When I was a teenager, a friend of mine bought some weed from her next-door neighbor and brought it to my parents’ house in a ziplock bag. We had never smoked without said next-door neighbor, and we quickly found ourselves at an impasse: we didn’t actually know how to smoke marijuana.
We spent the better part of the next hour on my parents’ computer, begging Google for guidance and ferociously scrubbing our search history (this was either evidence of a pre-incognito search engine or my lack of technical abilities at the time, as the purple suggestions that followed typing “how” into the search box would later be my downfall). We eventually became so exhausted by both the process and the fear of getting caught that we shoved the sticky green flowers into a banana and swallowed them whole.
We watched America’s Next Top Model for the next hour, waiting for the show to suddenly get way better (if that’s even possible). As you can imagine, we were left with the classic, “I don’t know man, I’m not really feeling anything” moment, and eventually went to bed after a night of wholesome reality television consumption.
The funny thing is that, as trends often go, “not really feeling it,” or the most noticeable side effect of pure CBD, is now a billion-dollar industry, with everything from pillows to potato chips fighting for a spot in an increasingly competitive market. So why has cannabidiol become a millennial’s catnip?
Though its effects may be much more subtle than its wilder, more rebellious cousin (THC), CBD has been credited with a wide variety of benefits, including decreasing the bad (anxiety, inflammation, and pain) and increasing the good (glowing skin! sleep! metabolism!). And, with so many companies promising the best of the best when it comes to CBD, sorting through what’s a good product and what’s just good marketing can induce just the kind of anxiety you’re trying to manage in the first place.
So, I did the work for you: I found the best CBD companies on the market so you can “not really feel it,” in all the right ways.
Editor’s Choice Awards
The Best CBD Companies
Best Overall
Kanibi
Leading the pack in quality and transparency, Kanibi has quickly made a name for itself in a competitive market. Yes, the packaging is beautiful, but the company’s attention to quality and its double third-party testing proves that it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
Best on a Budget
Green Gorilla
This Los Angeles-based company shows that it’s sometimes best to keep things simple. Green Gorilla uses USDA-certified organic hemp and somehow manages to keep the quality high and the price (relatively) low.
Best Isolate
Medterra
This flavorless CBD is not only organic and domestically sourced, but “Good Manufacturing Practice or GMP” certified as well. This means you can rest assured that your product is pure CBD, without having to worry about contaminants, pesticides, or THC.
How I Chose the Best CBD Companies
To find the best CBD companies, I studied lab results and customer reviews, and completed hours of research on specific products and the companies’ general practices. It’s also important for you to be informed, so you can choose the type of product that will suit your specific needs.
Scroll down to see my list of companies, or click the links below to find some more information about CBD generally, as well as how I identified these top ten CBD companies.
- Best CBD companies
- Methodology
- Is CBD legal?
- What’s the science behind CBD?
- What are the different products?
- What are the different types of CBD?
The Best CBD Companies
1. Kanibi
Kanibi snags our top spot for one major reason: they take the truth seriously. This company promises to “provide science-backed CBD nutrition and education without compromise.” And they put their money where their CBD is, so to speak. Their products undergo not one but two third-party tests to ensure everything is as advertised. This means CBD from USA-grown hemp that’s tested to show that it’s not only potent but chemical-free as well.
Kanibi’s products are all full-spectrum: they stand by the entourage effect and therefore don’t currently offer an isolate. They contain less than 0.3% THC, so if you’re on the market for a completely THC-free product, you’ll want to keep reading and choose another company. Their products are also on the luxury side (a 750mg bottle of oil is $69), so Kanibi is not the most affordable CBD company.
That said, if you’re looking for a high-quality, expertly tested full-spectrum CBD product, Kanibi is the best we’ve found for one major reason: they’re a company you can trust.
