Health nuts everywhere love to hear the term “organic” applied to whatever they are purchasing or consuming. But what exactly does that mean? And what does it mean when you apply it to CBD?
Simply put, organic means that the food or consumable is produced without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial agents. It also isn’t injected with any hormones or antibiotics that might make the product larger. So, that means that when you choose organic products, you are getting the purest version—just as nature intended.
Why Choose Organic?
So, why should you choose organic products, whether you are purchasing produce or CBD? Well, by paying (sometimes) a little bit more for that “certified organic” label, you’re getting a cleaner, safer product. If you buy organic beef, for example, you can be sure that the cows weren’t injected with any antibiotics and they weren’t consuming feed that had been sprayed with pesticides—both of which you would also be ingesting if they had. Similarly, organic produce fields aren’t treated with pesticides, either. Because of that, your produce may not look as pretty, but it’s definitely better for you.
What is Organic CBD and Why is it So Hard to Find?
So, what does all this organic talk mean for the CBD industry? Well, it’s tough to say for sure. Because there are few regulations for CBD producers, they can claim to make organic and natural products without actually fulfilling the definition of organic.
That’s why it’s so important to do research before purchasing these products—you want to make sure you are going with a trustworthy company.
Organic CBD Starts with Organic Hemp
In order to produce organic CBD, companies need to start with organic hemp. Before the 2014 Farm Bill legalized hemp production in the U.S., internationally grown hemp could be certified organic. However, it took almost four years for domestic hemp growers to have access to the organic certification.
Still, applying to become a certified organic hemp farmer is an expensive and lengthy process. The farmers who tackle this really care about their customers, so finding certified organic CBD is definitely something to celebrate.
Part of the reason organic hemp, and therefore organic CBD, is so hard to find is that the hemp plant is a natural land purifier. Its deep roots will soak up all the soil’s contaminants, leaving it clean and healthier than it was before. Unfortunately, this cleaning process contaminates the plant itself, so organic hemp farmers need to make sure their soil is already free of pesticides and contaminants before they start planting. A hemp plant contaminated with toxins from the soil it’s grown in will produce contaminated hemp products—CBD included. It’s as simple as that.
In order to achieve certified organic status, farmers must complete the following steps:
- Develop an organic system plan that details their land use history, including pesticide history.
- Implement the plan and have it reviewed by a certifying agency. There are currently 48 certifying agencies in the U.S.
- Invite the certifying industry to inspect the farm itself. Farmers must pass this inspection for certification.
- Submit the inspection for review by the certifying agency. Not only will previously mentioned areas be inspected, but things such as contamination risk assessments may require soil, tissue, or product samples.
- If the farmer passes all of these steps, they will become a USDA Certified Organic Hemp Farmer.
The Importance of Organic CBD Products
Clearly, if your favorite CBD product isn’t made with organic or organically-grown hemp, there’s a good chance it’s contaminated with something that was in the soil. But because the organic certification process for hemp is somewhat new, certified organic CBD can be difficult to come by. This is where third-party lab results that including testing for pesticides and microbial contaminants is pertinent in the CBD consumer’s shopping journey. If you purchase a product without the USDA certification badge, it’s best you verify the products are indeed clean via independent lab results, which should be on the website of any reputable CBD brand.
Not only is clean CBD better for you because it isn’t contaminated with pesticides or other environmental hazards, it is also more effective in your body. The best CBD will always be broad spectrum, which means that it will include all of the naturally occurring elements of the hemp plant that help CBD to work better without any THC, which can cause unwanted side effects. When you use organic broad spectrum CBD, you can be doubly sure that your product includes everything you want from the hemp plant, and nothing you don’t.
So, how can you ensure that the CBD product you are buying is truly pesticide free? First, you can look for that green USDA certification badge, or you can choose a company that sends all of their products to a third-party lab for testing, like Joy Organics. If a third party tests the product and finds no harmful additives or toxins, then you can be sure that it is truly clean and safe to use. Plus, Joy Organics links their lab tests on their website, so you can easily access the information for yourself. By choosing only premium CBD, you are ensured the safest, most effective product on the market.