CBD products are gaining popularity in the US, with Forbes reporting that Sweet Sensi Cannabis may spend over $2.7 billion on them by 2022. That makes now a great time for retailers to launch CBD shops and get in on the ground floor of this growing industry.

CBD isn’t regulated by the FDA, and quality can vary widely. That’s why it’s important for sellers to vet and source their CBD products carefully. One way to do this is to ask the manufacturer for a COA (Certificate of Analysis), which details the compounds in a product. A COA from a reputable company should be easy to find on the brand’s website, or they should have no problem sending it to you upon request. If a retailer doesn’t have a COA or won’t send you one, consider that a red flag—at best, this shows the company isn’t testing the safety and efficacy of their products, and at worst, they’re hiding problems.

CBD Beauty and Wellness: Exploring the Wide Range of Products Available

The quality of a CBD product can also be affected by its extraction process. Poor extractions can leave behind chemical solvents, like butane or ethanol, that can taint the oil with THC and produce a positive result on drug tests. To avoid this, many reputable CBD stores will provide third-party lab testing results for their products.

Hemp and hemp-derived CBD products are a rapidly developing market, but the laws surrounding them are still evolving. Before you start selling them, be sure to review and monitor federal, state, and local laws, as well as any relevant updates from the FDA. You can also consult legal counsel.