Clearing up the confusion around CBD

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

UK brand, Potyque, takes a look at some of the most common misconceptions and aims to clear up any confusion you have around CBD oil.

With CBD oil coming from the well-known hemp plant, there is a lot of confusion around the effects and composition of CBD oils.

Not all CBD products are the same, and therefore defining quality and purity can be difficult. We want to dispel some of these myths and confusions around CBD and hopefully answer some of your most burning questions when it comes to choosing the right CBD oil for you.

Our founder, Michelle Rust comes from a pharmaceutical background and has heard every concern and question there is around the benefits of CBD oil and how it’s different from more traditional pharmaceutical methods.

Michelle talks about the information out there around CBD oil in our recent interview with her, she says: “As more and more information has become available over the years regarding the possible benefits of CBD oil, we became increasingly intrigued in how it works and the different types available on the market – not all CBD products are created equal was one of the first insights we gained, and I tried a quite a few.”

Let’s take a closer look at some of the questions floating around to see if we can clear up any confusion you may have around CBD oil. 

So, what is CBD oil?

CBD oil is recognised as a food supplement that can be added to a balanced wellness routine without worrying about ‘getting high’. However, as not all CBD products are the same, this can differ depending on the extraction process the manufacturer chooses to use.

With certain extraction processes, some CBD oils may contain the psychoactive ingredient THC, which effectively makes the product a classified drug. Because of this, it is very important to check the manufacturer’s Certificate of Analysis to find the information you need about a product’s ingredients. CBD products in the UK are permitted to contain a maximum 0.2 per cent THC.

You can find Potyque’s Certificates of Analysis here.

Is CBD oil legal in the UK?

CBD oil is recognised as a food supplement and can legally be sold in the UK. As we touched on the previous section, it is important to double check the ingredients of your chosen CBD oil as lower quality oils may contain THC (or indeed not as much CBD as they should). 

At Potyque, our oils are the highest quality possible, always containing less than 0.2% THC, which we state clearly on every bottle and within our Certificates of Analysis. Our products are ISO 9001 certified and ISO 17025 by Adact Medical, Europe’s largest compliance agency before sale in the U.K. Potyque are also members of the Cannabis Trade Association, which advocates a regulated CBD market.

How can you identify quality of a CBD product?

The real benefit of quality lies in its extraction and purification process. Using a supercritical CO2 extraction process ensures potency and purity to extract only the finest grade CBD.

When it comes to identifying a high-quality CBD oil from a lower quality oil, some signs of a high-quality CBD oil to look out for are:

• A clear and valid Certificate of Analysis that clearly states the ingredients of the product.
• Details from the brand on their extraction methods and processes.
• Clear and precise labelling, that clearly states the amount of CBD included in the product.
• Independently tested with all results clearly stated on the manufacturers website or product packaging.

Using only first-class bio-dynamically grown hemp and the finest extraction and purification processes, we ensure potency and purity to extract only the finest grade CBD. The way Potyque is purified enables a full concentration of terpenes (plant oils) to be extracted. Terpenes help to create what scientists call an ‘entourage effect’ which magnifies any potential benefits of the plant’s individual components and the impact they have on metabolism and inflammation.

Does CBD oil expire?

Yes, CBD oil does indeed have an expiry date, typically 2 years from date of manufacture.

Can you drive after taking CBD oil? 

CBD oil is a food supplement, similar to other vitamin supplements you may get from your local specialist health food store. There shouldn’t be anything in your CBD oil that would inhibit your ability to drive. 

What is the difference between different forms of CBD products?

CBD comes in a variety of forms, but in the UK, oil is the most widely used. The different forms of CBD products tend to offer varying results. We may be a little biased, but we believe CBD oil is definitely the most flexible form of CBD, meaning you can use it in a variety of ways and easily fit it into your normal daily routine.

Our founder Michelle loves to use her Potyque oil as part of her morning and bedtime routines, keeping a bottle next to her toothbrush as a reminder to take her doses morning and night. 

You can use CBD oil straight from the bottle, or add a few drops to your morning coffee, your soup at lunch or even bake some delicious treats with it (you can check out our guide to cooking with CBD oil right here). 

If you’d like to explore more CBD oil FAQs, we have a full FAQ page right here, or head on over to our online shop to take a look at our full range of CBD oils.