Pure CBD Oil: The Ultimate Guide

a woman using pure cbd oil on her face

CBD this, CBD that … CBD is everywhere. So many people use CBD for its beneficial properties such as pain relief, mood enhancement, and more. We love it. We’re absolutely here for it.


We’re all about the broad-spectrum edibles, the full-spectrum tinctures, and even pure CBD isolate.

But how do you know which one is the best CBD oil for you?


Classic question with a not-so-straightforward answer. That’s because each type of CBD is different, and every person is different. So what works for you might not work for someone else (and that’s ok).


 Let’s get into the different kinds of CBD, specifically pure CBD, and what they’re all about. Here’s a quick look at what you’ll discover in this guide:

  1. What is pure CBD oil? Is it the same as CBD isolate?
  2. What’s broad-spectrum CBD? Is it the same as full-spectrum CBD?
  3. How do you know if CBD oil is pure?
  4. How many mg of CBD oil is best?
  5. What is the current price of CBD oil?
  6. Is 3000 mg CBD oil strong?

What Is Pure CBD Oil? Is It The Same As CBD Isolate?

Technically speaking, pure CBD oil and CBD isolate aren’t the same thing — but that’s splitting hairs, if we’re being honest.


 That’s because CBD isolate is pure CBD. There isn’t anything else in it. No THC, no terpenes, nothing. It’s the purest form of CBD, so when it’s extracted, it’s usually in a solid or crystalline form. Sometimes, you’ll even notice it’s ground up into a fine powder. People who have allergies tend to favor this type of CBD (for example, it is completely gluten free). It’s also great if you’re trying to avoid THC while still gaining the benefits of CBD.

What are terpenes? Terpenes are special compounds that make things smell the way they do. Not everything has terpenes, but particularly aromatic plants like cannabis, lavender, and lemons do. And every terpene has its own special scent.
 So linalool, for example, is what makes lavender smell so lavender-y. Pinene is what makes pine trees smell so woodsy and fresh. Limonene is what gives citrus fruits their zesty aroma.
 Cannabis has terpenes in it, too, and different strains have different terpene combos. For example, our Forbidden V extract has caryophyllene, myrcene, and pinene. Our Integrate/d full-spectrum extract has myrcene, caryophyllene, and humulene.
 This is why some CBD strains have earthy aromatic profiles, and others have fruity ones. This is also why pure CBD products don’t have any scent at all — there aren’t any terpenes to make them smell sweet, sour, and so on.
 Some studies suggest that terpenes have additional health benefits, especially when combined with other cannabinoids, enhancing the entourage effect.
What are terpenes?

Now, CBD oil is oil that’s infused with CBD. Usually, it’s coconut oil or safflower oil, and so on. So, by definition, it’s CBD plus something else.
 

Some brands do offer CBD oils made with CBD isolate, which is what most of us consider to be pure CBD oil. 

What’s Broad-Spectrum CBD? Is It The Same As Full-Spectrum CBD?

Broad-spectrum CBD and full-spectrum CBD products are similar, but they aren’t the same. And to some people, the distinction between the two matters.
 

CBD has an active ingredient derived from cannabis plants. When it’s extracted from the cannabis plant, other cannabinoids come with it, like terpenes, flavonoids, and THC.
 

If you keep all the cannabinoids except the THC, you’ve got broad-spectrum CBD. It’s CBD plus tons of cannabinoids to trigger the entourage effect, but none of the THC. That’s great for people who want to pass a drug test or who just don’t want any THC in their system for whatever reason.

Now, if you keep all the cannabinoids and THC, you’ve got full-spectrum CBD. It’s CBD plus tons of cannabinoids, including trace amounts of THC (up to 0.3%). Not only does this trigger the entourage effect, but it may strengthen it. However, taking full-spectrum CBD could trigger a positive drug test. And it’s not a great choice for people who simply don’t want any THC. Find out more about the best full spectrum CBD oil for you.

How Do You Know If CBD Oil Is Pure?

The best way to know if a CBD oil is pure or just what’s in a CBD product in general is to check the certificate of analysis or COA.
 

These certificates are chemical breakdowns of a product, typically provided by a third-party lab. The lab takes a sample of the product and then measures the potency of active ingredients.

COAs will show you what’s inside hemp plant extracts, CBD extracts, oils, flowers, etc. They usually include stats like CBD, THC, and terpenes.


