Even post Covid, millions of people in the UK still believe that CBD oil is illegal. Eight out of ten people actually believe that ingesting CBD oil has the same effect as smoking cannabis. These beliefs stem from the fact that CBD is derived from cannabis, a plant that has been stigmatised and criminalised until very recently. 

UK residents also have to deal with a CBD market that is not yet well-regulated. This means that the UK CBD market is flooded with products that may or may not be of high-quality because companies aren’t being forced to comply with a set of quality controls. Thankfully now though, a deadline of March 2021 has been set by the FSA which means CBD brands in  the UK must obtain a “novel foods” license in order to remain on the market.

Our goal is that whether you have seen CBD oils in your local high street shop, or have heard about the possible health benefits and want to give it a try, this CBD oil UK buyer’s guide should help you better wrap your head around the best CBD oil products. 

CBD Oil UK | The 5 Best CBD Oil Brands for 2021

Based on hours of research and testing, we’ve put together a list of the best CBD oil brands in the UK market for 2021.

1. Blessed CBD

In our opinion, Blessed CBD is currently the top pick for quality CBD oil products in 2021. If you’ve done your research, you’ll know that Blessed CBD has been voted the “UK’s best CBD oil” almost unanimously. Their CBD oils have made a name for themselves through the quality of the product, the excellence of their service, and the regular consistency throughout. 

CBD oil UK

Blessed CBD claims that the potency of their products (CBD oils, gummies, creams and capsules) derives from the proprietary strains of hemp plants that they draw their oils from. Grown on farms in Colorado USA, which has strict regulations on pesticide use, the plants themselves have benefited from generations of selective breeding.

Whatever the reason, Blessed CBD has found new ways to impress us almost every time we interact with them. If you are new to buying CBD oil and are looking for a brand you can trust, Blessed CBD is our first choice.

Top reasons to try Blessed CBD:

  • Hemp sourced from 100% organic Colorado farms (the best place in the world to grow hemp)
  • Third-party lab tested
  • Enhanced terpene and flavonoids profile
  • Small-batch artisan-style production
  • Free next-day shipping
  • Thousands of 5 star customer reviews
  • Exclusive to UK residents
  • Members of the Cannabis Trades Association

Below, you’ll find some of the many positive reviews for Blessed CBD:

Blessed CBD is a relatively small CBD company and working in small batches allows them to directly ensure a quality range of products at every stage of production and delivery.

Buy or learn more at BlessedCBD.co.uk

2. Vibes CBD

This is another small CBD brand that is proving popular with UK and Europe consumers.

The quality of the products Vibes CBD delivers is impressive, as well as the unquestioning consistency. Vibes CBD has earned this place by taking the time to get things right at almost every step of the way, and have put in the time to be considered a very trustworthy brand, despite being relatively new to the UK CBD industry.

Vibes CBD oil UK

With the grown hemp coming from the United States, the proprietary hemp plants they use are what allows for the potency and consistency to remain so strong in their broad-spectrum CBD oils (USA soil also has strict regulations on pesticide and herbicides). These plants have also apparently seen the benefit of years of selective breeding.

This method has also paid off in that their skills and experience increase and the products only get better – something that rarely happens in companies that quickly expand with new employees.

Vibes CBD has found new ways to impress us almost every time we interact with them. If you are new to buying CBD oil in the UK and want a brand you can trust, Vibes CBD is also a solid choice.

Top reasons to try Vibes CBD:

  • Grown on all organic USA soil
  • Proven quality with lab tests by a third-party
  • Next-day shipping for free, including Saturday
  • Small but very effective CBD product range

Buy or learn more at VibesCBD.co.uk

3. Crush CBD

Hemp, Health, Harmony. Crush CBD is a company run by “a group of friends and family” (the same team behind Nutra CBD olie in the Netherlands) who enjoy looking into the deeper side of CBD. They have their own lineup of products and a penchant for exceptional quality and attention to detail. Each of their CBD oil products is certified and quality checked, and they deliver anywhere in the UK without exception. 