Advantages:
- double-tested
- high-quality
- USA-grown hemp
- returns accepted
Disadvantages:
- no isolate
- expensive
- not USDA-certified
2. Bluebird Botanicals
Bluebird Botanicals is the only company on this list to be certified as a B Corporation, which means they meet “the highest standards of social and environmental impact.” If you’re not familiar with B-Corp, this certification is a pretty big deal. It’s basically a company’s way of showing they’re ethical: good to their employees and good to the earth.
This made Bluebird Botanicals a clear standout as one of the best CBD companies, but I continued to be impressed as I read more about their practices and achievements. They’re certified glyphosate-free and cruelty-free, and they have a seal from the U.S. Hemp Authority. What’s more, they offer a wide variety of products, including a CBD isolate.
They use U.S.-grown hemp in everything except for their Hemp Classic and Hemp Signature formulations, in which they use certified organic hempseed oil from hemp grown in Canada. I personally don’t find Canadian-grown, certified organic hemp to be a negative, but if you’re adamant about buying only U.S.-grown products, it’s something to consider.
That said, with their commitment to transparency, certifications, and testing, Bluebird Botanicals is a family-run CBD company with ethics you can trust.
Advantages:
- diverse products
- third-party tested
- B-Corp
- good transparency
Disadvantages:
- some Canadian-grown hemp
- not USDA-certified
3. Green Gorilla
Green Gorilla describes itself as a “Malibu lifestyle brand” that believes in the “pureness of nature, the dedication to wellness, and the brilliance of optimism.” Yes, they really feed into the SoCal juice cleanses and açaí bowl stereotypes, but we’ll forgive them for a few key reasons.
First, their hemp is USDA-certified organic, and they grow a lot of it themselves. They’re committed to only using organic, natural ingredients. What’s more, they’re transparent with their third-party testing, and, best of all, their wide range of offerings don’t cost a fortune.
Green Gorilla has been making CBD products since 2013, so they’ve had more time than most other companies to perfect their product. They offer both full-spectrum and isolate CBD, and even have products for your favorite furry best friend! Their full-spectrum CBD oil comes in at around $45 for 1,200mg, a very reasonable price compared with similar products.
Green Gorilla is a larger company, which comes with its benefits and drawbacks. Unlike many of its competitors, Green Gorilla only offers returns on products that haven’t been opened. In other words, they don’t offer returns (unless you have some magical ability to tell if you like it based on holding the unopened bottle in your hands). That said, so long as you’re confident in the product you’re purchasing, Green Gorilla has all the qualities of a great CBD company.
Advantages:
- USDA-certified organic
- third-party tested
- affordable
Disadvantages:
- larger company
- no returns
4. Charlotte’s Web
Charlotte’s Web is one of the more popular CBD companies for good reason: they grow their own hemp organically, their line is both diverse and affordable, and they test every single batch for potency and contamination.
While all of this makes Charlotte’s Web an amazing company, what I love most about it is the “bundles.” They offer packages like “Deep Sleep,” which includes melatonin, CBD gummies, and CBD oil, and the “Workout Hard, Recover Harder” bundle, which includes CBD, ginger, and turmeric gummies to maintain joint mobility and reduce inflammation.
Although it’s not USDA-certified organic, Charlotte’s Web’s transparency and third-party lab results speak for themselves as far as the purity of the products. If “small batch” is important to you, this is a larger company so you may want to look elsewhere. But if you’re looking for a company that offers a wide variety of choices, each as high-quality as the last, consider Charlotte’s Web.
Advantages:
- both isolate and full spectrum available
- affordable
- fun packages
- transparent company
Disadvantages:
- not USDA-certified organic
5. Re: Botanicals
Re: Botanicals is for the especially health-focused consumer: their products are made in small batches and they blend CBD with MCT oil, another sought-after health elixir. What’s more, they’re certified organic by the USDA, and they source hemp grown in the United States without pesticides, solvents, or GMOs.
