ConsumerLab recently issued an analysis report on a number of leading CBD products on the market, revealing that CBD and hemp extract products, in terms of the lowest cost to get either, have dropped 70% since 2018. Fewer products than ever before contain detectable amounts of THC, the psychoactive compound present in hemp and marijuana.
 
The results, which were published on ConsumerLab.com and discussed in an accompanying video, were based on tests of CBD products in a wide range of common formulas including oils, pills, gummies, topicals, and a pet product. The products were tested for levels of CBD, THC, other cannabinoids, and heavy metals. The analysis also details recommended dosages, the best way to improve absorption of CBD, and potential side effects and drug interactions which have occurred.
 
Per serving, the CBD content of products ranged from 2.5 mg to 51.3 mg per serving, with the cost to obtain 10 mg of CBD ranging from 24 cents to $2.67. In 2018, the lowest cost to obtain this amount of CBD among tested products was 80 cents, the company reports. In the prior 2018 review, THC was detected in most products, however, only three products contained detectable amounts of THC in this year’s test. Two of the THC-positive products contained 0.15 mg per serving, while one product contained 1.2 mg.
 
“The CBD market has changed in a short period of time,” Tod Cooperman, MD, president of ConsumerLab, said. “The availability of lower cost products is likely driven by the entry of traditional supplement companies and a greater supply of CBD due to the legalization of hemp growing by the 2018 Farm Act. The increased availability of CBD that is, essentially, THC-free, may be due to consumer demand for products less likely to cause a positive drug test, as there had been reported incidents of this earlier on.”
 
While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains that CBD is a drug and not a dietary supplement, oral CBD products are marketed very similarly, with some products containing a “Supplement Facts” label on their packaging. According to ConsumerLab’s annual survey, which recruited over 10,000 vitamin and supplement users, CBD grew in popularity more than any other supplement on the market this year. The most common applications for CBD use were pain management, sleep support, and reducing feelings of anxiety and depression or improving mood, though clinical evidence for these uses is extremely limited.
 
ConsumerLab’s CBD & Hemp Extract Supplements, Lotions, and Balms review included test results and comparisons for 18 products, ten of which were selected for testing by ConsumerLab, and eight of which were submitted to the company through its voluntary quality certification program.