CBD is supposed to be marijuana-free, or it may have low concentrations of THC, but sometimes there is real marijuana in CBD present at a higher level than advertised. In fact, a recent incident occurred where real marijuana was found in the CBD at a Five Points store in Columbia, S.C. This article will discuss what happened and provide some pointers to ensure your CBD does not contain unexpected amounts of THC.  

Columbia Police Find Real Marijuana in CBD at a Five Points Store

Police recovered approximately 15-20 pounds of cannabis products believed to be marijuana after responding to a search warrant at Crowntown Cannabis, a dispensary located in the Five Towns neighborhood of Columbia, S.C. They also seized hash oil and edible samples.

Three people are facing charges after the police search. Store manager, 32-year-old Connie Jackson was arrested and transported to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. She is being charged with possession of hemp without a license and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

Dispensary workers 30-year-old Karry Cohen and 23-year-old Allessandra Morales are being charged with lesser offenses.

Detectives will test the confiscated items in the SLED lab to determine if it has real marijuana in CBD.

Recreational and medical marijuana are illegal in South Carolina. The South Carolina Department of Agriculture allows dispensaries to sell hemp and CBD products but permits and licenses are required to use raw hemp. Hemp is legal if it has a THC concentration of 0.3.  

Should There Be Real Marijuana in CBD?

At this point you may be wondering, marijuana, THC, CBD what’s the difference? And how do I know if there is real marijuana in CBD I bought? This section of the article will lay it all out.

CBD is non-psychoactive cannabis. It provides many of the benefits cannabis offers but without the mind-altering effects. Marijuana aka THC, on the other hand, has mind-altering effects.

The cannabis constituent CBD can be derived from hemp or non-hemp plants. Hemp is defined as any part of the cannabis sativa plant with no more than .3% THC. Therefore, it’s possible that your CBD may contain trace amounts of THC, but it won’t be enough to get you high.

Broad Spectrum vs. Full Spectrum vs. Isolate

When shopping for CBD products, you may notice that some are labeled as broad spectrum, full spectrum, and isolate. This refers to the amount of THC and other cannabis compounds the product contains.

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect.

Full Spectrum: Full spectrum contains all cannabis compounds including THC of up to .3%. Although some may prefer their CBD products to be completely THC free, the THC and other compounds can enhance the beneficial effects of the product. So while you will find real marijuana in CBD, it will not be enough to get you high. However, it may be enough to make you test positive on a drug test.

Broad Spectrum: Broad spectrum contains all cannabis compounds except for THC. So, you will find no real marijuana in CBD. However, you will get the beneficial effects of the other compounds.

Isolate: Isolate is made with nothing but CBD. Some people prefer this product because it makes them feel confident that they are getting 100% CBD with no impurities.

How Do I Know If There is Real Marijuana in CBD?

There is no accurate way to determine if there is real marijuana in CBD. However, there are some indications as to whether you are getting the real thing. These include:

Lab Testing: Many cannabis sellers do lab testing which determines the ingredients in their products and how strong they are. Lab tests may be posted on websites or may be available by request. Although lab testing is a positive sign, there are instances where companies can fake their lab tests. It’s also possible for labs to get the results wrong.

Buy from a Licensed Company: While marijuana is legal in most states, there are still dispensaries that run without a license. These sellers tend not to play by the rules. This increases the likelihood that they are selling products with ingredients that are not as advertised. So there may be real marijuana in CBD.

Look at Reviews: If you do some research, you will find reviews on just about any business, including marijuana dispensaries. You will find both customer reviews and consumer reviews. If a company has good reviews, it’s likely they are a reliable company that sells products with ingredients as advertised.

Final Thoughts

Real marijuana in CBD is not a good thing, especially if the customer is not aware the product contains THC. It can lead to positive testing, and if the THC is in high enough concentrations, it can cause unwanted effects.

You can avoid real marijuana in CBD by buying from reliable companies that use lab testing and have good customer and consumer reviews. Here’s hoping you access the products you need to attain optimal wellness.