We are always happy with the products we get from Crush CBD, and this makes them a worthy addition to our CBD oil UK buyer’s guide. It is also interesting to point out that both of these companies are small and offer a more personalised style of product. 

The passion Crush CBD brings to CBD shows in the end product.

Top reasons to try Crush CBD:

  • Deliver everywhere in the UK without exceptions
  • CBD tinctures are competitively priced
  • Certified, gluten-free and organic products
  • Very potent CBD content in a 10ml bottle
  • Derived from cannabis Sativa-L plants

4. Excite CBD

Excite CBD was able to separate itself from the pack with quality packaging and marketing and then got them to stay with a superior product. This is quickly becoming a very popular CBD company in the United Kingdom and they regularly offer some of the finest CBD oils available. 

While Excite CBD doesn’t beat out Blessed CBD or Vibes CBD in any singular area, it does have a different set of offerings that could help to round out your purchasing choices. This is regularly our store of choice when it comes to salves and some CBD cosmetics/skincare topicals.

The unique product offerings and good consistency make Excite CBD one of the CBD companies you need to add to your bookmark bar.

Top reasons to try Excite CBD:

  • Free standard delivery for all customers
  • Affordable prices compared to other brands
  • Third-party lab results and dosing guide sent with every order
  • Vaping range available (CBD vape and CBD e-liquid)

5. Nova CBD

While Excite CBD emphasizes the earthiness and deeper power of CBD, Nova CBD pushes the science and the clinical efficiency of their oils. They are very effective and extremely quality controlled, with exact measurements of everything going on (3rd party lab reports available).

It is a very different approach than our other suggestions, but it results in a product that is comparable to the best. Nova CBD utilizes EU-grown hemp and creates everything from oils to CBD capsules, topicals, and e-liquids. They have a form of CBD for everyone.

Nova CBD has a very large range of safe and effective products and is a fantastic brand for representing the future of CBD to those of us in the UK.

Top reasons to try Nova CBD:

  • CBD oil tinctures comes with easy-to-use dropper
  • Huge discounts when ordering multiple products
  • Full-spectrum CBD oil, broad spectrum CBD and CBD isolate hemp extracts
  • Choose carrier oils between hemp seed oil, MCT oil and coconut oil

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a naturally occurring compound found in cannabis plants. Compounds found in cannabis plants are known as cannabinoids because they have a special ability to interact with the cannabinoids that are naturally produced within the human body (called endocannabinoids). 

CBD oil UK

CBD is not the only cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. In fact, there are hundreds of them (such as CBG and CBDA), many of which are said to provide therapeutic benefits for our bodies. A full spectrum CBD product with various cannabinoids is said to offer the highest chances of activating the “entourage effect”.

Though CBD is very popular, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is perhaps even more popular. THC is the compound that causes the mind-altering, psychoactive effects associated with smoking cannabis, and is the reason there is so much confusion surrounding the legal status of CBD products.

Both compounds come from cannabis plants, but THC is derived from the marijuana variety of cannabis, while CBD is derived from the hemp variety. Marijuana plants and cannabis oil are still illegal, but hemp plants are not, though they are still tightly regulated by the government. 

When looking for CBD oil in the UK, as long as it contains less than 0.2% THC content and is sold as a food supplement, it is legal to buy and use. 

What are the benefits of CBD?

Since cannabidiol (CBD) is derived from cannabis (it does not get you “high” however) many of the embargoes against the studying of the plant prevented scientists from heavily looking into CBD for a long time. 

These laws have all begun to change and cannabidiol is just now really coming into its own in terms of popularity. Today there are hundreds of studies pertaining to CBD that have either been published or are currently underway. 

With all of this science being done, there is no shortage of good news regarding CBD and its ability to improve overall wellness, as well as treat a variety of symptoms. The most famous, perhaps, is the well-documented cases of CBD helping to stop or alleviate the severity of seizures as they occur, and to prevent them from occurring as much.

Those with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy and other major diseases all find some sort of benefit from utilizing CBD. Even groups such as the World Health Organization have put out statements regarding CBD and the role it may play in treating symptoms of diseases

Since taking CBD oil is very safe and extremely mild, many find that it works well for them in managing a sickness they are already taking medication for. Chronic pain and illnesses are very common examples of this. 

