With a plethora of different CBD products on the market and various methods of consumption, it can be difficult to determine what might be the best product for you. There is a lot of information to navigate through in the CBD realm and we are happy to help you determine what might be the best product for your needs. Check out our 2023 buyer’s guide to learn more about the different methods of consumption, a few of our most popular products, newest products to our collection from this year, and the three different categories of CBD products.
Methods of Consumption
CBD takes many forms these days. This is great, because it gives people from all walks of life different options to find what works best for their individual needs. Some people may want concentrated doses while others may want lighter amounts and convenient intake. Note that one method may be more or less effective than another for a particular individual. These are some of the most common routes of administration:
Sublingual
Due to all of the blood vessels under our tongues, CBD oils applied under the tongue are maximally absorbed. Most people will hold the oil under their tongue for 60-90 seconds, which usually takes around 15-20 minutes to begin working and typically lasts around 4-6 hours. This is the most popular method of consumption for any condition and what many people newer to trying CBD like to start with. Tinctures allow for a more controlled dose by measuring the amount of CBD oil in the 1 ml dropper. All of our droppers are graduated in quarter increments to make for more accurate and controlled dosing.
2500 MCT
This is one of our highest concentrated tinctures we offer and yields around 40 mg of CBD in the full 1 ml dropper, which is a great option for anyone who is needing a higher dose to find relief. For anyone looking for a product with simple and fewer ingredients, this tincture is made using only two; CBD isolate infused into the carrier MCT oil. MCT is the abbreviation of medium-chain triglycerides which are much more easily absorbed by our body than long chain triglycerides. MCT oil is considered to be water soluble since after ingestion, MCT passes through your stomach and is absorbed directly from your intestines and into the liver where it is converted directly to fuel and it takes no extra energy for our body to absorb. It is essentially like highly refined coconut oil or palm kernel oil that it is typically sourced from and is nearly flavorless and odorless. This makes it a popular option for anyone who is sensitive to the earthy hemp taste of a full spectrum or broad spectrum tincture that makes use of the full hemp extract. In contrast these tinctures are made with a pure CBD isolate, completely removed from the rest of the hemp plant and THC free. Many people use MCT oil for its potential health benefits such as weight loss, heart health, brain health, and for GI issues.
Water Soluble Broad Spectrum 900 mg
We use our proprietary water soluble formulation for these tinctures which is designed to maximize the bioavailability or percentage of CBD actually absorbed. With our water soluble CBD research has shown that this ranges closer to 60-80% or more absorption rates which are significantly higher than other oil based tinctures that only absorb around 40-60%. If you are looking for the best bang for your buck without needing to take more CBD than necessary then our water soluble products are the way to go! Not only do they offer more efficient and faster absorption, they also add more versatility as they can be easily mixed into food or drinks to go more of the ingestion method of consumption for a longer potential duration of effectiveness. The full 1 ml dropper yields 15 mg of CBD which is a common starting point for most adults.
These tinctures are made using a Broad Spectrum CBD which makes use of the full hemp extract which will be filtered to remove the THC while preserving other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Broad spectrum tinctures tend to have a more natural earthy hemp flavor notably due to the terpenes from the plant which are what gives plants their natural taste and smell, while having their own potential benefits. For people more adverse to this natural flavor we do have some great flavor options besides the natural such as a vanilla dream, berry bliss, or cinnamon spice.
Ingestion
Ingested products will take around 45 minutes to 1 ½ hours to absorb and will last 8-10 hours. This is a popular option for those looking for a longer lasting product compared to tinctures/oils. Many customers use these products for pain, sleep, daily stress, and so much more. CBD plays an important role in helping bring our bodies into homeostasis or balance so we see people using CBD for a wide array of different issues.
CBD Gummies 120 ct
These are our highest concentration of CBD gummies we offer at 25 mg a piece. Many people looking to start with lower doses prefer to cut their gummies into halves or quarters to take either 12.5 mg or 6.25 mg. They are made using a pure CBD isolate and therefore will be THC free and do not have a hemp flavor to them. These sugar coated gummies taste great and come in assorted tropical fruit flavors including Cherry, Pink Grapefruit, Watermelon, Strawberry, Orange, Blue Raspberry, Lime, Grape, Green Apple, Mango, Pineapple & Lemon. Out of our other CBD gummy options these are the best value getting 3000 mg total CBD. They now come in a resealable bag packaging so that they stay soft and fresh for much longer! If you are needing a lower dose we also have our gummies in either a 750mg or 1500 mg bag at 15 mg per gummy.
