5 Reasons Why CBD is Priced Higher Than Other Natural Supplements

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a natural compound derived from the hemp plant that has gained popularity in recent years for its potential health benefits. One of the common questions that arise when considering CBD is why it can be so expensive. However, unlike many other natural supplements that are priced fairly low (for example Vitamin B12), CBD oil can be substantially more expensive than its counterparts—and it’s not always clear why this is the case. In this article, we’ll explore the factors that contribute to the high cost of CBD.

5 Reasons Why Full Spectrum CBD is Expensive

1. Cost of ProductionOne of the primary reasons for the high cost of CBD is the complexity of the production process. CBD must be extracted from the hemp plant and then purified to remove other compounds, which requires specialized equipment and expertise. The cost of this equipment and expertise is passed on to the consumer.
2. Testing and Analysis
   Another factor that contributes to the high cost of CBD is the regulatory environment. In many countries, including the UK, CBD is subject to strict regulations that require extensive testing and quality control measures. These regulations can add significant costs to the production process, which are then reflected in the final price of the product. Charlotte’s Web CBD products go through a rigorous testing and analysis process during production, this is to provide the customer with the highest quality full spectrum products consistently, and is part of the reason why Charlotte’s Web could be considered expensive. You can find out more about the production of Charlotte’s Web CBD products here.
3. • Harvesting the hemp plant – The first step in creating full-spectrum CBD oil is to harvest the hemp plant. The hemp plants grown by Charlotte’s Web are a proprietary strain that is also patent-protected, these plants are grown specifically for their CBD content.
   • Extraction – Once the hemp plant has been harvested, the CBD extract is obtained using a solvent, such as CO2, ethanol, or olive oil.
   • Winterization – After extraction, the CBD extract is winterized to remove unwanted compounds such as waxes, fats, and lipids. This process involves mixing the CBD extract with alcohol and freezing it, which causes the unwanted compounds to separate from the CBD extract.
   • Decarboxylation – The next step is to decarboxylate the CBD extract. This process involves heating the extract to a specific temperature to activate the cannabinoids and make them more bioavailable.
   • Distillation – After decarboxylation, the CBD extract is distilled to remove any remaining impurities and further purify the extract. This process involves heating the extract and separating the various compounds based on their boiling points.
   • Testing – Before the full-spectrum CBD oil is packaged and sold, it is tested for quality and purity. This testing ensures that the CBD oil meets industry standards and contains the appropriate amount of cannabinoids and other compounds to ensure the goodness of the plant is both maintained and consistent.The Production of Full-Spectrum CBD oil is an extensive process.
     Full-spectrum CBD oil is a popular type of CBD extract that contains all the natural compounds found in the hemp plant, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. These compounds are delicate and require monitoring throughout the production process to ensure consistency. The process of creating full-spectrum CBD oil is a complex one that requires specialized equipment and expertise. Here’s an overview of the steps involved in creating full-spectrum CBD oil. You can read more about the Charlotte’s Web production cycle here.
4. CBD is produced directly from hemp.
   CBD oil is a natural supplement made from hemp, so it’s not surprising that it costs more than other supplements. With the rising costs of agriculture across the world, and how hemp is a heavily regulated crop, these additional barriers and expenditure increase production costs. In the UK it’s currently very difficult to not only grow hemp as a crop, but regulations on the extraction of CBD within the UK make it almost impossible to produce a seed-to-shelf CBD product directly within the UK. This adds additional expenditure on product importation, transportation, and administration.The higher cost of hemp is due to the fact that the plant has many uses, and there are very few places in the world where it can be grown legally. The UK is one of those places, but even here, regulations make it more difficult for farmers to sell their crops at a reasonable price.In addition to these factors affecting price, there’s also the question of quality control: because hemp products are regulated so heavily by governments around the world (including ours), consumers need assurance that what they’re buying is safe and effective before they’ll buy it at all–and this requires more testing than most other supplements undergo before hitting shelves or being sold online.
5. Novel Foods Regulations
   CBD oil is a novel food within the UK, which means it’s under stringent regulations set by the Food Standards Agency. It’s expensive to provide the testing and analysis required for a novel food authorisation, and due to CBD being a new-to-the-market product, it can be difficult for small independent family businesses such as us here at Savage Cabbage, to absorb the costs of the application for Novel foods authorisation. Therefore certain costs need to be passed on to the consumer to help maintain this.

Not all CBD is equal – Find the right CBD for you

if you’ve spent any time researching CBD products, you may have come across terms like “full-spectrum”, “broad-spectrum”, and “isolate”. These terms refer to different types of CBD extracts, each with its unique set of benefits and drawbacks

Full-spectrum CBD such as those we stock from Charlotte’s Web, contains all the natural compounds found in the hemp plant, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. This type of CBD extract is believed to offer the most benefits due to the so-called “entourage effect,” which is the idea that the various compounds in the plant work together to enhance each other’s effects. Full-Spectrum CBD can be expensive to produce, due to the stringent testing processes required to ensure that it is both consistent and legal. Full-spectrum CBD products place a greater emphasis on the input materials used to create a CBD extract. The hemp plant’s genetics often show different traits and nutritional profiles of cannabinoids, which lend themselves to creating a better product. For example, Charlotte’s Web is the only CBD company to have patent-protected its genetics due to the unique, diverse cannabinoid plant profiles that they show.

Broad-spectrum CBD is similar to full-spectrum CBD, but with one key difference: it has been processed to remove all detectable amounts of THC. This type of CBD extract is a good option for those who want to experience the benefits of the entourage effect who are sensitive to THC.

Isolate CBD is the purest form of CBD, with all other compounds removed. This CBD despite being the most heavily processed is often the cheapest on the market as it is the easiest to create. However it may not offer the full benefits of a true full-spectrum CBD oil. CBD isolate is often cheaper due to the fact it’s produced in large production cycles and has had all the other cannabinoids stripped out. It’s easier to produce as it doesn’t require the same level of care and consideration throughout the extraction process. Moreover, the origin of CBD is not an important factor when a CBD isolate is made, whereby the opposite is true for full spectrum CBD products that place high importance on the quality of hemp plant material creating the product.

The choice between full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate CBD comes down to personal preference and specific needs. Full-spectrum CBD offers the most benefits but can be expensive, Broad-spectrum CBD is similar to full-spectrum CBD but without THC, while isolate CBD may not offer the same benefits as other types of CBD

If you need help finding your perfect CBD product, you can reach out to us directly in our contact us section or use our handy product finder to recommend you the perfect CBD product.

Conclusion

The market for CBD products is growing at a rapid pace, and it’s important to know the difference between full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD. The best way to ensure that your purchase is of high quality is by buying from a reputable company like ours that is a specialist in these products.