Frequently Asked Questions about CBD

Many CBD brands suggest slightly different starting amounts. This is because everyone has a different reaction to cannabinoids which is dependent on a number of different factors.

These include: 

• The current status of your endocannabinoid system.
• How sensitive/tolerant you are to cannabinoids.
• Other supplements or medication you are taking.
• Your weight and metabolism.
• Your lifestyle and current stress levels.

We don’t set one standard amount of CBD to take. Check the label to understand the amount in each serving and read the current FSA advice.

Check how much CBD each serving contains and the total for the day. The FSA’s current advice is for healthy adults to limit total CBD from food to 10mg a day.

Lower-strength oils contain less CBD per drop, which can make smaller quantities easier to measure. Check how much CBD each serving contains and the total for the day. The FSA’s current advice is for healthy adults to limit total CBD from food to 10mg a day.

When taking CBD, it is also most effective when consumed at mealtimes. This is because fat aids your body with the absorption of cannabidiol.

Current FSA advice: healthy adults should limit total CBD from food to 10mg a day, including CBD from other food products used that day.

The FSA’s 10mg advice is precautionary guidance for healthy adults based on long-term exposure. It is not a universal statutory 10mg legal limit. Manufacturer directions and research quantities may differ.

Current FSA advice: healthy adults should limit total CBD from food to 10mg a day, including CBD from other food products used that day. They also suggest that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding avoid consuming CBD whilst there is little research into the effects. Similarly, if you are taking medication already, they recommend that you do not take CBD. If you do decide to consume CBD, we strongly advise that you speak to a medical professional first as there can be negative interactions with some medications.

As products are offered in different strengths it can be a challenge figuring out how much CBD there is per drop. This is important information as it helps you understand how much CBD you are taking each day.

These basic strengths contain:

• 5% in 10ml = 2.5mg per drop
• 10% in 10ml = 5mg per drop
• 15% in 10ml = 7.5mg per drop
• 20% in 10ml = 10mg per drop
• 30% in 10ml = 15mg per drop
• 40% in 10ml = 20mg per drop

We have also created a content table for each product on site. This can be found here.

We recommend taking CBD oil sublingually (under the tongue). This is one of the most efficient methods as it has one of the highest rates of bioavailability (how much CBD can be absorbed into your blood stream) of the different consumption methods.

To aid this process you will need to use a mirror and have a fairly steady hand. It is also good to have a glass of water or juice nearby as the taste of the oil can sometimes be quite bitter or earthy.

• Open the bottle and fill the dropper with CBD.
• Looking into the mirror, lift your tongue and squeeze out the desired number of drops.
• Hold the oil under your tongue for at least 60 seconds. If possible, between 90 seconds and 2 minutes.
• Swallow the oil and wash down with your drink of choice.

CBD products can also be consumed as gummies, tea, a balm/cream and in the form of an e-liquid suitable for vaporising.

See more information about product types in our CBD oil guide and visit our full CBD collection (organised by ascending CBD content) with all product types in one place.

The taste of whole plant oils like BioBloom and Biopurus is a little stronger than golden oils like those from CannabiGold or Love Hemp that have been filtered. This is because whole plant oils contain chlorophyll, lipids, terpenes and other phytonutrients filtered out by some brands.

Similarly, those with a higher concentration, 30%/40% for example, are much thicker and a little more bitter than lower concentration products. Some of our customers have reported that this makes it more difficult to hold under the tongue for the required time.

If you do not like the taste, we recommend one of the following:

1. Choose a filtered golden oil like those mentioned from CannabiGold or Love Hemp.
2. Stick to an oil with a concentration of 15% or lower.
3. Try CBD gummies or capsules
4. Add the oil to food, such as yoghurt or a smoothie. Swallowed and sublingual CBD have different absorption profiles, so do not use bioavailability estimates as a formula for increasing the amount.
5. Hold your nose and have a drink ready for when you swallow the oil!

No, CBD is not intoxicating or addictive. The cannabinoid that creates the “high” feeling associated with cannabis is called THC. Whilst cannabis is high in THC, hemp that is used to extract CBD is low in THC and must contain less than 0.3% to be grown legally in the EU and less than 0.2% to be grown in the UK.

Full-spectrum CBD products still contain traces of THC, but in such low amounts that it will not cause the “high” feeling. If you are concerned about consuming THC, we suggest choosing a broad-spectrum brand like Love Hemp. A broad-spectrum product contains all of the other cannabinoids found in a full-spectrum one but without the THC.

We only sell CBD as a food supplement and as such it is not intended to prevent, treat or cure any disease or medical condition. CBD is sold as a dietary supplement only and should be consumed as part of a balanced diet and an active lifestyle.

If you are taking medications, the FSA recommends you do not take CBD. Check with your doctor or a qualified health practitioner to discuss if CBD can interact with any medication.