One extreme benefit for those with an illness is that CBD will assist you in recovering your appetite. Eating well improves your morale and your body’s ability to heal.

Ultimately your health is up to your doctor and you. It is important that you know, though, that thousands have found a path to living better through CBD oil.

How does CBD work?

We want to help you understand this as quickly and simply as possible. The problem is that much of the science is ongoing and CBD has been shown to benefit so many different things.

All of us have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) within us that balances and regulates an unknowable amount of functions inside of our bodies. We are always finding new roles the ECS plays. 

what is cbd oil

Endocannabinoids (which your body creates and CBD encourages) and phytocannabinoids (you get from CBD) interact with receptors throughout the body (part of your ECS) to provide you a host of benefits. 

These receptors work with functions like:

  • Hunger levels
  • Dealing with pain
  • Fatigue and energy
  • Your immune system
  • Your mood

From studies done to date, CBD boosts the ECS’s ability to manage and balance many of the body’s regulatory functions. This balance seems to be the main contributing factor to CBD’s effectiveness.

CBD oil in the UK and science

There are so many studies being conducted and published that there is simply no way to fully present to you the range of benefits CBD oil may have. Instead, here is a brief summary of one case study to show the amazing effects of CBD.

One such study looked at CBD and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) as well as Crohn’s disease. These digestion issues are something one has to learn to live with for the rest of their lives, and while there are effective medicines you can take, many of them have undesirable side-effects. 

Symptoms of these medical issues often include such issues as stomach pains, cramping, diarrhea, and fatigue. While CBD has been shown to help with these symptoms, a new study has shown that the benefits may run even deeper.

These Nottingham researchers have discovered that the administration of CBD oil can help “reduce permeability in the human colon” which means that it may be used as part of a treatment for issues like IBD.

This is simply one example of science going on. There are literally hundreds being conducted and/or published as you read this. This is why the boom of CBD products is occurring and why the product is in such high demand.

Indicators of a high-quality UK CBD oil

Before buying CBD oil in the UK, having a clear understanding of how to spot products you can trust is critical to a successful purchase. 

It’s really a shame that customers can’t trust every CBD company in the market and are forced to do lots of research on a product, but you would be much worse off if you didn’t. 

Here are some indicators of the highest quality CBD hemp oil. 

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Varied concentrations of CBD

High-quality products should clearly state that it contains CBD and let you know how much is in the product. Lower concentrations are good for those just starting out, but if you are dealing with severe or chronic symptoms, a higher concentration is going to be more effective. 

To make sure you are getting the amount of CBD that is being claimed, look for a Certificate of Analysis. This shows the results of an independent lab’s testing of the oil. It will also show if there are any solvents or harmful chemicals in the oil. 

Organic and Non-GMO hemp

The quality of hemp used to create any CBD oil is one of the most important factors to producing a decent CBD oil. One property of hemp is that it absorbs any and everything from its environment. 

If it is grown in low-quality soil with chemical fertilisers, the hemp is going to contain some of those toxins, which is not a good thing. Look for CBD oils that use organic hemp and specify the location their hemp is sourced from. 

Amount of THC

As mentioned earlier, legal CBD oil contains less than 0.2% THC. If it has more than that, you don’t want it. If you are worried about mandatory drug testing at work, look for CBD oils that contain 0% THC. 

Extraction method

CBD is found in the stalk, stems and flowers of the hemp plant and must be removed in order to create the oil. This extraction process can be done in more than one way, some of which are safe and some not so much. 

Supercritical CO2 extraction is the gold standard when it comes to creating the best hemp plant extracts. It produces an oil that is purer, cleaner and typically of higher quality than any other method. The process requires a great deal of skill and is expensive, raising the price of an oil. Other methods such as CO2 (non-supercritical) and low pressure ethanol extraction are safe and produce good quality oils as well. 

For the best CBD oils in the UK, go with either Blessed CBD or Vibes CBD.

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