CBD Product Types: A Complete Guide

What’s the top trend in health and wellness right now? You guessed it – CBD. The non-intoxicating cannabinoid is a crucial part of why cannabis is so effective at healing chronic pain and reducing anxiety. Since cannabis has become legal in Canada, manufacturers have been isolating CBD from the cannabis plant, bottling it up, and selling it to everyone from celebrities to pet owners. 

The most pure forms of CBD come in isolates or oils, but you don’t have to drop CBD oil down your throat in order to get the benefits of this wonderful cannabinoid. There are tons of CBD products and types of CBD on the market – and more are rolling out everyday. Use this guide to navigate the different types of CBD products and how to use them. 

Types of CBD Products 

You can find types of CBD products in many forms, including:

• Flower (and seeds)
• Tinctures
• Oil (and cooking oil) 
• Capsules 
• Paste 
• Topicals 
• Bath products 
• Vape carts
• Edibles 
• Beverages 

Learn more about each type of product before you start shopping. 

CBD Flower 

CBD is an active ingredient in the cannabis plant. It’s like THC, but it won’t get you high. When you smoke marijuana, you are ingesting CBD. Unfortunately, most strains found on the market contain a very small amount of CBD compared to THC.

If you do want to smoke weed and not get high, you can order specialty CBD flower. These strains are bred to provide medical benefits without getting you stoned. (Some strains have a combination of THC and a high amount of CBD. Always check the label before you smoke.) Harlequin, ACDC, and Charlotte’s Web are some of the most popular high-CBD strains/types of CBD on the market. 

CBD Seeds 

Most provinces and territories in Canada allow adults to grow up to four marijuana plants in their home. If that doesn’t seem like enough, it might be time to apply for your license to grow. Patients who have been prescribed cannabis for certain health conditions can get their license and grow dozens of plants indoors. The exact number varies based on where you plan to grow your strains and your prescription, but you could potentially be allowed to grow hundreds of plants on your property.

If you want to grow your own CBD-only strains, you’ll need CBD-only seeds. Try out a few strains of CBD-only flower and see which ones you like. CBD-only strains grow like any other cannabis plant, but the seeds are harder to come by than traditional marijuana seeds. Look online for seed banks that contain your favourite strain of high-CBD cannabis. 

CBD Tincture 

Most people who take CBD for anxiety or pain aren’t smoking it. They’re more likely to buy CBD concentrates. Concentrates like CBD tinctures or oil are just that – concentrated CBD products. Manufacturers extract CBD through different processes to isolate the CBD and create a stronger, more potent product. 

One popular type of CBD concentrate is CBD tinctures. Tinctures aren’t exclusive to the world of cannabis – your local health food store probably has echinacea tincture or turmeric tincture for sale. They are made by extracting active ingredients out of plants using a solvent. Most CBD tinctures have an alcohol base and are mixed with other ingredients for added benefits. The FeelCBD Full Spectrum CBD Tinctures, for example, have different “flavours” for sleep, focus, and revival. They also make a natural, unflavoured tincture if you want a more pure product. 

CBD Oil 

The idea behind CBD oil is similar to the idea behind CBD tinctures. CBD oils have a high amount of CBD and are easy to drop into your coffee, smoothie, or just under your tongue. The biggest difference between CBD oil and CBD tinctures is that the CBD is blended with a carrier oil rather than an alcohol base. This creates a different texture. 

CBD oils may also contain other ingredients like essential oils or terpenes. Other brands prefer a more pure oil that is extracted from high-quality or organic cannabis. Your CBD oil may contain THC – be sure to read the label thoroughly before you make a purchase. 

A single dropper contains 20mg CBD. Most people ingest between 1-3 droppers a day depending on their symptoms and why they take CBD. Taking higher does of CBD is safe, although you might experience mild side effects. 

CBD Oil for Pets

Humans aren’t the only species enjoying the benefits of CBD oil. Pet owners are starting to mix CBD into their dog or cat’s food. They claim that the oil helps their pet with joint pain or calms them down during thunderstorms. CBD products for pets will be labeled as such. Even though CBD oil for pets may be safe for humans, we don’t recommend using your CBD oil on your pet. The added ingredients, especially the essential oils, may not be safe for your pet to ingest. 

CBD Cooking Oil 

CBD oil is different than CBD cooking oil, which may contain a lower concentration of CBD. But you can always blend CBD oil into your food or beverages if that is how you prefer to ingest CBD. 

CBD Capsules 

The feeling of dropping CBD oil under your tongue can feel strange, even if there’s not much flavour to CBD concentrates. If you prefer to swallow a capsule and not taste CBD, you have options. CBD capsules are another great way to figure out how much CBD you should be taking throughout the day. A single capsule may contain 10, 20, or even 50mg CBD. 

If you can’t find CBD capsules but like the idea of taking a pill, you can always make your own. Empty vegetarian capsules can be purchased at a health food store for a low price. Open them up, drop in CBD oil, and close them tight. Pop them in your mouth and you’re good to go!

