Some years back, marijuana and CBD products were illegal. So, there weren’t many options in terms of products available for the masses. But then came the wave of legalization and research on the benefits they provide people. Today, it’s a very different picture since thousands of quality products are available and weed dispensaries are all over. However, not every product you come across is worth your time and money. There has been a sharp increase in CBD oil selling products that have no benefits. Therefore, before you start taking any product, there are some common CBD oil scams you should know about. Having this knowledge will save you in many ways.
Top CBD oil scams and how they work
From the time CBD became legal in many places, there’s been an increasing number of tricks. Some of the top scams to take note of include:
1. Hemp seed oil or hemp oil
One scam that is quite popular in the CBD market is selling hemp seed oil as hemp oil. A manufacturer gets hemp seed oil after cold-pressing hemp seeds. The results are quality oil with many health benefits to the human body. However, the hemp seed oil is not a CBD product. This is for the simple fact that it does not contain any trace of cannabidiol. Cold-pressing hemp seed oil is an easy process, so manufacturers are scamming people by passing the oil off as hemp oil. You’ll notice that this oil is much cheaper than the actual hemp oil that has cannabidiol compounds.
It’s not easy to spot the difference between the two oils because of scam manufacturers. They use labels that mislead consumers into believing the hemp seed oil is a CBD product. But only the hemp leaves contain over 100 cannabinoids. It’s worth noting that hemp oil is quite potent as this is a full-spectrum CBD product. A full-spectrum CBD product contains THC in addition to other cannabinoids. So, it’s not only more expensive but can also make you high. Hemp seed oil is cheap and won’t have the same effect.
2. Free CBD offers
As more people find out about CBD products, there’s an increase in demand. This increase had manufacturers taking advantage and hiking prices of different items like CBD oil. There’s a sense of desperation among consumers, leading to a rise in free trial offers. While the offers claim to give you some relief, you might end up spending hundreds of dollars more than you intended to spend. The blatant truth is the bottle of CBD oil is not free at all. These are all CBD frauds, and it’s spreading so fast across the country.
The seller advertises that the CBD product is free and even uses public figures to endorse it. However, to access the product, you must provide them with your credit card number. The credit cards will cover the cost of shipping the products to consumers. This is an outright red flag to keep you off such sellers. While paying for shipping is not a big issue, the problem comes when you sign up for a trial membership. By giving out your credit card details, you have given consent for this membership unknowingly.
While you can cancel this in 14 days, you realize the charges on your credit card included more than just the cost of transport. This is a bold scam that many manufacturers and sellers are using since you might not even be aware you’ve signed up for the subscription. If you aren’t keen on your finances, the fraudsters might use the details to increase your membership since you missed the cancellation date.
3. Copycat CBD brands and multilevel companies
Here is where all caution is required. The copycat scam is the most audacious of them all and most rampant in the thriving CBD industry. Copycats have a known strategy where they take the brand and name of a top CBD company and brand their products. Buyers will purchase them thinking they are getting top-quality products from the trusted manufacturer. Little do you know, the websites you access are not the original. Copycats depend on people using word of mouth to speak about the products.
Since many get the spelling wrong, they end up purchasing imitations from these sites. These sellers also engage in the credit card charge scam where you unknowingly sign up for a trial subscription. They sell you fake products and keep charging your card until you catch on and cancel. By then, they’ve made quite a killing and move on in search of the next victim. Be sure to know the exact name of the manufacturer before purchasing if you want to avoid this scam.
Even most multilevel products are not legit, and they don’t sell you the quality CBD products you need. You get on their web pages, add some products to your cart and place an order. You have to wait a few days or a week for shipping. However, the products never arrive when reality hits that you just got scammed. Every effort you make to reach out to the company in question bears no fruit.
4. Too-good-to-be-true claims
One of the most significant ways CBD manufacturers and sellers capture a consumer’s attention is through marketing claims. Many imply that CBD oil and other products are the answer for people suffering from diseases. Truthfully, while CBD offers some relief, there is no scientific evidence that marijuana or cannabis has healing capabilities. So, take caution and stay away from any person claiming unrealistic benefits for their products.
One medical fraud to note is how CBD oil can boost your immune system. Sellers advertise that taking a few drops of CBD oil each day or twice a day can help boost your immunity, but there is no scientific evidence to support their claim. Here are some other unfounded claims:
- Immune boosting CBD.
- Our CBD is 100% natural.
