Over the last several weeks and months, there has been an increase in controversy surrounding CBD. More specifically, vaping (the act of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol, often referred to as vapor, which is produced by an e-cigarette or similar device) substances that include nicotine, THC, and vitamin E acetate. These inhaled substances have been linked to many adverse effects, resulting in nearly 1,300 injuries and 29 reported deaths.
This popular method to ingest CBD has put us in the middle of a growing controversy because we know very little about what makes vaping so toxic. So far, CBD has not been linked to these adverse reactions, but until more thorough studies are conducted and definitive answers found, consumers should exercise caution before inhaling (or vaping) any substance.
Concerns of the Lifegiving Botanicals team
As a Co-Founder of Lifegiving Botanicals, this is alarming and deeply concerning to not only me, but our entire team. When we started Lifegiving Botanicals, we had one prevailing motivation: help people. You can read more about our personal connection to starting Lifegiving here, but needless to say, we have become very concerned for those who are connected to this tragic outcome.
The focus of this blog is to provide our customers and followers with the assurance and comfort of knowing what they can expect from Lifegiving Botanicals when looking for reliable and trustworthy CBD products. Anecdotally, a recent Gallup poll showed 1 in 7 Americans have tried CBD, most commonly for pain relief, sleep and anxiety.
What’s the fuss?
Much of today’s controversy around CBD is centered around the consumer’s inability to know what they are buying when they buy it. This is a serious matter with the FDA and we will eventually see regulations controlling the manufacturing process in this industry.
To address this concern head-on, it is important to note that Lifegiving Botanicals provides Quick Response Codes (QR Codes) on every CBD product we provide. Transparency is a core value at Lifegiving Botanicals and it begins by us making it easier for you to understand what is inside our product.
When you scan the code on your product, you will be taken to the MyCBD Test site where you enter the specific lot number provided on the bottom of your bottle or container and an independent lab analysis confirms whether there are any impurities in our CBD. Keep in mind that CBD is a plant-based product, and manufacturers should follow best practices to ensure nothing harmful from the soil has been absorbed into the plant and passed along to the consumer.
Looking more closely at the inset from ‘My CBD Test, there are 11 pages of lab tests for our 1500mg No-THC Tranquil Mint Tincture.
Taking this a step further, notice that the amount of CBD under Product Strength is listed as 1350mg of CBD in a 1500mg bottle. One would naturally expect by looking at the bottle on the shelf that if it says 1500mg, you should be getting 1500mg.
To the novice or beginner in the world of CBD, there would be no need to question what is on the label. In fact, I meet with consumers on a regular basis who confidently show me or tell me about the CBD product they are using, but fail to answer one simple question: “How do you know what’s on the label is actually in the bottle?”
If this is you, you are not alone. Most are taken aback by the question and tend to grapple for an answer.
So, what’s the deal? Where is the rest of my CBD?! Good question and we’re glad you asked. In the case of the 1500mg version of Tranquil Mint Tincture, the carrier of the CBD must be taken into consideration. The “carrier” oil is the vehicle we use to get CBD into a form we can ingest. In this case, approximately 150mg of the main carriers of organic extra-virgin olive oil and organic peppermint essential oils make up the difference between 1350mg and 1500mg.
To be clear, none of this information is listed on the label itself; it is only found through QR Coding. You can access the additional list of ingredients on our website here for more information.
Where do I go from here?
Here’s the good news. Whether you use a Lifegiving Botanicals product or another product of your choosing, you have options. There are a number of good CBD providers out there and I believe Lifegiving Botanicals is one of them. If you decide to choose CBD products that are not verified by independent lab reports accessed through QR Coding, you are taking a risk. In an industry that is unregulated and often referred to as the “Wild West,” you as the consumer need to know what you are ingesting and not do more harm than good.
For instance, many manufacturers claim to have the legal limit of 0.3% THC in their product, but in reality, they cannot verify that limit unless they test each batch of their product and publish the results. The end result—you could be consuming above the legal limit of THC which puts you at risk for a positive drug test, impairing your senses, or worse.
At Lifegiving Botanicals, our product goes through an extra proprietary step to remove any THC that might be present in the Hemp plant. You can trust that whatever we say is on the label, is actually in the product. We have formed Lifegiving Botanicals around helping you access reliable and trustworthy CBD products that can be verified.
Helping people has been and always will be our main mission at Lifegiving Botanicals. A clear way we demonstrate this is by giving you, the consumer, access to exactly what is in our product. QR Codes and an on-staff pharmacist are two ways for you to be sure that you are getting exactly what you need when you visit Lifegiving Botanicals.
Be safe out there and make it a Lifegiving day!
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The views in this document are expressly the opinion of Rob Green, Co-Founder of Lifegiving Botanicals, LLC, and are not meant to treat, diagnose, prevent or cure any disease states or medical conditions. Please consult your physician before beginning any CBD therapy. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Buyer is to consume CBD at their own risk. You may contact me with questions directly at rob@lifegivingbotanicals.com.
