This is a crucial question when it comes to buying CBD. Yet this question, which may seem simple at first, can become a real headache, as the choice is so enormous. Today, there are over 1500 CBD Shops stores in France, and you can multiply this figure by three with online CBD stores. But how do you know where to buy? Whether you're looking at physical or online stores, or those who advertise out-of-this-world CBD levels with analyses in their supplier's name, or those who run meaningless promotions all year round, it's easy to get lost. In this article, we'll try to give you the keys to choosing among the maze of CBD shops, without steering you towards 420 Green Road. There are many other companies specializing in the sale of CBD that are worthy of note.
What is a CBD Shop?
This term is used to designate, in simplified terms, all companies specializing in the retail sale of low-THC hemp. Suppliers, also known as wholesalers, do not fall into this category. Although the word CBD is inherent in this expression, the products sold are not exclusively composed of CBD (cannabidiol), even though it's common knowledge that this cannabinoid is spearheading this booming market. Other cannabinoids have also found their way into the shelves of specialist stores. CBD simply refers to the legal cannabis market as a whole.
Until 2020, CBD was mainly the only option for continuing to consume cannabis without the psychoactive effects provided by THC. However, since then, CBG (cannabigerol) CBN (cannabinol) and now CBC (cannabichromene) have joined cannabidiol to enable consumers to choose and consume the molecule that will bring them complete satisfaction, relaxation and enjoyment.
What type of CBD Shop should I choose?
That's the first question you need to ask yourself. Both have their advantages. Your choice will be determined mainly by your profile and your expectations.
Boutique Physique: Proximity first
The CBD market isn't all that different from the others, and the arguments to justify the appeal of physical stores will be much the same as those put forward by the textile market. Physical CBD shops generally offer a smaller catalog and higher prices, but in return you can pick up your order immediately, and above all, you can ask the salesperson for advice. This proximity is a big plus for people who are still a little apprehensive, or who have doubts about the use and usefulness of legal hemp consumption.
Be careful, though, as many of the salespeople in CBD stores know nothing about it. Some didn't even know CBD existed until a few weeks ago, and most of them repeat things without understanding them. The best thing to do is to find out about CBD on the Internet first, and then ask the salespeople questions. If they can't answer your questions, you can imagine what to do...
E-commerce store: Prices lead the way
E-commerce sites have been in the spotlight for many years now, and the share of digital sales continues to grow in all sectors. Some estimate an increase of around 10% per year for distance selling. Online CBD shops generally target a different type of customer, those looking for a bargain and a new discovery. If you're looking for a specific product at competitive prices, then the Internet is your best ally for buying CBD products (CBG, CBN, CBC). Unfortunately, the lack of human contact makes it more difficult to get complete advice, although some customer services are very efficient, with exemplary response quality and taking the time to understand the person "in front" of them. The virtual barrier can be broken very easily if you're dealing with a professional who knows his or her job.
On the other hand, as you know, scams are not uncommon on the Internet, and CBD is certainly no exception to this rule. Take the time to check out the site in its entirety, its terms and conditions of sale, and to ask specific questions about quality, analyses, rates and anything else that interests you before making your choice. As the saying goes, when in doubt, be in doubt!
Is analysis essential when choosing a CBD Shop?
We're now tackling the most complex part of this article, and the subject of analysis has almost become taboo over the years. We won't go into the details of the ratio between CBD and THC levels, or whether THC should be analyzed separately from THCa. The aim here is to demystify the fact that for a large proportion of legal cannabis consumers, an analysis is a guarantee of "quality", which is far from being the case.
Supplier analysis: Real added value?
Many CBD shops claim to have analyses to justify the sale of their products and guarantee THC levels below the legal limit, but the real question to ask is whether these analyses were carried out by themselves or by their supplier? Many CBD stores (physical or online) think they can sell products by trusting their supplier, but in reality, this is a serious mistake. Let's be clear: 90% of wholesalers or semi-wholesalers lie about levels, both for CBD and THC, and will do anything to sell their wares. Why would they do this?
The main reason is profit and the indulgence of the authorities towards suppliers. French laws are poorly designed, so wholesalers are very rarely prosecuted, even if a store is closed down for non-compliance with THC levels. The authorities prefer to concentrate on one case at a time, and when you're accused, they'd rather "take you down" than try to understand where the merchandise came from and arrest the real culprit. Suppliers therefore risk absolutely nothing, especially if they are based abroad. Such is the logic of justice in France!
But let's get back to our analysis. If a CBD Shop is unable to provide you with an analysis carried out by them, then we advise you to be on your guard, don't take anything they tell you at face value, because in the end, even they won't really know what they're selling, and there's a good chance that the analysis they send you won't be representative of the product you're buying. For example, if you walk into a store and are presented with CBD flowers flowers with a very persistent smell, while presenting analyses with 4 - 5% CBD, 0.2% THC, and totally natural, run away, that's an advice! The seller doesn't know anything about CBD and hasn't tried to learn more about his products before marketing them.