- No side effects.
- The purest CBD in the world.
- CBD oil has a 100% absorption rate.
5. Tons of fake CBD on Amazon and similars
Fake products are sold everywhere, including the famous Amazon website. All you have to do is read the reviews. So many people come back to the pages to state the products are fake, smell different, and even come in plastic products. Therefore, it’s pretty crucial to do your homework on the pure CBD products in the market. If possible, read the reviews on Amazon and double-check with other similar sellers. There have been lots of claims about fake reviews posted on Amazon lately.
In 2019, Amazon prohibited the selling of CBD products on its site as per its policy. Despite this ban, some sellers still find ways to use the online retail giant to peddle their products. Some CBD products on Amazon are mislabeled as hemp oil. Hemp oil contains cannabinoids making it a CBD product. Such mislabelling and lack of proper product scrutiny make it easy for impostors to continue using the online retailer to sell CBD.
Why are CBD oil scams a big problem?
Since the legalization of CBD, a growing issue has come up. There’s an explosion of scammers with outrageous claims. These claims are rising due to the lack of regulation of the industry. As good as CBD is, its reputation is pretty fragile. The ugly truth is this is an industry that is entirely on its own. There are no governmental organizations that regulate it, which is a huge problem. Such a lack of regulation has some companies seeking third parties to authenticate their products.
However, others head in the opposite direction and release pointless products. The number of CBD scams is on the rise every day. There has been a sharp increase in the number of CBD products that don’t go through third-party testing. Almost 26% of all CBD products aren’t worth it since they even contain less CBD than the information indicated on the label.
How to spot high-quality CBD oil
Here are some of the ways you can use to spot high-quality CBD oil.
1. Processed from organic hemp plants
The hemp plant comes with numerous benefits, but there’s one point to note. This is a plant that takes in everything it can find in the soil. So, if the growers use chemicals, fertilizers, and pesticides, all these go into the plant and, consequently, the CBD oil. One vital sign of high-quality CBD oil is being manufactured from organic or natural hemp. Most farmers who grow such hemp require government certification and have their fields tested regularly. Brands that provide high-quality CBD oil source their CBD from reputable farms.
2. Color testing
When it comes to color, CBD oil doesn’t have just one. Instead, you find three CBD oil varieties. They include Raw CBD oil that seems like a black liquid or, at times, dark green. The dark color means this is pure hemp oil that’s not undergone any filtration after extraction from the hemp leaf. The next is decarboxylated CBD oil that’s also dark green or black.
The only difference it has with the raw CBD oil is going through the decarboxylation process. During this process, the acidic molecules in the oil are dropped, leaving other cannabinoids intact. Lastly, the filtered CBD oil has a light golden color. It’s the most popular in the market, and most people use it for numerous reasons.
3. Third-party testing
The CBD industry is not regulated in any way. This is why there are so many scammers cropping up from everywhere. One way to spot good oil from others is through third-party testing results from an accredited laboratory. You can go on the website of the manufacturer to read the results. In addition, visit the testing facility to see if the results match or not.
4. THC content
THC is a potent cannabinoid that many CBD users want to avoid. So, they actively search for products with less or no THC content in them. However, many manufacturers are not truthful about the amount of THC in the products. Instead, they choose to mislabel the CBD oil, which puts many buyers at life risk. Remember, since THC makes you high, you aren’t to operate any heavy machinery or do strenuous tasks.
Final thoughts
Not every CBD product you come across in online marketplaces is real. CBD oil scams are widespread. The lack of regulation for the CBD provides the perfect breeding ground for these and many more cons. It’s essential to be prudent and alert as you search for the best products to use. The hoaxes provided in this article are only the tip of the iceberg as many more crop up every day. This is why it’s crucial to know how to spot fake CBD oil.
Quality CBD oils have specific colors depending on the level of processing. In addition, they come in a brownish glass bottle and not a plastic one. The oil comes from organically grown hemp. And lastly, they always provide third-party test results in detail on their websites. Do careful research to make sure the CBD oil and manufacturer meet all these criteria before purchasing.
Some of the health benefits of CBD oil include relief from skin inflammation, chronic pain, and reducing anxiety. It also helps to counter the effects of chemotherapy like nausea and vomiting. While CBD oil has benefits, it’s worth noting there are also side effects. Some of the side effects to look out for as you use the oil include diarrhea, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, drowsiness, and even loss of appetite.