CBD Water Soluble Broad Spectrum Capsules 60 ct
These capsules are made using the same broad spectrum water soluble formula as our tinctures just in a convenient capsule form and higher dose at 25 mg each. Some people are adverse to the earthy hemp taste of the tincture form and prefer to have a longer potential duration of effect, which makes these capsules a great alternative. Most of our customers share that they prefer to take these capsules as a daily regimen and start their day off with taking a capsule to help them get through the day when dealing with more chronic issues such as pain. We often hear feedback from customers that started with the broad spectrum water soluble tinctures and were having to take much more oil to find a dose that works best for them making the transition to the capsules instead as a more cost effective route. Some of our customers have difficulty measuring out their dose using a tincture and find that taking a capsule that has a consistent dose each time makes their life much easier. Getting 1500 mg of CBD per bottle this product is one of our best values for the amount of CBD in milligrams per dollar. We also offer a 750 mg option for a 30 count bottle if you are wanting to start with about a month supply to try them out first!
Topical
If you are dealing with more localized and surface level issues then topical products might be worth trying out! These products will be absorbed only directly where the product is applied, unlike tinctures/oils or capsules. Most customers use a topical for localized pain & soreness, skin issues, etc. However most customers with chronic pain over larger areas of the body are not able to solely rely on this method of consumption and will often do a combination of a topical product with an internal dosing method such as tinctures or capsules.
CBD Salve 1100
We infuse our salve with a broad spectrum CBD oil, rosemary oil, calendula and arnica extract for a product boasting a wide variety of potential benefits such as anti-inflammatory properties. Salves are often used for issues such as arthritis, achy joints, sore muscles, acne, psoriasis, shingles, and eczema. A CBD salve differs from a lotion by being oil based, as opposed to most lotions being water based. Since it is oil based, our CBD salve tends to have a much firmer consistency than lotions at room temperature. The salve melts down into a more workable, oily consistency as it warms up to your body temperature which makes the application easier to spread. Often people with sensitive skin will opt for a salve over a lotion due to the shorter list of ingredients required to make a salve. Salve is made for external use and you should avoid contact with your eyes. Notably our salve is much more concentrated per volume with CBD so for anyone dealing with more severe pain we often see them opting more for the salve over our lotions. We use a plant based candelilla wax for the main topical base which helped this product become Leaping Bunny certified attesting that it is animal cruelty free and great for anyone who is vegan.
THC Salve
If you are looking for a topical product with CBD and THC in higher amounts than our 3000 mg Full spectrum salve then this is our best option. Our Strain Snobs salve is made with a 5 to 1 ratio of 500 mg of Delta 8 THC and 100 mg of CBD. Many studies show that when using a product with both CBD and THC that it promotes an entourage effect where CBD and THC work even better as a team effort. Based on the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp-derived cannabinoid extracts are federally legal-- this includes Delta 8 THC extracted from hemp. As with all of our full-spectrum products the concentration of Delta 9 THC will not exceed 0.3% as specified in the legislation. All of our Active CBD Oil and Strain Snobs products are all manufactured using non-GMO hemp. A We use nearly identical ingredients as our other CBD salves including the rosemary, calendula, and arnica for the extra boost of anti-inflammatory properties. Many consumers share that they enjoy using a topical product with THC as it tends to produce a warming sensation that helps reduce their pain. Please keep in mind that any amount of THC in a product may run the risk of showing up on a drug screen. We see most of our customers in these situations opting instead for the broad spectrum 1100 mg salve since it is THC free.
CBD Bath Salts
Give your sore muscles the care they deserve with our Active CBD oil Bath Soak. Infused with real rose and calendula, this curated blend of essential oils, epsom salt, pink himalayan salt and 50mg of CBD is a perfect way to relax and rejuvenate your body and mind. Unlike other bath products that are made with CBD isolate, we designed our CBD muscle soak with water soluble CBD to fully disperse into your tub allowing you to maximize your CBD experience. Just pour the desired amount of bath salts into warm water and relax to your happy place. They come in a mesh bag so you can choose whether you want to keep the rose and calendula petals from floating in the tub and to make cleaning up even easier. Made with a CBD isolate, these bath salts are THC free! If you are experiencing a full body soreness and have ever wanted to cover your body with CBD then these CBD bath salts are a fantastic option!
