The Dangers of Buying CBD or THC from a Gas Station

Picture this scenario, you’ve probably lived it countless times. You’re getting a tank at the gas station, and you pop in to make a few (probably unhealthy) impulse buys. A cup of coffee or a red bull, maybe a big of chips or some beef jerky. As you’re on your way to ring up your goodies, you see that familiar green leaf over some tincture bottles or containers of gummies. CBD and THC products are getting more and more ubiquitous in the retail marketplace, and nowhere is that more evident than its availability in gas stations. But if you’re like me, you probably get your suspicions up when you see a bottle of what’s supposed to be a therapeutic supplement displayed next to the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Is it ok to buy gas station CBD or THC? Well. I certainly wouldn’t recommend it. In this article we’ll give you the reasons why and some advice on how to make a better decision when it comes to buying cannabinoids. So, let’s fill ‘er up.

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Is it Safe To Buy CBD From a Gas Station?

No. I want to say this early and often in this article. It is not safe to by CBD from a gas station. It is not safe to buy THC from a gas station. Just don’t do, it’s not smart. CBD and other hemp-based cannabinoid products, like delta 8 THC and delta 10 THC, were made federally legal when congress passed the 2018 Farm Bill. That’s why you’ve seen CBD popping up in gas stations all over the country. But not all CBD is created equally, and some things that claim to be CBD might not be at all. Besides the fact that buying from a gas station just feels sus, there a few main reasons why it should be avoided

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Potentially Toxic or Harmful

While the FDA does have laws about making fraudulent or false claims about cannabinoid products, they are not actively regulating hemp-based cannabinoid products and do not guarantee that all over the counter products are safe and effective. In fact, the FDA has recently announced that it will be working closely with congress in the coming months to determine a better regulatory framework for CBD.  This is why buying CBD or THC products from a gas station is unwise. The extraction and conversion processes for cannabinoids often use chemicals that need to be removed before the product is safe for consumption. Without being able to look at third party testing results, you can’t know what you’re about to put in your body. Third party testing assures that the cannabinoid you’re buying is safe from heavy metals, pesticides, and chemical byproducts. 

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Low Quality Product

Laboratory testing doesn’t just make sure the product is safe, it will also let you know what cannabinoids and terpenes are present, in what concentration, and what dosage. Even if the product you find at a gas station is safe, there is no way to know the quality and value of the product. While it may seem cheaper to buy a gas station product, you’re likely getting something made with lesser ingredients, which can lead to an unsatisfying experience.

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Not CBD At All

If you buy a product from a gas station, there’s also a chance that it may not be CBD at all. There are many products that label themselves as a CBD product but are just hemp seed oil. Hemp oil is pressed only from the seeds of the hemp plant, while cannabinoid products CBD and D8 are extracted from the entire hemp plant, including the leaves, flowers, and stems. Cannabinoids are not present in hemp seed oil, and it is the interaction of those cannabinoids with the body that give CBD and THC products their unique experiences.

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But just because you shouldn’t buy CBD or THC from a gas station does not mean that you shouldn’t be willing to try a hemp-based cannabinoid. When you are armed with some simple knowledge on what to look for and where to find it, cannabinoids can be a safe, healthy, fun, and even therapeutic addition to your life.

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Certificate of Analysis (COA)

Before you go putting anything in your body, it’s probably a good idea to make sure you know what it is. And while I appreciate that the manufacturer of a product may not be lying to me, that doesn’t mean I’m just going to take their word for it. That’s why it’s important to make sure when you’re buying a CBD or THC product that you can locate and access independent third-party test results. These test results are typically known as a certificate of analysis, or a COA.

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A COA breaks down what’s inside your product, like how the nutrition facts label works on food. Any quality CBD or THC product should have a COA, and there three main places you’re likely to find one. 

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• On the product itself – this is usually in the form of a QR code that you can scan and will take you to the lab results for your product.
• On the retailer’s website – the product page on a retailer’s website should have a link to the COA for the product. All products sold by The Green Dragon have easily accessible third-party laboratory results.
• On the manufacturer’s website – reaching out to the brand’s manufacturer through their website or contact page is another way to gain access to up-to-date lab results for a given product.

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Why Read a COA?

You might read this and think to yourself, “I’m not a chemist, what am I going to learn from lab results?” Well, quite a bit. When it comes to a cannabinoid product, there are things you want to know are inside. And there are also things you want to be sure aren’t.

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What you want inside

• Cannabinoids present
• Weight percentage of cannabinoids
• Terpenes present
• Other ingredients

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By knowing the cannabinoids and terpenes present in a product, you’ll have a better idea of what type of experience you are going to have when you use it. By knowing the percentage of cannabinoids and the total amount in each package, you can make a smart dosage decision, ensuring that you have the best experience for you. Also, some products have additional ingredients like melatonin to help aid sleep or witch hazel for arthritis relief. If you’re looking for a product that aims at a specific kind of therapeutic relief, knowing which other ingredients are inside can help you make the right choice.

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What you don’t want inside

• Heavy metals
• Pesticides
• Potential allergens

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A COA also is your guarantee that no toxic materials have made their way into your product. This is the most dangerous aspect of buying a CBD or THC product from a gas station. Without access to a COA, there is no real way to know that the product isn’t going to cause toxic harm to your body. Also, if you know that there are certain ingredients that you are allergic to, a COA will help you make sure they aren’t present as an additional ingredient.

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How to Read a COA

Staring at a COA can be intimidating. It’s a lot of information and you may not immediately understand what you are looking at. The Green Dragon has your back with an excellently written article on how to read a COA. If you are having trouble understanding a COA, I suggest reading it and you’ll be armed with everything you need to know.

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Just remember, you’re primarily looking for a few key things. That the lab results are up to date and match the product and manufacturer listed on the packaging, the cannabinoid and terpene counts, and that no heavy metals or pesticides were detected. 

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Where to Buy CBD and THC

So, I’ve made it clear that buying CBD or THC from a gas station is a bad idea. Then where should you buy it from? Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, high quality CBD and THC products have never been easier to buy, and the easiest way to do it is online. You may be tempted to think that your favorite e-tail mega-conglomerate is the obvious choice. Amazon does not sell CBD or THC products, you can read all about why here.

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The Green Dragon, on the other hand, has an easy to browse, easy to use website where you can sort through a wide variety of cannabinoid products. Each product page has COA results handy, and there is a multitude of educational resources so that you can be armed with all the knowledge you might need to make the perfect purchase for what you’re looking for. 

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Some people don’t like to shop online, and let’s be honest, it can be nice to hold a product in your hand before you decide. If you prefer to do your shopping in person, and live in the St. Louis area, the Green Dragon also has two retail locations, one in Chesterfield, and one in St. Peters. 

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If you aren’t comfortable shopping online, but don’t live in the St. Louis area, I suggest you take your time when choosing a retail location. Do your research on any CBD and THC retailer to make sure they are reputable, source from high-quality manufacturers, and provide access to COAs for all their products. 

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All Gassed Up and Ready to Go

I love a Slim Jim and Slurpee as much as the next guy, but let’s keep our gas station purchases limited to a tank of gas and the occasional snack. If you are interested in buying CBD or THC products, you owe it to yourself to make sure you’re getting the best. Buying from a reputable retailer like The Green Dragon will make sure that the product you take home is not going to harm you, is what it says it is, and will give you the experience you’re looking for. So please, browse our available products and find what’s right for you. If you have any questions about the differences between the variety of cannabinoids we sell or what experience is right for you, reach out to us in the comments below. Our representatives are also standing by for a more private consultation, just send us a message through our contact page or visit one of our retail locations. 

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