Have you been taking CBD for a while now, and have you decided to make cannabidiol a regular part of your wellness routine?
You might want to experiment with different formulations — trying full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate products. You may also want to try different products, ranging from CBD oil to gummies, other edibles, or capsules, and you may want to test products from different brands.
As you shop around, you’ll notice wildly varying prices. Understanding the cost per milligram (mg) of your CBD products will help you ensure that you’re getting the “value for money” you’re after. That’s what we’ll be diving into today!
Shopping for CBD: Price Isn’t Everything!
Shopping for CBD is a little like shopping for anything else. The price matters, and you certainly don’t want to pay more than you have to, but you can generally expect to pay more for quality CBD products.
Consumers determined to shop for the best CBD products in the UK need to pay attention to more than the price of CBD per milligram. You can narrow your choices down by looking for reliable quality markers.
1. Third-Party Lab Testing
Not all CBD products are created equal. While the UK has taken important steps to regulate CBD products, some consumers may still come across mislabelled cannabidiol products or products with misleading claims on the packaging.
Third-party lab testing — the independent analysis of a product’s content — allows consumers to verify the strength and ingredients of the CBD products they buy.
2. Clear Branding
You can find cannabidiol products in large chains like Tesco and Holland & Barrett or buy CBD from reputable online shops. However, you may also find CBD products for sale in corner shops, petrol stations, or market stalls. Clear branding allows you to discover more about the product’s origins, so avoid buying unlabelled products!
3. CBD Formulations
Consumers can choose from three types of CBD:
- Full-spectrum CBD products contain a range of terpenes, flavonoids, and essential oils, as well as CBD. In the UK, they can have a maximum THC content of 0.02 per cent.
- Broad-spectrum CBD products only have trace amounts of THC, but they do contain terpenes and flavonoids.
- CBD isolate products are made with pure THC. They don’t contain additional terpenes, flavonoids, essential oils, or other cannabinoids.
Some people believe the range of compounds in full-spectrum CBD products enhances their experience. This theory is called the “entourage effect”. Others want to ensure they don’t ingest any THC. Consider the formulation that’s right for you before you start comparing prices!
4. Certifications
People with special dietary needs, like the need for gluten-free products or vegan CBD products, may want to limit themselves to CBD products that have earned trusted third-party certifications. Some consumers may also have strong preferences for organic products or GMO-free products.
5. Extraction Methods
Considering how your CBD was extracted is another important safe shopping tip!
Cannabidiol can be extracted from industrial hemp in a variety of ways. Supercritical CO2 extraction, ethanol extraction, and extraction with olive oil or other edible oils are generally recognised as the safest options. Meanwhile, extraction methods that use chemicals like hexane or butane can potentially lead hazardous residues to find their way into the final product.
How to Calculate the Cost per Milligram: A Step-by-Step Guide to Comparing CBD Prices
Now for the fun part — let’s learn how to calculate the cost per mg of CBD products!
Various CBD price calculators are already available online, but doing a little maths on your own can’t hurt. The formula is simple:
Cost per mg of CBD = The product’s total cost ÷ Total amount of CBD in the product
How does that work out in practice?
Let’s take a look at four examples:
- CBD product A: 1000 mg of CBD oil packaged in a 10 ml bottle for £34.99
- CBD product B: A package deal of two 10 ml bottles with a CBD strength of five per cent (“approximately 500 mg” per bottle) for £56.99.
- CBD product C: 1000 mg of CBD oil packaged in a 10 ml bottle for £69.99.
- CBD product D: 1200 mg of CBD capsules for £39.99 in a package with 120 capsules.
After applying the formula above, we can easily see the cost per mg:
- Product A offers CBD for £0.03499 per mg of CBD.
- Product B’s CBD costs £0.05699 per mg of CBD, which is significantly more expensive, even though you might have thought you were getting a good deal by getting two 10 ml bottles for less than one product A bottle.
- Product C is the most expensive CBD oil, at £0.06999 per mg of CBD.
- The capsules offer a different delivery system, but the cost is only £0.03332 per mg of CBD.
Does Calculating the Cost of CBD per Milligram Give You an ‘Apples to Apples’ Comparison?
If you’re a bargain hunter, training yourself to calculate the cost per mg when comparing different CBD products gives you an edge.
It is, however, important to keep in mind that we’re only looking at cannabidiol here. Dividing a CBD product’s total cost by the amount of CBD it contains ignores other essential factors:
- The delivery method affects cannabidiol’s bioavailability — CBD oil used under the tongue is absorbed more readily and quickly than oral CBD, which has to pass through the digestive system.
- Some CBD products have added terpenes and flavonoids, while others don’t.
- Similarly, some CBD products may be flavoured or fortified with vitamins, which some consumers prefer.
- The quality of the packaging can vary significantly, which may impact your enjoyment of the product.
- The strength also makes a difference. Some consumers prefer their desired dose of CBD to be concentrated in one drop. Others may add CBD oil to a salad dressing and enjoy a lower strength with more oil.
In other words, raw cost should never be your only consideration, but understanding how much a manufacturer or retailer charges per milligram of CBD can certainly help you find good deals!
Making CBD Price Comparisons: A Final Word
Want our advice? Quality should always be your top priority when you’re shopping for CBD products.
However, if you’re looking around for a good deal and several manufacturers meet your high standards, calculating how much a manufacturer or retailer charges per mg of CBD can help you narrow your choices down in a heartbeat!
Using this method helps you make sense of the fact that not all CBD products have the same strength and volume, and allows you see whether you’re getting value for money in seconds. (Especially if you’re using your phone to do the calculating!)
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