Wellness

Hemp Flower at Gas Stations

What to be Aware of in 2024

May 24, 2024
– 4 minute read

**Disclaimer: The information in this article regarding cannabinoids is drawn from comprehensive research and we have made every effort to share the most accurate information available at the time of writing. Remember that legal status is handled differently by jurisdiction and these substances can change status over time. The reader is advised to check the status of cannabinoids before acting and we do not accept liability for this information. This content is for educational purposes only.

Sure, gas stations are great for picking up those last-time buys, but maybe not necessarily for hemp flower products at the drop of a hat.

In 2018, with the US Farm Bill in effect, Americans are curious about hemp flower and what it can do to their body. A whole new frontier is opening up. But regulations are a requirement, as there’s no one agency regulating the processes carried out by all hemp producers.

Many dishonest manufacturers who want to make profit at the expense of consumers who wish to enjoy the health benefits of the plant will try to get away with it. In this article, you’ll find out why the cheap hemp flower sold in gas stations isn’t only not worth the money, but also unsafe.

And for starters, since what makes a hemp product most relevant is its concentration of CBD or CBG (because here is where it provides us with the most benefits of the plant), the concentration of those two cannabinoids is the most relevant feature of a hemp product.

But ultimately, hemp products sold at convenience stores can offer greater THC concentrates – a substance that is not allowed above 0.3 per cent – triggering the infamous ‘euphoria’ that CBD enthusiasts don’t want to indulge in, and probably give you a serious problem with drug-testing.

Contents

Key Takeaways
Is Gas Station Cannabis Safe?
COAs: What They Are, and why They are Important
Where Should You Buy CBD and THC?
References for this article:

Key Takeaways

Safety and Quality Concerns: The article highlights significant safety and quality concerns regarding hemp flower products sold at gas stations. It mentions that the lack of regulation and oversight leads to a risk of products containing harmful substances like pesticides, GMOs, or even synthetic compounds.
Misleading Labeling and Contamination: There is a risk of products being mislabeled or containing contaminants. Products might not actually contain the claimed amounts of CBD or CBG, and could potentially include harmful chemicals from the extraction process or contaminants like heavy metals or pesticides.
Potential Legal and Health Risks: Purchasing hemp flower from gas stations could pose legal and health risks, particularly in states where marijuana is not legalized. The products might inadvertently contain higher THC levels than allowed, leading to intoxication or failed drug tests.

Is Gas Station Cannabis Safe?

Another disadvantage of buying hemp products at a gas station is the existence of harmful compounds in them. Many companies don’t pay much attention to how and where they grow their hemp plants, using pesticides and GMOs that cause potential health issues.

Such companies don’t grow their own organic hemp, but they get it from abroad, which makes it hard to track the processes that were used to grow the plant.

In addition, the extraction method also plays a major role in the quality of CBD products. Some of the chemicals used to extract the compounds of the hemp plant remain in the final product, which means you end up consuming them.

It may be that what you are buying isn’t what you think it is. In some places, the products sold as “hemp flower” are actually synthetic marijuana and salvia.

These substances are dangerous for your body, as their components are not organic and it is hard to tell where they come from, providing you with the effects you are definitely not looking for. In addition, it may get you in trouble if you live in a state where marijuana has not been legalized yet.

Buying hemp flower at gas stations may lead to health issues and intoxication. Even if it can end up being a little more expensive, you should stick to the products sold by companies that have actually run lab tests to their items and organically grow their hemp herbs.

Potential Contamination

Indeed, one of the main reasons conventional doctors are wary of gas station CBD products is the risk of contamination. With the FDA not having established regulations for hemp products, there’s no official authority making sure that the tincture in that colorful, floor-to-ceiling bottle contains what it says on the label and nothing else.

You can’t visit a third-party lab where you can see their latest test to prove it’s as effective and safe as its maker claims. ‘Things could have been sprayed on that plant, then later that hemp is sprayed with unknown amounts of CBD liquid and sold to you,’ Hytty says. Products could be contaminated with heavy metals or pesticides, she warns, or residues left over from the solvent used to extract the CBD.

Questionable Quality

Moreover, just because gas station CBD isn’t contaminated doesn’t mean it’s any good. A cannabis product is useful only if it actually works, and laboratory testing is a prerequisite for this. Cannabis products from gas stations might also have lower quality and be ‘cut’ with fillers, which would mean consumers might end up having an ineffective or unpleasant experience.

Wait, are you even CBD?