CBD patches
Transdermal CBD patches offer one of the highest bioavailability or percentage of CBD absorbed into our system as high as 90%, while also providing the longest potential duration of effectiveness. Our 60 mg CBD patches are made with a CBD isolate and have an extended wear time of 48 hours as a slow release of CBD over time which is great for anyone on the go or who doesn't want to reapply a topical several times a day. Unlike most topicals, patches do break the skin/blood barrier meaning you do not have to apply the patch directly to where you are feeling the most pain, although you certainly can.Transdermal patches tend to work best in very venous areas such as your feet, wrists, back, neck and even under your arms. The adhesive stays on great and even through showering! Each resealable package contains 2 transdermal patches that are approximately 3”x3” squares that can be easily cut into smaller halves or quarters to better fit certain areas or taking lower doses. These patches are also made with an added boost of 4% Lidocaine, which works by helping to block nerve signals in your body. We regularly have customers with severe nerve pain sharing great results using our transdermal CBD patches.
Inhalation
While inhalation through vaporization or smoking is the fastest-absorbing method, it is also the quickest to leave your body. Customers typically choose this route of consumption for conditions like anxiety, migraines, daily stress, etc. and for those who need an immediate effect. Most customers with pain are not able to solely rely on this method of consumption due to the necessity of redosing frequently, but some use vaping as part of their daily CBD regimen.
CBD Vape Cartridge
Looking for the ultimate vaping experience? The Active CBD oil Distillate Cartridge is the complete package. Our cartridges are pre-filled with only our purest broad spectrum CBD oil distillate meaning that it contains a trace amount of other cannabinoids such as CBN, CBC, and CBG but with the THC removed. This product contains zero PG, VG, MCT or potentially harmful additives. Unlike CBD E-Juices, the Active CBD oil distillate cartridge offers a mellow flavor. Since, there are no added flavors or added terpenes, you can enjoy a vaping experience straight from nature. The natural hemp terpenes provide a light citrus and earthy flavor that doesn’t leave any bad aftertaste. The cartridge is designed to fit on a standard 510 threaded battery. All you have to do is screw the cartridge onto the battery making it our most convenient vape product. It is also our most concentrated per volume CBD vape product so if you are interested in having to take fewer hits from your vape for more effect this is the ideal route to go!
CBD Hemp Flower
If you enjoy the experience of smoking flower, but do not react well to the higher levels of THC found in marijuana then our Strain Snobs CBD hemp flower might be for you! The flower is Colorado grown without any pesticides or heavy metals and is non-GMO. All of the hemp flower will still contain the federally legal trace amounts of Delta 9 THC of 0.3% or less, which is typically not enough to produce any sort of high. We offer a variety of 6 different strains to choose from including indica or bodily relaxing dominant strains such as Berry Blossom and Tokyo Abacus, a sativa or mental energizing CBG dominant strain Cinderella, and our hybrids for the best of both worlds such as Cherry Wine, The Wife, and Lifter. We sell our hemp flower in 1 gram CBD cigarettes, as well as in 1/8th jars or 1 oz containers. We often hear people mixing their marijuana flower with our hemp flower to get more of a balanced ratio of CBD or CBG to THC to promote the entourage effect for potentially even better results. Also several customers share they enjoy mixing in our CBD isolate powder into their flower to further increase their dose of CBD. If you are looking to take the acidic cannabinoids CBDa or CBGa then you can even use our hemp flower with a juicer to make an herbal health drink.
For Pets
Did you know that pets also have the potential to benefit from CBD? Cats, dogs, and even horses have been given CBD for joint pain, inflammation, separation anxiety, and seizure management.
300 mg Chicken Tincture
Our most popular CBD pet product is our 300 mg broad spectrum chicken flavored tincture. At 10 mg per mL, this tincture makes it easy to measure doses between 2.5 and 10 mg at a time. Most customers find it easiest to drop the oil onto their pet’s food, resulting in an activation between 30 to 90 minutes and effects lasting anywhere from 6 to 10 hours. It can also be put directly into your pet’s mouth and rubbed into their gums, resulting in faster activation between 15 to 20 minutes and effects that last between 4 to 6 hours. This product is THC-free, meaning you don’t have to worry about the potential risks of giving your pet THC.
New Product Releases
We are always looking to innovate and expand our product line to best meet your needs and this year we focused on adding to our full spectrum CBD product line.
Full spectrum chocolate squares
Treat your sweet tooth to the ultimate chocolate experience with these delectable milk chocolate squares that are gluten free! Our Active CBD Oil full spectrum chocolate combines 25mg of CBD, 2mg THC and other trace amounts of other cannabinoids such as CBG, CBC and CBN. We partnered with the artisan chocolate maker Patsy’s, a Colorado family with over 100 years of candy making experience. Unlike many other full spectrum edibles that have an earthy hemp taste, these chocolates are free from that flavor so you can send your taste buds on a luxurious journey with every bite as you get your dose of CBD.
