With the resurgence of the cannabidiol industry in the 21st century, hundreds of companies have literally launched overnight to address the increased demand for hemp oil. With each of them making very similar claims, it can be difficult to determine if hemp oil is right for you.

Hemp oil retailers are competing against each other online for the title of “Best hemp oil company.” Because of this it can be very overwhelming to accurately determine which is the best hemp oil to buy.

Before making a purchase, it’s important to consider a wide variety of factors.

As a first-time buyer, education is the key factor in determining if hemp oil is right for you. This guide will serve as a trusted source of information, as it’s important to have a basic understanding of what’s actually in your hemp oil tinctures, capsules and topicals.

In the United States, the topic of hemp oil is somewhat controversial. Many are aware that the founding fathers were known for growing hemp, but did you know that the federal government encouraged farmers to grow hemp during World War II? In 1942, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a short film entitled, Hemp for Victory, which was released to motivate U.S. farmers to grow hemp for military use.

As the war concluded, hemp was once again tossed aside and the Controlled Substance Act of 1970 officially made hemp illegal, classifying the plant as a Schedule I drug – the same category as heroin, LSD, and cocaine. What resulted was the need for international hemp, where growing standards are not as strict as those set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

That’s why domestically grown hemp is the best option for high-quality hemp oil. Plants grown on American farms are subject to higher quality controls, including limiting exposure to pesticides and better growth quality. When looking for and buying quality hemp oil, be sure that it comes from domestically grown hemp plants for superior quality.

In retail, it’s often assumed that a higher priced product is of better quality. As it pertains to hemp oil, that may not be the case. Price and quality do not always correlate.

In 2016, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found serious labeling discrepancies in over 20 products which claimed to contain hemp. Analysis showed that the products contained significantly higher or lower concentrations of hemp than advertised. Some contained no hemp at all.

When it comes to buying hemp oil, don’t just seek an expensive product in hopes of getting the best in the market. Instead, focus on learning about the company’s manufacturing process and exploring their lab reports to determine what you’re getting in each product batch.

Now that you understand what hemp is, your next question may be where to buy hemp oil. You can often buy hemp oil online, at dispensaries, and specialty retail stores.

One of the downsides of buying hemp oil at a dispensary or specialty retail shop is quality control. Because retailers are purchasing products from external extractors, they often don’t provide lab reports or purity analysis.

When you buy hemp oil direct from companies that provide information about their manufacturing process and post verified lab reports, you can rest assured you are getting high-quality hemp oil.

Reputable hemp sources use domestic hemp grown using organic farming methods, proper manufacturing techniques, and provide third-party lab reports. Now it’s time to look at another important question: how much hemp extract are you actually getting?

Most hemp oil products will have a number on the front of the bottle, often ranging from 50 mg to 10000 mg. This number is not the amount of hemp oil you get in every tincture or capsule but is instead the total amount of hemp contained within the hemp oil product container.

The actual amount of hemp you receive should be the total hemp number on the front (in milligrams), divided by the number of servings in the bottle, which is usually found in the product facts chart on the back or side of the label.

More and more people are looking for new ways to help their pets put their best paw forward. That begs the question, “is hemp oil okay for pets?”

Because mammals (including cats, dogs, and horses) all have similar ECS functions, hemp for pets can provide some of the same applications. For those looking for an alternative and natural relief, hemp may support a more wholesome wellness regimen.