 For example, you can check out the COA for Forbidden V, our full-spectrum single-strain extract. Inside the report, you’ll see that our extract contains 5.26% total CBD, with a potency of 52.6 mg per mL.


 Now, when it comes to “pure CBD” oil, technically, you won’t find it. That’s because pure CBD doesn’t have anything else in it — that means no THC, no terpenes, and no oil. But, to be fair, we’ll just consider oils made with CBD isolate to be pure CBD oil.

In this case, when you read a COA for oil, you should see a bunch of zeroes next to all the active ingredients (except for CBD).
 

If you see values next to things like THC, flavonoids, and so on, then it’s likely that the product is made with broad-spectrum or full-spectrum CBD — and not pure CBD or CBD isolate.

How Do You Know If CBD Oil Is Pure?

What Color Is Pure CBD Oil?

Pure CBD oil can be nearly clear, light gold, or even black. There are a few reasons why color varies from oil to oil — let’s talk about the major ones.
 

First up is concentration. The darker an oil is, the more CBD is packed inside. And vice versa — the lighter the oil, the less dense it is with CBD.

Second, carrier oils. A carrier oil is whatever CBD is suspended in. Usually, it’s coconut oil, hemp seed oil, olive oil, or safflower oil. When CBD gets infused into a carrier oil, the overall color mimics that of the carrier oil.
 

Third, extraction method. There’s more than one way to get CBD out of its plant. The way in which it’s removed can impact the color of the final product. For example, ethanol extraction may leave oils with a slightly green hue compared to oils made with a CO2 extraction method.

How Is Pure CBD Measured?

CBD is measured by weight — almost always in milligrams. Some common measurements are 500 mg, 1000 mg, 1500 mg, and 3000 mg. However, there are plenty of products with different, lower, or higher amounts.
 

Now, it’s important to know that even though CBD is measured by weight, its potency depends on volume. What does that mean?!
 

Think about a bottle of CBD oil. Inside that bottle is CBD mixed with a carrier oil — it’s a liquid, and that liquid has a certain volume. Some brands measure this in ounces, others in milliliters. But for this example, we’ll use milliliters (or mL moving forward).
 

Let’s say it’s a 100 mL bottle of CBD oil, and it has 1000 mg of CBD. Potency, or strength, is measured in mg per mL—or how much CBD is packed into each mL of liquid. We get this number by dividing the amount of CBD in mg by the amount of liquid in mL.

A little bit of math tells us that a 100 mL bottle of 1000 mg CBD has a potency of 10 mg / mL.
 

And if we imagine a bigger bottle that’s 200 mL with the same amount of CBD (1000 mg), we’ve got 5 mg / mL. The 200 mL bottle is half as strong as the 100 mL bottle.
 

But if we imagine a smaller bottle that’s 50 mL, it’s twice as strong as the 100 mL bottle with a potency of 20 mg / mL.
 

The size of the bottle (or container) and the amount of CBD matter. Plenty of brands list the potency for you on the label — but if they don’t, just remember to divide mg by mL. This can help you figure out servings, especially if you’re trying a new product or brand. 

How Many Mg Of Pure CBD Oil Is Best?

Usually, we use mg to describe the total amount of CBD in a product (whether it’s oil, edible, or anything else). We use mL to describe the amount of CBD oil.

So, you could have a 30 mL bottle of oil with a total of 1500 mg of CBD. See how those numbers work? One measures the size of the bottle, and the other measures the total amount of CBD in that bottle. And you can use both of those numbers to calculate potency or strength.

For example, a 30 mL bottle of 1500 mg CBD has a potency of 50 mg per mL. Now, let’s say you get a bottle twice the size with the same amount of CBD. A 60 mL bottle of 1500 mg CBD has a potency of 25 mg per mL. One drop of oil from the 30 mL bottle is twice as strong as one drop from the 60 mL bottle.

How much CBD you want to take daily will depend on what you’re using it for. Many people adjust doses of pure CBD oil to help manage conditions like insomnia or chronic pain.

What Is The Current Price Of CBD Oil?

Like most things, you get what you pay for. Unfortunately, there are tons of brands out there that sell CBD products, and not all of them are … up to par, shall we say.

