The hemp quality problem, and how we hold ourselves to a higher standard

Hemp has never been more popular, and it has never been harder for shoppers to know what they are actually buying. Here is an honest look at the quality problem, and the standards we built Divine Earth around.

The problem: labels you can't always trust

Independent researchers have tested store-bought CBD products and found a wide gap between the label and the bottle. In a well-known 2017 study published in JAMA, only about 31% of the online products tested contained the amount of CBD their labels claimed. Some had much less, some had more, and some contained THC that was not listed at all.

Since then, more testing by journalists, labs and state regulators has kept finding the same pattern: weak products sold at strong prices.

What we've seen from the inside

"After nearly 10 years in the hemp industry, I've seen its dirty secrets," says founder [Jenna Zwagil](https://www.jennazwagil.com). "Crops infested with pests. Fields sprayed with pesticides. And hemp from those crops can still end up in bottles on store shelves."

Hemp soaks up what's around it: the soil, the water and whatever is sprayed on it. When a crop is infested or treated with pesticides, those problems can follow the plant all the way into the extract. That is exactly what Divine Earth was built to avoid.

Hemp is a natural bioaccumulator

Hemp is remarkably good at pulling things out of the ground. Scientists call this bioaccumulation, and it is why hemp has been studied for phytoremediation: using plants to clean polluted soil.

• Chernobyl. In the late 1990s, researchers planted industrial hemp near the Chernobyl nuclear site in Ukraine to study how well it could draw contaminants out of the soil.
• Southern Italy. Farmers near a large steel plant in Taranto planted hemp on land contaminated with industrial pollution, as a way to help pull heavy metals from the ground.

That is amazing for cleaning up land. It is also exactly why the soil hemp grows in matters so much. A plant that absorbs heavy metals and other contaminants that well can carry them straight into an extract.

Why we grow in air

This is a big reason we focus on aeroponic growing. With no soil, the roots hang in the air and are fed a measured nutrient mist, so growers decide exactly what the plant takes in. Pair that with a lab report for every batch, and you have a much cleaner starting point.

Why it keeps happening

• Loose rules. Hemp products are not held to one consistent national quality standard, so practices vary widely from brand to brand.
• Missing or outdated lab reports. Some brands share one old report for every batch, or none at all.
• Low-potency bottles. Many tinctures contain only a few hundred milligrams of cannabinoids per bottle, even at premium prices.
• Harsh processing. High heat and harsh solvents can strip away the plant's naturally occurring compounds.
• Unknown growing conditions. Hemp absorbs what is in its soil and water, so where and how it is grown matters.

How Divine Earth answers it

• A lab report for every batch. Every batch is tested by an independent third-party lab, and you can look up your bottle's report by batch number or QR code on our [lab reports page](/coa).
• 2,500 mg active cannabinoids per bottle. We set our potency high on purpose, so you get real value in every 30 mL bottle.
• Broad-spectrum with 0.0% THC. Our formulas keep a range of naturally occurring hemp compounds, without THC.
• Gentle, low-temperature extraction. Our process protects the plant instead of cooking it. [Read how it works](/journal/how-cold-extraction-works).
• Clean, sustainable growing. Aeroponic grow rooms give growers control over what reaches the roots, make it easier to keep pests out without heavy spraying, and recycle the water the plants release. [Learn about aeroponics](/journal/aeroponic-hemp-water-recycling).

How to shop smart, wherever you buy

1. Ask for a current, batch-specific lab report from an independent lab.
2. Check that the cannabinoid amount on the report matches the label.
3. Look at milligrams per bottle, not just the price.
4. Confirm the THC level, especially if you need a 0.0% THC product.
5. Learn how to read a lab report in our [COA guide](/journal/how-to-read-a-certificate-of-analysis).

[Shop the collection](/shop)

This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.