The company’s founder is the man behind the organic superfood brand NUTIVA, but he doesn’t strike me as a pure businessman just seizing the opportunity of a growing market. Based on the website (and the multiple romantic photos of him with his hemp plants), he’s the real deal: he gives off major hippie vibes, and he has written four books on hemp and composting. What’s more, he founded four nonprofit groups focused on the food industry’s role in solving climate change. The company even donates 1% of sales to regenerative agriculture. This is all to say that Re: Botanicals is committed not only to health and high-quality CBD, but also to sustainability. And what’s more relaxing than CBD that doesn’t contribute to humanity’s increasingly terrifying destruction of the planet?
Re: Botanicals doesn’t offer an isolate product, so if you’re looking for completely THC-free CBD, you may want to look elsewhere. Their product line is pretty simple and straightforward (no yummy chocolates), but this keeps things natural and costs low. If you’re looking for ethical and straightforward options, Re: Botanicals leads the pack as a sustainable CBD company with a high-quality product line.
Advantages:
- USDA-certified organic
- third-party tested
- sustainable
Disadvantages:
- no isolate
- expensive
6. Palmetto Harmony
I like to think Palmetto Harmony’s products are made with a special ingredient: love. As corny as that may sound, their founding story is genuinely touching. The company is a family business named after Harmony, a young girl with a rare genetic condition that caused her to have untreatable seizures. When her mother discovered that CBD helped her daughter go days without seizures, she decided to found her own CBD company.
Even without their heartfelt story, Palmetto Harmony would be one of the best CBD companies for so many reasons. They grow, extract, bottle, and distribute their products from South Carolina. Their plants are USDA-certified organic and non-GMO, they’re registered with the Food and Drug Administration, and they comply with Good Manufacturing Practice. The Center for Food Safety recently gave them an “A” grade after testing their product. In fact, they’re so dedicated to transparency that they offer tours of their facilities so you can check things out for yourself!
Palmetto Harmony believes in full-spectrum CBD, so if you’re looking for an isolate, this isn’t the company for you. And, at around $80 for a 30ml bottle, it’s certainly not the cheapest CBD on the market.
But if you’re looking for a family-operated business that controls every aspect of their product from seed to sale, look to Palmetto Harmony.
Advantages:
- USDA-certified organic
- family-run company
Disadvantages:
- no isolate
- expensive
7. Medterra
If you’re particularly concerned with the “purity” of your CBD, consider Medterra. They grow their hemp under the “Kentucky Hemp Pilot Program,” which means they opt for their crop to be grown under stricter guidelines than most. They also comply with the U.S. Hemp Authority Certification program, which is committed to “high standards, best practices, and self regulation.” Their products are also GMP-certified, which means they cannot contain contaminants, pesticides, or THC.
I like to think of Medterra as perfect for the person who actually hates marijuana, wants nothing to do with getting high, and needs some extra assurance that they’re coming nowhere near the dreaded THC. Medterra is like the class valedictorian, the overachiever: it comes with all the certificates you could ever want to say, “I’m CBD, and only CBD!”
The company also recently began offering broad-spectrum oil without THC, so you can still get the benefits of other cannabinoids and terpenes without any risk of experiencing the psychoactive effects of THC. At around $60 for 1,000mg, Medterra isn’t the cheapest CBD on the market. But if regulation is your top priority, Medterra is the company for you.
Advantages:
- no THC
- offers returns
- flavorless
Disadvantages:
- expensive
- not USDA-certified
8. Fountain of Health CBD
The people behind Fountain of Health might not be great at marketing, but their science and their products speak for themselves.
They produce CBD from their own plants, which they call “their ladies,” in Colorado, without the use of any pesticides or fungicides. They display their third-party testing, and their products even received an A grade from the Center for Food Safety. Users of Fountain of Health CBD rave about its effectiveness for treating everything from chronic pain to anxiety.
They’re currently in the process of becoming FDA-certified and they only offer full-spectrum CBD. So, if you’re looking for USDA-certified CBD products or a CBD isolate, Fountain of Health likely won’t be a good fit. And, at $111 for a 1-ounce bottle of CBD oil, this is one of the more expensive companies on this list.
That said, Fountain of Health’s use of the highest-quality Colorado-grown hemp that they grow and process themselves makes it one of our favorite CBD companies. I’m personally interested to see how they develop, because I believe their product is top-notch.
