HERE’S A QUICK WAY TO DISTINGUISH THE GENUINE ARTICLE FROM A COUNTERFEIT ONE

CBD is a supplement. Unlike medicines, it can’t claim to cure, treat or prevent disease. “If you come across any company that claims their CBD cures, treats or mitigates illness think twice,” warns Bella Dorrington, senior researcher at the Cannabis Research Institute.

It helps if a brand appoints a third party to manufacture and test their products to ensure it’s of good quality. These contract producers are also vetted to make sure they meet all the standards set out by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many additional quality control practices go into creating trustworthy CBD products and these processes do not come cheap.

Also, it’s worth noting that while products with a higher strength cost more, you’ll save money in the long run if you opt for a strong CBD product as this is likely to have longer lasting effects than less potent options.

Clear and plastic bottles are a no-no for oils. When purchasing CBD oil, look for glass bottles that are either amber, cobalt blue or dark green. The dark colour of the glass protects the oil from harmful UV rays.

In the same way they damage our skin cells, UV light ruins and breaks down the compounds in essential oils when they’re stored in clear bottles and can lower the efficacy.

The compounds found in plastic also break down over time and can contaminate the oil.

Everyone loves a good bargain, but products bought from trusted retailers, pharmacies and health outlets are a better option as many non-compliant CBD products are sold through online channels by chancers, or from unlicensed sellers.

“The person selling it to you should be able to tell you where it was grown, how it was processed and how it got to their store shelf,” says Kristina Risola, a certified health and wellness coach with a focus in cannabis coaching.