Ever since the numerous health benefits of CBD oil were discovered, the CBD industry has achieved a booming growth. Naturally, many people have turned to CBD in order to relieve pain and symptoms of various medical conditions. However, not every brand of CBD oil will help you achieve the desired effects — you ought to buy a premium-quality product.
Unfortunately, the market is flooded with shady businesses that are looking to capitalize on CBD’s popularity. Yet, finding a reliable vendor is of the utmost importance.
Most people tend to look for CBD in the nearest local stores. However, this may not be the best option due to a variety of reasons. Let’s see what makes buying CBD online your safest bet.
Buying CBD Locally vs. Buying CBD Online
Ever since CBD was classified as a food supplement, specialized CBD stores have started to pop up at every corner. However, most of these stores are not that focused on quality. Instead, they usually sell oils with synthetic additives that don’t meet the testing standards.
To make matters worse, CBD oils that you can find in local stores are usually quite pricey but don’t offer good value for money. In addition, the offer tends to be pretty limited. Your local retailer will most probably carry only one or two brands you can choose from.
So, if you want to avoid falling prey to shady stores that will sell you poor-quality, ineffective CBD oil, you should consider getting your oil online.
Shopping for CBD online has a lot of advantages. First, you can choose from dozens of different brands and pick a product that suits your needs and preferences entirely. Moreover, before making a purchase, you’ll have an opportunity to learn more about the product. Reputable companies always include information about the source of CBD. They are also happy to provide their customers with lab reports and thus prove the quality of their products.
In addition, CBD users typically leave product reviews. Therefore, you will know what to expect from each brand by reading their testimonials. You can even get in touch with people who’ve used a certain product and ask them for their opinion directly.
Online CBD stores are aware that their potential customers will demand information about the products before making a purchase. Because of that, they are transparent about their offer and will make sure all their products are both pure and potent.
Top 2 CBD Oil Brands
In case you don’t want to spend hours researching different brands and companies, we have decided to review some of the best CBD oils right here.
After testing 17 different brands both online and in store, we were shocked at how many contained harmful pesticides and chemicals, illegal amounts of THC, and mislabeled the amount of CBD their products.
Our team came together and decided on two brands that are worth your attention. Both of these products are high-quality, and you will certainly enjoy their therapeutic effects.
1. Top Pick – Royal CBD’s 1000mg Full Spectrum CBD Oil
After testing multiple CBD oils, our team unanimously come to the conclusion that Royal CBD has the best CBD oil overall – and many rankings seem to agree.
Even though the company is relatively young, they have built quite a name for their small, artisanal operation. In the past, they’ve been out of stock due to the limited quantities that they produced, but recently they’ve secured a bulk deal on hemp and increased supply and lowered prices. Their oils have won awards from the likes of HMHB ranking #1 for best overall CBD, owning the #1 spot in Let’s Get It Rights CBD comparison, and have been seen on on HighTimes, and Entrepreneur.
Royal CBD offers premium-quality oil. Their CBD comes from the best organic hemp farms in Colorado. Moreover, all their products are tested for purity and potency in third-party labs. You won’t need to worry about toxins such as bacteria, heavy metals, solvent residue, mold, and alpha toxins.
Another great thing about Royal CBD is that it is a full-spectrum product. Besides CBD, it contains various other cannabinoids, terpenes, and fatty acids, as well as a legally allowed amount of THC. Thus, this product is both extremely potent and non-psychoactive.
The oil is also suspended in premium MCT oil, which significantly improves the absorption. You will need less of it to achieve the desired effect. Also, while most oils taste like hemp, traces of MCT make this product delicious. Unfortunately, though, Royal CBD doesn’t offer any other flavor options.
There are three potency levels: 250 mg, 500 mg, and 1000 mg. Our favorite potency is 500 mg — it will suit both beginners and regular CBD users. Still, if you’re looking for something stronger, getting the 1000 mg option will be the right move.
And if, in the end, you’re not happy with this product, there’s no need to worry. The company offers a 100% money-back guarantee. So, if you return the product in 30 days, you will get a full refund.
Pros:
- CO2 extraction
- Sourced from organic American hemp farms
- Suspended in premium MCT oil
- Contains the full-spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes
- Its quality is tested in third-party laboratories
- Has a great taste
- There are three potency options
Cons:
- You pay a premium for quality
2. Gold Bee CBD Oil (Best Organic)
Gold Bee is our recent discovery, and one of the best things that could happen to the CBD industry.
Understanding the importance of nutrition is paramount for creating high-quality, bioavailable CBD products. The founders of Gold Bee have spent the last several years in the superfoods industry, becoming famous for their organic honey sourced from Brazillian Rainforests. Then they decided to translate that expertise into the hemp market — hence their name Gold Bee.
The company uses premium-quality hemp plants grown by craft farmers in Colorado. These CBD-rich strains are gently extracted using supercritical CO2 in order to preserve the original chemical profile of the plant. Gold Bee offers full-spectrum CBD oil in one concentration and two flavor options. The 1200 mg potency is available in the natural and kiwi flavor — the latter being sweetened with the brand’s famous honey.
At 40 mg of full-spectrum CBD in every milliliter, the Gold Bee CBD oil is a great product for both beginners and experienced customers alike. You’re getting the whole-plant synergy so that lower doses may remain effective for everyday use. Consistent supplementation is also very affordable with this brand, especially considering the quality of its products.
The oil is suspended in MCT oil from coconut, which boosts the bioavailability of CBD and other cannabinoids. Every batch of it has been tested in a third-party laboratory for CBD content and purity. On top of its best-selling CBD oil, Gold Bee offers high-strength capsules, all-organic gummies, and delicious honey sticks.