CBD alone cannot make you fail a drug test. However, full-spectrum CBD products contain THC. Depending on the testing method, how it is calibrated and how much CBD you have consumed, there is a possibility of these THC traces being detected. If you are going to be drug tested, we recommend a broad-spectrum product where efforts have been made to remove THC. 

CBD has been declared generally safe and to have low risk of side effects according to the World Health Organization. However, CBD has been known to interact with medications. CBD can cause your body to change the rate at which it metabolises medication. It can either increase the speed at which a medication is absorbed or prevent it from being absorbed at all.

A quick rule of thumb is to avoid taking CBD if a medication you are currently taking has a grapefruit warning. If you are taking any form of medication, you should always speak to a medical professional before taking any food supplements.

CBD itself is not a controlled drug, but finished products have to comply with the rules that apply to their format and ingredients. CBD foods are novel foods and require authorisation. The FSA currently says there are no authorised CBD extracts or isolates; some existing products are being tolerated while linked to an application and listed on the FSA Public List. The often-quoted 1mg figure is part of a specific controlled-drug exemption, not a universal THC limit for every CBD product.

We know that making that first purchase can be daunting. There are lots of brands and they all sell a range of different concentrations. We have used our selection criteria, personal experiences and customer feedback to rank the products we sell.

This information can be found on our best CBD oil feature, where we have collated the best CBD oils available in the UK.

When adding new products to our collections we use 6-point selection criteria that ensure all products added to the site are of the required quality.

These are:

• Is the total CBD content clear?

If the total CBD content isn’t easily understood it won’t be stocked. 

• Is the oil CO2 extracted?

CO2 extraction is one of the cleanest and safest methods to extract CBD. Alcohol extraction, if performed incorrectly, can leave behind contaminants.

• Have the products been lab-tested for safety and cannabinoid content?

All products must be lab tested to prove the cannabinoid content as a minimum to make it onsite. The best brands will also test for heavy metals, pesticides and terpene levels in the final product.

• Was it extracted from organically grown hemp?

Many products use organic hemp, but very few receive organic certification. All products stocked at for the Ageless use organic grown hemp and our favourite brands, Biopurus and BioBloom, are certified organic.  We also ship from a certified organic warehouse.

• Is the CBD full-spectrum or broad-spectrum and correctly labelled as such?

We compare lab reports to the claims on the bottle. If these do not match, we will not sell them. We also do not stock oils made using isolate. We do not believe they have the same efficacy as those containing a range of cannabinoids. 

• Does it actually work? 

We test all products before we add them to the collection. Each product on site has been used by members of the team, friends and family before being sold. This is to ensure quality and efficacy. We would never sell any product that does not work for us. This does mean our selection is smaller than some sites but we believe in what we sell.

• How long does CBD oil last? 

If you store your oil carefully, you should be able to keep it for two years or possibly even longer.

Our belief is to offer the best prices possible all year round, not just during sales and special events. This is why we have a manufacturer price match in place. We also give out samples and free products.

We also believe in rewarding our loyal customers and occasionally send out discount codes. To receive the best offers, join the mailing list where we send out the latest offers, freebies and codes direct to your inbox. To join, scroll down to the footer and enter your e-mail address. 

We are not manufacturers, but retailers, and do not offer wholesale prices. 

We do, however, offer a much wider selection than manufacturers and always match their prices.

If you're a business and would like to sign up as an affiliate, here is our application form.

The VMD (Veterinary Medicines Directorate) has advised that CBD cannot be marketed or sold specifically for animals (cats, dogs, horses, rabbits) in the UK as a food supplement, as they deem it to be a medicine. On the other hand, CBG for pets is legal and available for sale in the UK.

CBD for pets is legal in most of the EU as a food supplement, but not in Britain.

CBD oil, once opened, can be messy. Bottles need to be kept in an upright position to avoid leakage. Bottles are better kept at home in a cool cupboard and away from direct sunlight. For travel we recommend taking CBD capsules instead.

How long will it last fresh? If you store your oil carefully, you should be able to keep it for two years or possibly even longer.

When stored in cooler conditions, high-percentage oils (25% and higher) can crystallise. If your oil does begin to crystallise, place it inside a mug with warm water until it returns to liquid form. This won’t affect the quality of the oil.

CBD is legal in the UK and most of the EU and the USA. However, the laws surrounding the legality of CBD products differ from country to country. So, what is legal in one place may not be legal in another.

Before travelling the first thing to do is check what the destination countries laws are for CBD products. The key difference is often THC allowance but, in some countries, CBD is outlawed altogether in the same way as cannabis is here in the UK.

If you know that CBD is legal in your destination, the next thing to do is to check with the airport and/or airline. If you want to know more about this, check out our upcoming piece on flying with CBD in the UK.