Sometimes, brands sneak not-so-great ingredients into their products, or it doesn’t do a great job managing things like pesticides and fertilizers. That’s how lots of brands keep their prices shockingly low.

If you care about what goes in your body, we recommend going with a brand that charges a little more but offers a higher-quality product. This keeps things like pesticides out of your system, and it can enhance the effect of the product you take.


On average, you can expect to pay about $60 to $90 for 30 mL of 1500 mg of CBD if it’s quality stuff. It might be a little lower or higher, depending on the brand.
 

Even if you don’t shop our products, keep in mind that you get what you pay for. So, if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always read certificates of analysis to make sure the product you buy and take is safe.

Is 3000 Mg CBD Oil Strong?

If it comes in a 30 mL bottle, yeah, that’s pretty strong. But if it comes in a 60 mL bottle, that’s pretty average.
 

That’s because CBD strength comes down to how many mg are in a mL of carrier oil. The higher that ratio is, the stronger it is, and vice versa.
 

If it’s strength you’re after, look for smaller bottles with more milligrams of CBD packed inside. But don’t go from zero to a hundred, especially if you’re new to the CBD game.
 

Instead, start low and slow and see how you feel. You can always increase potency later. Plus, starting with lower doses makes your bottle last longer.
 

We usually recommend one to two droppers under the tongue once a day. That’s if you’ve got a 30 mL bottle of 1500 mg CBD. Obviously, if the bottle is smaller or the total amount of CBD is higher, you should probably take less than that.
 

If you aren’t sure which dose is right for you, talk with a doctor. They can help you identify a safe way to introduce CBD into your health routine and a dose that’s likely to help you achieve your health goals. 

If it’s strength you’re after, look for smaller bottles with more milligrams of CBD packed inside.

What Is Pure CBD Used For?

Not to sound cliché, but what isn’t CBD used for these days? It’s in makeup, skincare products, pet products, food, drinks, nail polish, and yes, even toothpicks.

Are some of these products a little over the top? Yeah, probably. But if you feel better while you use a CBD toothpick, have at it. We support you. And if you want to use CBD extracts, oils, and tinctures to help manage your anxiety, we support you with that, too.


People use CBD for all kinds of things nowadays, ranging from pain relief to afternoon energy boosts. So here’s a quick list of things studies suggest CBD may help out with:

. Anxiety
. Depression
. Insomnia
. Inflammation
. Pain
. Muscle disorders
. Seizures
. PTSD
. Addiction disorders
. And more

Is Pure CBD Legal?

Yes, pure CBD is federally legal as long as it comes from hemp plants and not marijuana plants.

The difference between hemp and marijuana is whether or not there’s any THC present. Hemp has 0.3% THC or less; marijuana has more. Marijuana is psychoactive; hemp isn’t.
 

The difference between pure CBD and other types of CBD is whether or not there are other cannabinoids present. Pure CBD is just CBD. Broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD have other cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, etc.
 

But! CBD isn’t legal in every state. And just because it’s legal doesn’t mean every CBD product out there is quality stuff. So let’s take a closer look at the best CBD oil for you — here’s what’s inside this guide:

  1. Is CBD legal in all states?
  2. CBD oil side effects
  3. How can you tell the quality of CBD?
  4. What is CBD used for?

Is CBD Legal In All States?

Even though CBD is federally legal, laws vary from state to state. In some states, CBD is fully legal. But in others, it’s conditionally legal. So, in states where CBD is partially legal, there are special rules around what kinds of CBD are allowed and which ones aren’t, and it usually comes down to THC concentration.
 

If you aren’t sure whether CBD is legal in your state, check the United States Food and Drug Administration’s website on CBD for the most up-to-date information.

How Acknowledge CBD Products Stand Out

If you’re searching for a CBD brand that you can trust, look no further than Acknowledge.

Our products are carefully sourced on our sustainable farm in Maryland’s Pleasant Valley. Each product is processed naturally and made with only the highest quality ingredients. While many other CBD brands offer less-than-pure products, we say no to additives, pesticides, and other harmful ingredients.


 Want to see if these are the best pure CBD products for you? Check out our transparent COAs to see exactly what is in each of our products.


Try our CBD line today and see and feel the Acknowledge difference. 

The content provided by Acknowledge CBD is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or if you have any questions regarding a medical condition. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it based on information from this site. Reliance on any information provided by Acknowledge CBD is solely at your own risk.