CBD has swept through America like wildfire, sparking interest not only in the general public, but also in doctors, pharmacists, scientists, and health professionals.
Considering the thousands of CBD companies trying to cash in on this craze, it can be challenging for a beginner to find what is genuinely the best CBD to buy.
We have compiled a list of questions to ask when you want to know “What is the best CBD Oil?” First, here are the four non-negotiables a company must meet to qualify for best CBD oil of 2020:
Best CBD Oil Tincture – Ananda Hemp
After wading through countless CBD sites and asking the hard questions, we have chosen Ananda Hemp’s Full Spectrum 600 as the Best Full Spectrum CBD Oil of 2020.
Whether you suffer from pain, stress, or sleeplessness, this is the best CBD Oil to remedy those problems in a safe and non-addictive way.
This CBD Oil from Ananda contains their premium full spectrum hemp extract, cold-pressed hemp seed oil, sustainably-sourced MCT oil, and a botanical terpene blend.
Note: Our choice for the best CBD Oil is unfortunately not for sale on Amazon – you can purchase directly through their online store.
Here are the six most important questions to ask when looking for the best CBD.
Is the CBD Third-Party Laboratory Tested?
This is the most crucial factor to be aware of when shopping around for the best CBD.
Certificates of Analysis (a.k.a. CoAs) should be publicly viewable for every product a company sells. A CoA lists everything that a company tests for in their CBD, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and contaminants like heavy metals, mold, pesticides, and residual solvents.
Ananda Hemp sends out each batch of every product sold to a third-party lab for quality testing. All packages have QR codes on the back, which you scan and instantly see the CoA for the product in your hands.
Alternatively, you can type the batch number located next to the QR code into the CoA lookup tool on Ananda’s site, and on each product page. For example, type in the most recent batch number (as of the writing of this article) ‘19H6140’ and you will be directed to this page.
If you look carefully, you’ll see that most CBD companies only test a single batch of a product, and then keep reusing that same CoA for several years (always check the date). Additionally, many CBD vendors who tout ‘laboratory testing’ merely test for cannabinoids and terpenes – not for the toxic stuff.
Ananda also has the most extensive testing profile we’ve seen, literally checking for hundreds of contaminants.
Plus, while anybody can claim to lab test their products, Ananda Professional (AH’s sister company) is the number one CBD brand trusted at over 4,000 independent pharmacies. Considering the stringent vetting process used by pharmacies, this says a lot about the purity and quality offered by these companies.
Is It Full Spectrum or CBD Isolate?
Full spectrum is a phrase you’ll see a lot of in the CBD world. The popularity of this term evolved from a concept known as the ‘entourage effect.’
The father of cannabis research, Raphael Mechoulam (the first to identify a cannabinoid inside the human body), invented this idea in 1998 to illustrate the synergy that exists between the hundreds of compounds in hemp, such as cannabinoids, terpenes, fatty acids, and polyphenols.
Most products on the market contain ‘CBD Isolate,’ which as you’d imagine is just CBD (no other beneficial phytonutrients). While CBD isolate may have some effects, industry experts and scientists agree that it doesn’t hold a candle to full spectrum CBD.
This study from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (and this PubMed study) demonstrate that full spectrum is more effective than CBD Isolate, to quote the research directly:
“In all of the tests, the isolated CBD was ineffective both before and after a certain dosage, while the effectiveness of the full-spectrum solution continued to increase as higher doses were administered.”
Ananda Hemp’s parent company, Ecofibre, owns the largest private cannabis seed bank in the world. This gives Ananda Hemp the advantage of superior genetics; when combined with ethanol extraction and superior growing techniques, the result is the most nutrient-dense CBD Oil in existence.
Alternatively, when most other companies sell ‘full spectrum’ CBD, it’s usually a mere cocktail of various cannabinoid isolates.
However, to make authentic full spectrum CBD Oil, you must use ethanol extraction – there are very few exceptions to this rule.
Ananda Hemp CBD Oil contains CBD, CBC, CBDV, and CBG (in the same ratios that they exist in the hemp plants), in addition to several hundred other nutrients unique to hemp (like Cannflavin A and B – found by scientists to have 30x the potency of aspirin).
Where is the Hemp Cultivated?
While many CBD manufacturers import their hemp from overseas, Ananda cultivates their hemp using organic growing practices (although not technically certified organic) on generational farms in Kentucky.
Not only does importing hemp make CBD illegal under the stipulations of the 2018 Farm Bill, but plants from heavily contaminated regions like India and China pose serious risks to your health.
Ananda Hemp is hand-planted, hand-harvested, watered by rainfall, and nourished by the sun.
Ananda uses no tractors, no irrigation, no pesticides, and no herbicides. They go the extra mile to ensure the health and safety of their customers (and the planet) – going so far as to be officially ‘Certified Glyphosate Free’ (glyphosate is the controversial active ingredient in RoundUp).
Which Extraction Method is Used – Ethanol or Supercritical CO2?
This is something you’re going to see a lot when browsing CBD products. What we found interesting is that virtually every company we came across uses (and hypes up) supercritical CO2 extraction. However, Ananda Hemp uses ethanol extraction – a time-trusted technique used by herbalists for thousands of years.
