also harmful when purchased on a budget.
Since the CBD market is still unregulated in many nations, there are many vendors of low-quality CBD who have found ways to cut corners. In other words, they market inferior goods that might not be safe for consumption.
In fact, these subpar CBD products frequently contain toxins, metals, chemicals, and even illegal THC levels. As a result, the product you believe to have purchased might not provide you with the advantages listed on the label.
Additionally, CBD oils that are significantly less expensive than their secure, organic, and thoroughly tested alternatives might not even contain CBD cannabidiol. Regardless of what a manufacturer claims on their website, this is true.
Cheap CBD may not be safe to use
Many people are unaware that hemp extract has a very strong bitter taste when it is harvested in its raw state. For the purpose of producing CBD oil, hemp extract must be completely distilled and condensed by boiling under pressure.
The broad-spectrum CBD extract is distilled again to produce a distillate that is high in CBD. This procedure eliminates THC traces. This prevents the negative effects of THC while still providing the healthy advantages of hemp.
As you might expect, distilling hemp extract calls for specialized tools, know-how, and labor. For businesses, all of this entails expenses that they must find a way to recoup. The removal of hazardous chemicals is one of the most crucial steps in distillation, so even though it is an expensive process, it is also crucial.
Hemp May Have Been Sourced From Crops With Poor Standards
This is yet another argument against purchasing low-quality, inexpensive CBD. As with any product derived from plants, there are vast regional variations in the standards under which hemp is grown.
While some nations have incredibly strict agricultural laws, others do not even monitor or audit hemp crops. As a result, the final CBD product might contain dangerous chemicals and contaminants.
In fact, many nations still do not have the agricultural standards and laws required for extensive hemp farming. This is primarily due to the CBD market's ongoing growth. As a result, some businesses buy CBD extract from unapproved or inferior crops.
Final Thoughts
Although there are less expensive CBD options available, it's usually best to stay away from them. They may not have the same effects, which can make it more expensive and a waste of money. Spending more money upfront on a high-quality item is preferable to buying a low-quality item first and then having to purchase the better item later.
A small investment in CBD is an investment in your health and well-being, and occasionally it pays to treat yourself to something special. Click here to browse through our collection of carefully manufactured CBD products.
FAQ
Is CBD oil legal?
Yes, CBD oil is legal. CBD is extracted from industrial hemp and only contains the legal amount of <0.01% of THC.
While THC is used exclusively for medical purposes and is known for its psychoactive effects, CBD is used in medicine as well as in cosmetics (EU) and food supplements (USA, CA, etc.) and does not lead to a change in the state of consciousness.
What is THC, and how is it different from CBD?
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the psychotropic component of the cannabis plant. It is the chemical that affects your mind and makes you "high," while CBD (cannabidiol) is non-psychoactive.