Full Spectrum Coffee
Love coffee but tired of the jitters? Check out our full spectrum CBD infused coffee! These dark roasted coffee grounds boast flavor notes of caramel, almonds, chocolate, and grapefruit, and a 1 tablespoon serving contains 31 mg of full spectrum CBD. You may be wondering, “Why would I want CBD in my coffee?” Many people find that combining CBD with caffeine leads to less jitters, less headache, and less of a caffeine crash. When ingested, the effects of CBD tend to last longer than if taken sublingually with a tincture or oil. With a cup of CBD coffee, you’re typically looking at around 30 to 90 minutes for activation, and a duration of anywhere from 6 to 10 hours. If you’re looking for a tasty way to incorporate CBD in your morning routine, you’ve found it.
Full Spectrum Capsules
If you enjoy the convenience of taking a capsule but need a higher dose of CBD than our other broad spectrum water soluble CBD capsules at 25 mg each then these are worth trying out! In contrast to our other capsule options these capsules are 30 mg each, are oil based, and full spectrum containing the full plant extract with a diverse combination of CBD, THC, and other minor cannabinoids to ensure you receive the fullest, most potent CBD experience. We often hear great feedback from our customers who have used our broad spectrum capsules transition to these full spectrum capsules that they work even better for them thanks to the increase in dose and addition of the trace amounts of THC of 0.3% or less included. Each bottle contains 30 capsules which on average most consumers take one capsule a day for a monthly supply.
Full Spectrum vs. Broad Spectrum vs. Isolate
CBD products fall into one of three categories based on how they are made; whether that be full spectrum, broad spectrum or an isolate product. In the search to discover what product may be right for each individual, it may be helpful to understand the main differences in these types of products to consider.
Full Spectrum
The full hemp extract with everything the hemp plant has to offer, including over a hundred different cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and amino acids that could each have their own potential benefits. Studies suggest that products made using more of these hemp components could encourage the entourage effect, where all these components may have more synergistic effects and work better together as a team effort. An important distinction to make with full spectrum products derived from hemp is that they will contain trace amounts of THC of 0.3% or less. This is not enough to produce any psychoactive effects, but could still provide additional potential benefits. However any amount of THC may show up on a drug screen, so for anyone that does have drug screen concerns, we typically see them avoiding full spectrum. Since full spectrum oils are the least processed form of CBD, they tend to have a much darker green color to them due to chlorophyll from the hemp plant. Research indicates that full spectrum products tend to have the widest range of potentially effective doses as they show a more linear dosing pattern where an individual may continue to increase their dose and still see more potential benefits.
Broad Spectrum
The full hemp extract will be filtered to remove the THC while preserving other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids through a process called chromatography. This makes broad spectrum a popular choice for people looking for a product that can encourage the entourage effect while still being THC free. Both broad spectrum and full spectrum products will typically have a natural earthy plant taste of hemp due to the terpenes, which give plants their natural flavor and smell as well as having their own potential benefits. Broad spectrum oils usually look less dark than full spectrum and have a more golden color since many other plant constituents are removed during refinement. Research suggests that broad spectrum products tend to have a moderate range of potentially effective doses that may span slightly less than full spectrum, yet have a larger range than isolate products.
Isolate
CBD completely removed from the rest of the hemp plant in its purest form will typically start out as a crystalline powder and can be as high as 99% in purity. Unlike broad or full spectrum, isolate products will not have an entourage effect or taste like hemp. Isolate products tend to be much cheaper, especially for those that like to make their own products using CBD isolate powder to make tinctures, edibles, topicals, and vaping products. Isolate tinctures may vary in color depending on what oil base the isolate is infused into, and can range from clear to a light purple or red if there is more light exposure. Research suggests that CBD isolate products have the most narrow range of potentially effective doses and tend to work on a bell curve, where taking too high of a dose, past our optimal dose, may have diminishing results. This is why we typically see most people new to trying any CBD product start with lower doses and gradually increase as needed.
Conclusion
Whether you are brand new to trying CBD or curious to explore other options that may work even better we hope that this guide helped inform you to make your decision easier. We only covered a select few products and have a vast product selection to choose from and if there were any products not included that you want to learn more about we are always happy to help! We would love to have you stop by any of our retail stores near you, or you can chat with us over the phone at 719-358-7553, or online at https://discovercbd.com/.
All of our product pages have excellent customer reviews available to read to find out more information on our customers’ experiences using our products. If you have any input to share with others or have any specific questions please leave a comment on this blog so we can continue the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you soon so we can help you discover the natural potential benefits of CBD.