Advantages:
- third-party testing
- organic
- self-grown
Disadvantages:
- no brand identity
- expensive
9. Spruce CBD
If you’re pining for potency, consider Spruce’s line of tinctures and topicals. Their CBD is made in the USA without pesticides, and it’s third-party tested for quality assurance. Spruce CBD also offers what they call “max potency CBD oil tincture,” which packs a whopping 80mg per 1ml dropper full of oil.
Because they’re committed to maximum purity and potency, they don’t add any flavor to their CBD oil. This yields a pretty intensely bitter taste, so if you’re sensitive to the taste of your tincture, this isn’t the company for you. They also only offer a full-spectrum CBD. While the trace amount of THC won’t make you high, it’s not recommended if you can’t tolerate low levels of THC.
The biggest drawback to Spruce is that their oil is also expensive: their most potent tincture is a 2,400mg bottle for $269. But, depending on your needs, you may find the potency is worth the price.
Advantages:
- made in the USA
- high potency
- third-party tested
Disadvantages:
- expensive
- bitter taste
- no isolate
10. Spruce CBD
SabaiDee is a smaller operation that sources their hemp at one registered farm in Colorado. They test their hemp purity and quality both in-house and by a third party. Plus, for every product purchased, the company makes a donation to help plant trees in areas affected by deforestation.
Their product line is small: they offer only a few broad-spectrum CBD oils and creams. They’re also on the pricier side. That said, with their free shipping and refund policy for 250mg or more, SabaiDee is well worth a try.
Advantages:
- made in the USA
- good transparency
- third party testing
Disadvantages:
- expensive
- not USDA-certified
Methodology for Picking the Best CBD Companies
Transparency
I like nothing less than feeling like a lab rat, especially when it comes to my CBD. Because CBD is new-ish to the market and its regulation is still shaky at best, the company’s commitment to transparency took top priority. Companies that were forthright about where they source and test their hemp received the highest marks.
I also gave priority to companies that display their Third-Party Testing, known as Certificate of Analysis (or COA), and even higher points to companies that grew the hemp themselves.
Organic
Organic certification is a rabbit hole I’d rather not go down, but let’s just say it’s extremely hard (and expensive) to get. And USDA certification is difficult for any farm, let alone a farm whose product has only recently been legalized. With that said, I looked for companies that source from farms that use organic practices (they grow their crops without chemicals like fungicides or pesticides), with bonus points given for a USDA certification.
Locality
I looked for companies that use hemp grown in the United States. Because the U.S. is still new to the game, legally speaking, I’d love to see more accountability (i.e., regulation) to ensure farmers are growing high-quality hemp without any weird chemicals. Still, hemp grown in the U.S. is more regulated than hemp grown abroad, so I looked for companies that use American-grown hemp.
Cost
High-quality, organic hemp grown in the United States and processed to be ingestible CBD is a luxury product, and there’s no way of getting around that (yet). In other words, good CBD is expensive. With so much competition entering the market, I’d expect prices to go down. Until then, I looked for a CBD that was a high value, so you can rest assured that you’re getting what you paid for (good CBD, not just good packaging!).
CBD FAQ
Is CBD legal?
In 2018, the United States Senate passed the Farm Bill, the first piece of federal legislation to legalize hemp. This paved the way for CBD to be sold nationwide with one caveat: the product has to be under 0.3% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol—the cannabinoid that makes you feel funny), and it has to come from the hemp plant.
So, whether you live in California or Kentucky, CBD is technically good-to-go, federally speaking. But, without getting too SchoolHouse Rock-y when it comes to federal versus state laws, it’s important to keep in mind that some states still have legal restrictions on the sale and possession of CBD. Here is a handy map to check where your daily CBD Cold Brew stands in the eyes of the law.
What’s the science behind CBD?
The first evidence of cannabis use dates back to 12,000 years ago, making it one of humanity’s first cultivated crops. It was even used by Vikings and medieval Germans to ease pain during childbirth and to help with toothaches thousands of years before modern medicine!