Pros:
- Sourced from US-grown, organic hemp
- Extracted with supercritical CO2
- Full-spectrum CBD
- 40 mg CBD / mL
- Sweetened with honey
- Third-party tested for quality
- Unique product range
Cons:
- No high-potency oils
How to Choose the Best Place to Buy CBD Oil Online
Even when you exclude retail stores in your vicinity, you still need to be careful about the source of your CBD oil. There are hundreds of CBD oil producers and vendors online, but not all of them are worth your time and money. So, if you want to get a potent, high-quality product, you need to do your research well.
Luckily, most CBD online stores include all the necessary details in the product descriptions. Therefore, as long as you know what you’re looking for, you won’t regret your purchase. Let’s check out the most important qualities you should pay attention to.
1. Avoid Cheap CBD Oils Like the Plague
Making high-grade CBD oil is an expensive process. Growing organic hemp, extracting the CBD in the best way possible, and testing it for potency and purity costs CBD companies quite a lot of money.
Naturally, no company will ever sell a product just to lose money. So, when it comes to CBD oils, you can’t expect to get a top-notch product at a bargain.
Lower price usually means poor quality. Of course, you might sometimes come across a good deal or a discount. Still, if you notice that the price tag is incredibly low, keep in mind that such brands can’t be trusted. Poor quality oils contain all sorts of pollutants and hazardous solvents that are detrimental to your health.
2. Look for Products Low in THC
CBD has two different sources: marijuana and hemp. The main difference between them is that hemp CBD has 0.3% THC or less, while marijuana CBD can have more.
Hemp CBD is legal in all 50 states. You don’t even need a doctor’s prescription to buy it. It is sold as an over-the-counter food supplement.
On the other hand, in most states, marijuana CBD is legal only for patients participating in medical marijuana programs. Therefore, unless you have a doctor’s recommendation or live in one of the states where recreational marijuana use is legal, you should stay away from this type of CBD.
Here’s where you can buy and use marijuana CBD:
- Alaska
- California
- Colorado
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Nevada
- Oregon
- Vermont
- Washington
- Illinois
- Washington, D.C.
3. Look for Products That Have Passed Third-Party Lab Testing with Flying Colors
Every CBD manufacturer has an option to test their products in third-party labs. These labs analyze the whole cannabinoid and terpene profile of the oil. Also, they test their potency, as well as purity, not to mention the potential presence of harmful contaminants.
Every reputable company sends its oil for testing and is willing to provide lab reports to its potential customers. So, if a company claims it’s selling a high-quality product but refuses to give you the reports, you should consider going for a different brand.
How to Recognize a Premium-Quality CBD Oil
Now that we’ve covered what makes a good CBD oil company, let’s take a look at what makes a good CBD oil.
1. CBD Must Come from Organic Hemp
Hemp is a bioaccumulator, so it absorbs all the compounds from the soil it grows in, both healthy and hazardous. For instance, if the soil is polluted, those same pollutants will end up in the finished product. Thus, the quality of CBD oil directly depends on the quality of the hemp and the soil it grows in.
For this reason, you should always pay close attention to the source of CBD in any product. Your best option is to go for CBD derived from organic hemp grown in the USA. Federal regulations concerning hemp farming are incredibly strict, so all domestic farms are premium-quality. Be sure to read online reviews of CBD oil before buying CBD oil near me to ensure you get a quality product.
Some brands use European hemp, especially imports from Denmark. As long as it is organic, you can safely buy products derived from this type of hemp as well.
However, if you come across a brand that uses hemp grown in other overseas countries, such as China, it would be best to avoid its products altogether.
2. The CO2 Extraction Method
There are multiple CBD extraction methods. However, the safest (and the most expensive one) is the extraction using supercritical CO2.
During the extraction, CO2 is subjected to high temperatures and pressure. As a result, CBD is pulled out without carrying any pollutants into the final product, which means it would be not only potent but also completely clean.
On the other hand, you should stay away from products extracted using the butane or propane extraction methods. These extracts are usually cheap, but they contain various harmful solvents. Therefore, the quality of the products is poor, to say the least.
3. CBD Isolates vs. Broad-Spectrum and Full-Spectrum CBD Oils
Let’s look at the characteristics of the three major types of CBD products:
- CBD isolates — contain pure CBD only
- Broad-spectrum products — besides CBD, they contain various other cannabinoids, terpenes, and acids, but are THC-free
- Full-spectrum products — contain numerous compounds of the cannabis plant, including THC
Since broad-spectrum and full-spectrum products contain other cannabinoids besides CBD, they can have the so-called entourage effect. The entourage effect is the synergy of all compounds — it makes the product stronger, so you will need less CBD to get the desired effects.
Full-spectrum oils are the most potent and sought-after CBD products. However, if you’re looking for a strong product but want to avoid THC, you should stick to broad-spectrum oils.
Both broad-spectrum and full-spectrum products offer more health benefits than pure CBD. Still, bear in mind that even though CBD isolates are less potent, they shouldn’t be underestimated. Unlike broad-spectrum and full-spectrum products, isolates do not contain any allergens. Moreover, with a CBD isolate, you don’t need to worry about failing a drug test.
The Bottom Line
To conclude, buying CBD oil online is safer than getting it in retail stores. Even though buying the oil locally might seem like an easy and convenient solution, it has multiple downsides. In contrast, online shopping has numerous benefits. You will not only have more products to choose from but will also have all the information you need to make the right decision. If you’re looking to use CBD oil for sleep, pain, or anxiety, be sure to read up on reviews for those specific conditions.
Yet, with so many options available, it’s easy to make a hasty decision and buy poor-quality CBD oil. So, do your research on the many brands of CBD oil available before making a purchase. Alternatively, you can always pick one of our two recommendations. We are sure you will thoroughly enjoy them.
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