CBD Paste 

Another alternative to oil is CBD paste. Pastes are made with a more dense liquid-like cocoa butter. Usually, they come in a tube that you squeeze out, put on your finger, and place underneath your tongue. Pastes vary, but many are blended with terpenes or essential oils. If the texture of CBD oil makes you uncomfortable, try pastes. 

CBD Topicals 

Not all CBD products require you to ingest CBD. Applying CBD to the skin can also help to reduce inflammation and relieve joint pain. That’s why so many companies are starting to add CBD to skincare products. 

If you want to use a CBD topical product rather than an ingestible one, you have plenty of options to choose from, including:

• Lip balms
• Lotions
• Salves
• Sunscreen
• Creams 
• Massage oils 

CBD Rollers

CBD topicals aren’t just skincare products. If you are an athlete or frequently experience joint pain, you can also benefit from CBD topicals. CBD rollers are specifically designed to relieve muscle and joint pain.

Simply roll the product onto the area where you need relief. These rollers often look like deodorant and are easy to carry in your gym bag or purse. In addition to CBD, rollers often contain menthol or other soothing ingredients to provide relief. The FeelCBD Relief Stick contains lemongrass, lemon eucalyptus, and menthol for added benefits. 

CBD vs. Hemp Products 

As you’re shopping for topicals and other CBD products, you might encounter a lot of hemp products. Hemp is a type of cannabis that contains very small amounts of THC. It does often contain CBD, but many hemp-infused products are different than CBD products. 

Products labeled as “hemp oil” may actually be made from hemp seeds. Hemp seeds do have a long list of benefits for the hair and skin, but they don’t contain CBD. You won’t find the pain relief or anxiety relief that you need by taking hemp seed oil products. Be aware that not all “hemp” products have CBD and read the labels before you use topicals. 

CBD Bath Products 

What’s more relaxing than a bath? A bath filled with CBD products! There are many lines of CBD bath products designed to give the user a relaxing experience. CBD can help to reduce inflammation and calm the mind, so it makes sense that people want it as a part of their bath time experience!

The most popular CBD bath products are CBD bath bombs. Bath bombs typically have a sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) base and fizz out over a few minutes. They usually are blended with different essential oils or fragrances to create a relaxing environment in your tub. Other bath bombs, like the Earth Dragon Organics bath bombs, contain a crystal inside for an extra special treat. 

You can also find CBD-infused salt for your bath to soothe sore muscles. Earth Dragon also creates an organic bath salt product infused with essential oils for added relaxation. 

CBD Vape Carts

Ingesting CBD is safe, but smoking isn’t. When you light up, you inhale a toxic mix of chemicals that could potentially damage your lungs. These risks occur whether you are smoking cigarettes or marijuana. 

One alternative is vaping. When you vape, you simply warm up oil or e-juice rather than burn it. You inhale a vapor rather than smoke. While researchers need to do more work on the ingredients in e-juices and vapors, they do believe that vaping is potentially safer for your lungs than smoking. 

If you don’t want to smoke your CBD, you can vape it. Everything that you need to vape THC or tobacco can also be used to vape CBD. You can also buy disposable CBD vape pens that you throw out after use. (They last for a few weeks and don’t require a recharge.) Shop for CBD carts online before buying a vape – not all carts are compatible with all pens. 

If you already have a vape and it’s compatible with a refillable cartridge, you can buy CBD distillate and refill whenever your cart runs dry. Distillates are another form of CBD concentrates and can be found at the same shops or websites as CBD tinctures or oils. 

CBD Edibles 

Hungry? Try CBD edibles! 

CBD edibles are self-explanatory; they are food infused with CBD! Most CBD edibles are baked goods or candy, but you can enjoy a whole meal with CBD edibles if you get creative. Like marijuana,  and other types of CBD it’s easy to infuse CBD into butter or oil and make your own edibles. (CBD cooking oil is also on the market!) 

CBD edibles are a great way to start experimenting with CBD. When you buy CBD edibles from a trusted brand, you know how much CBD is in each gummy or piece of chocolate. This can help you figure out how much CBD you need before your pain goes away or you start to feel calm. Plus, you get a nice treat! 

CBD Beverages 

Experts are predicting that weed-infused beverages, including coffee and beer, are going to be the biggest thing to hit the cannabis industry. CBD-infused beverages are already a big hit. For now, it’s only possible to get CBD coffee, tea, seltzer, or water in stores. But that may change depending on how popular CBD beverages become. 

You can also use CBD products to create your own CBD-infused beverage. Drop 20mg CBD into your morning smoothie. Grind your CBD flower and add it to loose leaf tea. You can even drop some CBD into your water at home and mix it up. Why not? There are plenty of ways to experiment with ingesting or using CBD. 

Buy From Trusted Retailers and Always Read the Label

CBD products are everywhere, but it’s still a new industry. Brands may want to cash in quick and take shortcuts. Mislabeling CBD products can be dangerous, especially when brands fail to mention whether or not the product has THC. 

Always do your research before buying CBD products. Read reviews and read the label.  Learn about the types of CBD. Experiment with caution and gradually up your dose as you see how CBD affects your body. Leave reviews of the types of CBD products that you try to help others in the cannabis community. CBD is a safe product, so it’s important that we continue making the industry safe for everyone.