Five ways to spot fake CBD and wellness products

Wellness is one of the trendiest terms these days, right up there with “self-care.” Aside from being an indication that people are taking their mental and physical health more seriously, it’s also a red flag that some businesses are going to try and make money off of it, even if it means ripping off consumers.

With all profitable business ventures there’s plenty of room for scams, like magical jade eggs for your vagina or healing cuddle sessions with cows. These scams are easy to spot but there are hundreds of products out there that take advantage of people and lie about their contents and supposed benefits. Here are a few tips that can help you spot the difference between a legitimate product and a bogus one.

Purchase CBD from a certified dispensary or a known brand

CBD’s rise in popularity is awesome because it adds to cannabis more credibility, but it has also opened the door for people who want to make money and know how to take advantage of the lack of scientific information that surrounds the compound. By advertising vague benefits like “mental clarity” and claiming that CBD is a general balm for all things bad, questionable brands and products can profit from people who don’t know any better. To avoid this, go to licensed retailers or medical cannabis clinics to ask for products that will fulfill your needs. Do your research online and purchase certified products, ensuring that what you’re getting is something that will truly do something positive for your body.

Learn to spot fake reviews

If you’re shopping online, don’t trust the five star rating. Instead, take a look through the reviews and keep an eye out for fake ones. If you notice that a lot of positive reviews were published on the same date, or that there’s weird photos attached and poor spelling and grammar, odds are that the review is fake. You can also use online tools like Fakespot, which give you a score regarding the likelihood of fake reviews.

Make sure the seller is legitimate

Again, these problems can be avoided by doing a simple Google search of the brand, ensuring that the product is a part of a licensed business and that it’s not some weird concoction that someone put together in their basement.

Keep an eye out for unrealistic details

If the label of the product claims that it’s a balm that provides “mental stability” and “emotional cleansing,” it’s safe to assume that you’ll be disappointed. For one, this type of marketing isn’t allowed under the Cannabis Act.

Another red flag is a super low price when compared to competitors, because it means that the product probably hasn’t been tested and certified. As a rule of thumb: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Be street smart

Unusually low prices, lack of certifications, grandiose statements and a sketchy seller are all indicators that the product you are looking at is not what you expect. While these steps are helpful in all areas of shopping, they are particularly important when it comes to wellness and CBD products, because these are ingested or applied directly on you. It’s important to know what you’re putting in your body.

TheFreshToast.com, a U.S. lifestyle site, that contributes lifestyle content and, with their partnership with 600,000 physicians via Skipta, medical marijuana information to The GrowthOp.

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