But despite its many years of establishing itself as effective both recreationally and as a natural painkiller, marijuana’s legal status has made cannabis (including CBD) difficult to study. Considering not only CBD’s increased popularity but also how drastically its legal status has changed in the past few years, a lot more solid evidence and scientific research is expected to come out in the next decade. Until then, CBD’s popularity has relied on user testimonials and theoretical science.
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a compound found in cannabis plants. It’s similar to naturally produced endocannabinoids, or molecules that the body uses to regulate a wide variety of things from anxiety to memory, inflammation, and metabolism. The theory is that taking CBD can yield a similar effect to one found when the body naturally produces endocannabinoids to help us relieve stress, induce sleep, or reduce pain.
In fact, the body has an entire system dedicated to endocannabinoids, and cannabinoid receptors are scattered throughout the body. Endocannabinoids slow down the brain’s signaling between neurons. Because too much neurotransmission can be experienced as high anxiety or physical pain, endocannabinoids essentially tell your brain to “chill.” It’s not far-fetched to imagine that a synthetic version of endocannabinoids (CBD) would have the same calming effect, and its popularity would suggest just that. What’s more, scientists believe that CBD binds to the body’s cannabinoid receptors, inhibiting pain signaling and allowing the body’s naturally produced cannabinoids to stay in the brain for a longer period of time.
Because more research is needed, you’ll have to try CBD for yourself to find your dose and test whether it has the desired effect. And it’s crucial that you invest in high-quality CBD products.
Thanks to this informative and entertaining article, I’ve found my favorite CBD company. Which product should I buy?
It seems the ways to ingest CBD grow exponentially by the minute, so it’s best to consider your options in terms of broader categories. Put simply: you can eat it, vape it, take oil, or use cream.
Edible CBD products are made by mixing CBD oils and tinctures into everything from chocolate to hamburgers. While often delicious, the CBD has to pass through your digestive system before being absorbed. What’s more, your body will absorb different amounts depending on outside factors, such as what you ate that day.
So, if you’re particularly concerned with getting an accurate dose (or a higher dose), consider a sublingual method, or “under the tongue.” Putting CBD oil or tincture under your tongue lets it be absorbed directly into the bloodstream, allowing for higher absorption and a more accurate dose.
Another common way to use CBD is topical, which is especially appealing to people seeking CBD for pain relief or to reduce inflammation. Creams infused with CBD can be rubbed directly on the affected area, entering the bloodstream through the skin.
Finally, you can vape CBD, which is absorbed directly into the lungs and yields a high dose of CBD in the bloodstream. There’s been a lot of concern around vaping recently, and some sketchy vape products containing THC have even led to death. I would personally recommend an alternate method, but if you choose to vape CBD despite the potential risks, be sure to do your research and only buy the highest-quality products.
What are the different types of CBD?
There are two main types of CBD currently on the market: full-spectrum and CBD isolate. Basically, you need to decide if you want your CBD hanging out with its other cannabinoids or riding solo.
Full-spectrum CBD includes other compounds naturally found in the plant, such as terpenes and other cannabinoids (CBD is just one of 100 cannabinoids found in hemp). Many researchers believe that because phytocannabinoids and terpenes interact, CBD is more effective when it’s taken in conjunction with these compounds (even including small amounts of THC). This phenomenon is known as the “entourage effect.”
If terpenes and THC freak you out (or you live in a state where they’re illegal), many companies offer what’s called “CBD isolate.” In other words, refined CBD that doesn’t have any terpenes, cannabinoids (including THC), or other plant material. This is often marketed as “pure CBD,” but be wary: it’s important to check the purity percentage of the product, especially if you can’t have even small amounts of THC. A purity percentage of 99.5% or higher should do the trick.
You can also take the middle road, and look for “terpsolate” products. These are CBD isolates that don’t have other cannabinoids but still have terpenes, ideally giving you the entourage effect without the THC.