Analysis & CBD Shop: The price divide
A CBD Shop that respects its customers must carry out its own analyses on all products received, without exception. So why isn't this done systematically? The reason is the high cost of cannabinoid analysis in France. The average cost is €80, and up to €130 for the most precise analyses. However, a CBD shop that has purchased "only" 200 to 300g of product cannot afford to spend an extra €100 to find out the precise cannabinoid levels in these same products, without risking seeing its profit margin reduced to a minimum. The consequences would be immediate: the retailer would have to raise his selling prices and would no longer be competitive, resulting in a loss of turnover.
Let me stop you right there: the only people responsible for this situation are the customers, who demand ever-lower prices... but how can you blame them? Rampant inflation has reduced the purchasing power of each and every one of us, and the search for the best price has become a fundamental quest for survival. How can you expect a small CBD store to offer attractive prices and regular promotions if it has to analyze all its products and spend an extra €100 for each product sold? It's a dilemma for every new store, and most prefer to trust their supplier blindly, to the detriment of transparency and knowledge of the products they sell. How sad!
Of course, there will always be the clever ones who know perfectly well that the analyses provided by their suppliers are false, but who will do nothing to prove it. They'll prefer to hide behind the fact that they're unaware of the offence they've committed, and will continue to do so in the event of an inspection by customs or other competent authorities.
In short, analysis is only essential for knowing the cannabinoid content of products purchased if it has been carried out by the CBD Shop from which you intend to make your purchase. It is therefore important to differentiate between the larger and smaller players in this market. It's "normal" for a small store not to be able to analyze everything on its own, and in this case, your senses will be the only ones to enable you to make your choice. On the other hand, it's absolutely abnormal for a well-known CBD Shop not to offer you analyses carried out by itself.
Be careful, though: an analysis represents an expert opinion on a given sample, and it's impossible to know whether it was carried out on the product sold. Traceability in the CBD market is a disaster.
What about 420 Green Road?
Our monthly turnover has enabled us to carry out over 200 analyses in 2022 without going into debt, and with the ability to continue offering you competitive prices, so we know exactly what we're selling. There's no room for chance and no trust in our suppliers. Some of them even tried to sell us products with higher THC levels at very low prices to take advantage of our appetite for profit, but they were quickly sent back after analysis. Believe us, they're being careful now, and some suppliers are even refusing to work with us because of this, as they know full well that everything will be analyzed and returned with a request for reimbursement of the product and the non-compliant analysis if there's the slightest discrepancy between what they've told us and the actual analysis.
What are the other criteria for choosing a CBD Shop?
Each CBD Shop presents its customers with a more or less varied range of products, developed by the company and according to its own principles. Some prefer to focus on hemp by-products, such as oil, concentrates, candies and cosmetics, while others focus primarily on hemp flowers and resin. Each store's marketing will depend above all on these criteria. Obviously, customers looking for oil to relieve neuropathic pain should not be approached in the same way as customers wishing to wean themselves off high-THC cannabis.
Therapeutic claims: Danger?
However, we'd advise you to be very careful with CBD shops that try to convince you at any price with a big slogan or misleading claim that CBD has extraordinary virtues. Of course, cannabidiol can help a lot of people in a lot of ways, for example to combat stress or help them fall asleep, but that shouldn't be a selling point in itself. One thing must not be forgotten: hemp sellers are not health specialists, and any recommendations made must take this into account, so as not to mislead hypothetical customers.
It's not unusual for some of our customers to ask us whether their mother, father or aunt can safely consume CBD, even though these people have more serious pathologies (heart, kidney, lung, etc.). In such cases, we always take the time to explain that CBD is not a miracle product, and that it's important to get their doctor's advice before starting to consume legal hemp. At that point, it's no longer a question of making a sale, but of not aggravating a person's health. It would be totally unethical to push for a purchase in such cases, yet some CBD shops don't hesitate to do so. Let's remain humble: it's not for nothing that you have to study for 10 years to become a doctor, and let's not pretend to be just because CBD has recognized benefits.
Intensive marketing: To the detriment of the consumer?
Last but not least, we'd like to mention CBD shops that have the nerve to constantly display promotions of up to 40 - 60%, every day of the year and for no reason whatsoever. In our opinion, this is a deplorable technique. These stores only want to sell by posting very high prices, up to 12€ per gram for some, and apply a consequent discount to reduce the price and make it attractive. What's the difference between a shop selling a flower at €6 a gram with no promotion, and another selling the same flower at €12 a gram with a 50% promotion? None, except to make you think you're getting a good deal, and these methods demonstrate an unhealthy philosophy. They shamelessly play with your mind just to sell their product. How can you trust them with anything else? Are their rates right? Is their analysis true? Are their products legal? Or is it all fake just to get you to buy?