Disclosure: CBD Review Lab is reader-supported. When you buy CBD through links on this site, I may earn a commission. Learn more.There are thousands of CBD products out there. Each one sounding the same, offering the same benefits, and promising to be the best CBD product on the market. So how do you find the best CBD?
With so many biased opinions filling the web, it can be difficult to discern fact from profit-driven fiction. At CBD Review Lab, I’ve been personally testing and reviewing CBD products since 2018. My favorites are listed below.
Here are the most important factors I consider when choosing the best CBD:
- Effectiveness of the product
- Total price of the product
- Price per mg of CBD
- Third-party test results
- Hemp cultivation conditions
- Extraction method
- Type of CBD
- Taste, smell, and appearance
- Company reputation
NuLeaf Naturals 6,000 mg oil is a very potent CBD oil. It is a whole-plant extract that uses hemp seed oil as the carrier oil. If you’re after CBD in it’s purest form, this is the one for you. Read full review »
- $351 total (with code)
- $.06 per mg of CBD
- Full-spectrum oil
- No additives
- Vegan friendly
- Non-GMO & gluten free
CBDistillery’s 1,000 mg full-spectrum oil is my number one recommended CBD oil for first time users. It has a cheap overall price tag and packs a punch at just 1,000 mg. Read full review »
- $45 total (with code)
- $.05 per mg of CBD
- Full-spectrum oil
- Highly effective
- Vegan friendly
- Non-GMO & gluten free
Lazarus Naturals 6,000 mg tincture is the best CBD oil in terms of effectiveness compared to price. You pay a little more upfront, but save money in the long time. Read full review »
- $108 total (with code)
- $.02 per mg of CBD
- Full-spectrum oil
- Very effective
- Vegan friendly
- Non-GMO & gluten free
Populum offers a solid CBD oil that works very well and also tastes incredible. So if taste is the most important factor for you in a CBD oil, then this is the one for you. It’s stupid expensive though. Read full review »
- $84 total (with code)
- $.17 per mg of CBD
- Full-spectrum oil
- Tasty AF
- Vegan friendly
- Non-GMO & gluten free
Everyday Optimal has the best THC-free CBD oil I’ve tried so far. While I believe full-spectrum CBD products are more effective, Everyday Optimal’s THC-free oil actually produced some relaxing effects. Read full review »
- $80 total (with code)
- $.08 per mg of CBD
- Isolate CBD oil
- Minimal effects
- Vegan friendly
- Non-GMO & gluten free
Frequently Asked Questions
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of 100+ compounds found in the cannabis plant known as phytocannabinoids.
It is closely related to the more popular phytocannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, the compound that causes the “high” that cannabis is popularly known for.
CBD works by activating the endocannabinoid system within our bodies. If you imagine the body like a machine, each system works together to keep the machine moving. The immune system is like the filtration system, the brain is like a computer and endocannabinoids help to maintain these systems.
There are many ways to take CBD. The most popular way to take CBD is sublingually via a tincture. With tinctures, simply squirt your prefered dose under your tongue and hold it there for a minute. The CBD is able to enter the bloodstream via the salivary glands and varicose veins under the tongue.
Other forms of CBD include capsules, edibles, topicals, vape, and flower.
Everyone is wired differently, so one person’s dose may be different from another’s. Start low and go slow. It can take up two hours before the effects of a single dose are felt depending on your body weight and metabolic rate. Try 10-20 mg of CBD and wait a few hours to see how it affects your body, then work your way up or down from there.
Yes, CBD products that are processed from the hemp plant are legal under the 2018 Farm Bill as long as the product contains no more than 0.3% THC. CBD Review Lab only reviews/recommends products that contain less than .3% THC.
Unlike THC, CBD by itself does not make a person feel “high” or intoxicated. That’s because CBD and THC act in different ways on different receptors in the brain and body. However, if you take a large dose of a full-spectrum CBD product, the effects can be similar to being “high”.
There are still many cannabinoids in the cannabis plant that have yet to be studied, and the “high” you get from cannabis may not just be from THC.
Yes, it is possible you may fail a drug test even with the small amount of THC present in CBD products.
Yes, CBD inhibits the enzyme that is involved in metabolizing many drugs. Compounds in grapefruit inhibit the same enzyme group, which is why physicians advise patients not to eat grapefruit shortly before or after taking a medication.
To be safe, always consult your physician before taking CBD.
How I Choose the Best CBD Oils
Effectiveness
The number one thing I look for in a CBD product is effectiveness. How well does the product work? If a product doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter how cheap it is, I’m not going to recommend it. I will recommend a $100 product that works over a $1 product that doesn’t do a thing.
Total Price of the Product
While effectiveness is important, price is still a major factor I take into consideration. Ideally, we want a product that works well but doesn’t cost a fortune. CBD is expensive, and I don’t want anyone to waste their money.
Price Per Milligram of CBD
Third-Party Testing
Third-party testing provides a neutral, unbiased source of information that is extremely important for consumers. The CBD industry is booming. As such, there has been an increase of cheap, low-quality products sourced overseas or from biomass facilities sourcing from hundreds of farms. Some of these products sacrifice quality in order to save a few bucks. Additionally, CBD products may have lower CBD content than advertised. With third-party testing, companies can’t alter in-house results or publish inaccurate information. CBD companies who have their products tested by third-party laboratories are more likely to be safe and meet quality standards. It is a reflection of transparency and trust. If a company doesn’t have a certificate of analysis from a third party lab on their website, it’s a major red flag.
Hemp Cultivation
Something that is often overlooked when choosing a CBD product are the conditions in which the hemp plants were grown. This is an important factor that must be considered to reduce exposure to heavy metals, pesticides, and herbicides. If a product is not certified organic, I’m not going to recommend it.
Extraction Method
Many CBD manufacturers use harmful solvents such as propane and butane to extract and process their products. I always look for companies that use safer methods such as alcohol, carbon dioxide, or cold-pressed extraction.
Type of CBD
There are three main types of CBD:
- Isolate: contains only CBD with no other cannabinoids
- Broad-spectrum: contains multiple cannabinoids naturally found in the cannabis plant, but doesn’t contain THC full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and isolate. In my personal experience, full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products are far superior to isolate products.
- Full-spectrum: contains all cannabinoids naturally found in the cannabis plant, including THC
Taste, Smell, & Appearance
Some CBD oils have added flavors such as vanilla, mint, or cinnamon to make them more appealing while others are flavorless. This isn’t a big factor for me when it comes to choosing the best CBD as I am looking for effective products more than anything. However, if a product tastes or smells bad enough to the point I don’t want to take it, I’m going to let you know. I also look for oils with some color to it. Generally, the more processed a CBD oil is the lighter the color will be. Less processed CBD oils tend to be dark brown, gold, or green.
Company Reputation
What is the underlying mission of the company? Is their goal to make money and push a low quality CBD product out to as many people as possible? Or is the company trying to sincerely help the planet and the people living upon it? This might not be important to some people, but it’s an important factor to me.