Another possibility with gas-station products – it could be plain-old hemp seed oil labelled as a CBD product. Certain products claim to be hemp-derived CBD products but are actually hemp seed oil.

Hemp oil is pressed from the seeds of the hemp plant, while cannabinoid products CBD and D8 are mixed and used from the whole hemp plant, including the leaves, flowers and stems. Cannabinoids are not present in hemp seed oil, and it’s the cannabinoids that are reacting with bodies to create the experiences with CBD and THC products.

But just because you shouldn’t buy CBD or THC at the gas station doesn’t mean you shouldn’t want to buy a cannabinoid in a hemp form. With a little bit of simple knowledge about what to look for and where, cannabinoids can be a safe, healthy, fun and even therapeutic addition to your life.

Mislabeling Concerns

A further critical issue is the validity of product labelling. Lots of goods that claimed to be CBD turned out to be nothing more than hemp seed oil: this contains no cannabinoids of any kind. Consumers unwittingly buying such goods will be left disappointed if they have been attracted by the specific benefits of cannabinoids.

COAs: What They Are, and why They are Important

Don’t take anything into your body until you know what it is. And just because the company selling you a product isn’t lying to you, doesn’t mean that you’re obligated to believe them.

Make sure that, when you buy a CBD or cannabis product, you can find and/or access independent third-party test results. These are often called a certificate of analysis, or a COA.

A COA, like the Nutrition Facts label on your food, breaks down what’s inside your product. Every good CBD and THC product is accompanied by one, and there are three places you’ll probably find the record:

On the product itself – this could be a QR code for you to scan (and it will then take you to the lab results for your product).

You can get this information if you Google the manufacturer’s website – another great way to getting access to up-to-the-moment lab results is to go directly to the manufacturer of the brand you’re buying through their website or contact page.

Why Read COAs?

You might be thinking: ‘I’m no chemist, so what am I going to learn from these lab results?’ The answer is: actually, quite a bit. If you’re dealing with a cannabinoid product, there are things you want to know are there. And things you want to know aren’t.

Cannabinoids present
Weight percentage of cannabinoids
Terpenes present
Other ingredients

If you know the cannabinoids and terpenes inside of any one product, you’ll know roughly what kind of experience your body is going to produce when you ingest it. Will it lead to a strong physical response? A deep sense of relaxation?

If you know the percentage of all the different cannabinoids in a package, and you know how much cannabinoid is in each package total, you’ll be much likelier to choose a dose that’s going to land you happily in a comfortable zone.

Some products have additives, such as melatonin to promote sleep. If you’re seeking a product built to provide a particular kind of therapeutic relief, you might need that information in order to make well-informed choices.

COA ingredients to avoid

Heavy metals
Pesticides
Potential allergens

A COA is also your assurance that no toxic chemicals accidentally made their way into your product. This actually might be the most dangerous thing about purchasing a CBD or THC product at a gas station.

Without having access to a COA, it can’t really be determined if your product is going to harm your body through toxicity. And also, if you know of certain ingredients that you have a specific allergy towards, a COA can help ensure they aren’t present as an additional ingredient.‍

Tips on How to Read a COA

Just looking at a COA can be intimidating, and there’s so much information that you might have no idea what you’re looking at.

Keep in mind, though, what you’re looking for: that the lab results are legit and that they match what’s on the label – the strain, the manufacturer and the plant, and that the cannabinoid and terpene counts are accurate, and that the lab detected no heavy metals or pesticides.

Where Should You Buy CBD and THC?

Given these concerns, you should skip the gas station and look for your CBD or THC from a reputable online vendor or specialty store. This kind of vendor will likely also have the most details about the product, including the COA, and can help ensure you’re getting a safe, high-quality item.

At Botany Farms, our craft cannabis is free of any fungicide, pesticide or heavy metal that puts your health at risk. If you want to try out quality hemp flower, check out some of our products here.

References for this article:

https://www.usda.gov/farmbill
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7437102/
https://www.fda.gov/

This article was last updated in April 2024 and the information provided in relation to US federal and state cannabis laws is accurate as of the date provided. Due to the rapidly changing cannabis bill across the state and federal levels in the US, the information herein may become outdated at any time. Additionally, and for the avoidance of doubt, this article is NOT intended to be legal advice and Botany Farms as provided or intended to provide any legal advice, nor is any individual or entity associated with Botany Farms providing legal advice. Please consult official state government websites for current information regarding cannabis laws for your state.

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