Supercritical CO2 extraction uses complicated machinery to manipulate carbon dioxide. Frigid temperatures and massive pressure turn CO2 into a ‘supercritical’ state (existing in between a gas and a liquid).
The hemp is then saturated with this CO2; here’s the problem – supercritical CO2 selects a minimal range of compounds to extract, mostly a few cannabinoids, terpenes, and plant waxes (which are useless in terms of health benefits). Nearly all the other nutrients that give hemp and CBD its potency are left behind.
While CBD manufacturers often tout supercritical CO2 extraction as ‘solvent-free,’ the truth is quite the opposite. Toxic petroleum-based solvents are necessary to remove waxes from the end product (pentane is the most common solvent used) in a process known as ‘winterization.’
Ananda’s CBD is extracted using ethanol (as is their entire product line), in their state-of-the-art LEED Platinum facility, located just a few miles from the farmers’ fields.
What Ingredients are in the CBD Oil?
More and more, people read the ingredient lists on their food and are shocked at the number of hard-to-pronounce chemicals there.
CBD is no different – it’s essential to read the ingredients and see what you’ll be ingesting. Some examples of things you may find are artificial colors/flavors/sweeteners, preservatives, and unhealthy carrier oils (palm, grapeseed).
Ananda Hemp keeps it simple – full spectrum hemp extract, hemp seed oil, MCT oil, and terpenes. 33 quality control checkpoints from seed to shelf ensure quality, potency, and purity for the end consumer.
Does the Company Support Clinical Research?
Without Barry Lambert, Ananda Hemp wouldn’t exist. In 2015, after some serious health problems with his family members, Barry and his wife Joy made a $33.7 million donation to the University of Sydney for research into the therapeutic use of medicinal cannabis.
Barry Lambert’s donation has been applauded for “advancing cannabinoid-based treatments to alleviate human suffering.”
In 2016, the Lambert family gifted $3 million to The Institute of Emerging Health Professions at Thomas Jefferson University to support its Center for Medical Cannabis Education and Research. Their mission is to advance the clinical use of cannabis-derived medicinal therapies.
Additionally, researchers led by Ananda Hemp’s Chief Science Officer Dr. Alex Capano conducted a study evaluating CBD’s effects on opioid use and quality of life indicators in chronic pain patients.
Dr. Capano and her colleagues looked at 131 adults (ages 39-70) who had a documented diagnosis of chronic pain and were on opioids for at least two years (many had been on opioids for decades).
Of the 94 participants who used the full spectrum CBD-rich extract, 53% reduced their opioid consumption by week eight, and 94% reported improvements in quality of life (specifically sleep, pain, and mood). Many participants reported reducing/eliminating other medications.
To quote Dr. Capano directly,
“Ananda is committed to pursuing scientific inquiry and evidence-based practice in the CBD industry. We are working with academic partners to fill the research gaps in the field. We have put financial and personnel resources towards improving the understanding of CBD. In doing so, we recognize there’s plenty of therapeutic potential for CBD, but there are reasonable and expected limits as well. We will continue to make CBD products based on efficacy, not gimmicks.”
While Ananda takes home the prize for Best Full Spectrum CBD Oil, we wanted to recognize some standouts in other categories as well.
Best CBD Capsules – Gaia Herbs Liquid Phyto-Caps®
Gaia’s Hemp Liquid Phyto-Caps® contain full spectrum hemp extract in the convenience of a capsule. This CBD is made using organic US-grown hemp flowers, and is sourced from farmers who remain committed to organic, regenerative agricultural practices.
Gaia uses a patent-pending ethanol extraction technique, which, as we now know, captures and delivers a full array of cannabinoids, not to mention hundreds of other healthful compounds (like flavonoids and terpenes). These compounds work in harmony, creating a powerful synergy colloquially known as the entourage effect.
We also love that 5% of the profits from Gaia’s organic hemp are donated to programs/grants that help empower US farmers, using their ‘Roots Initiative.’ Gaia hemp extract is quality-tested, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free. Using Gaia’s online traceability tool (Meet Your Herbs®) makes it quick and easy to view batch-specific Certificates of Analysis. Win!
Best CBD Topical – 707 Flora Youth Boost Serum
This incredible CBD topical contains a vitalizing blend of Chlorella Vulgaris extract, sodium hyaluronate, Apple Fruit complex, Licorice Root extract, a barrier renewal complex (containing numerous botanicals), and full spectrum CBD oil.
You can stimulate collagen production and increase moisture retention with this robustly concentrated serum. The silky texture of Youth Boost glides on skin as it delivers the powerful benefits of full spectrum CBD, fortifying micro algae and natural plant extracts. This formula is a multi-tasking radiance remedy that works to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and nurture a smooth and glowing complexion.
Best CBD Gummies – Vitafusion Chill Mood
Containing 12mg of full spectrum hemp extract and 200mg of L-theanine, these gummies offer a uniquely potent calming formula perfect for on the go use.
Vitafusion gummies are made using hemp sourced from the USA, are third-party lab tested, and contain no gluten, no dairy, no high-fructose corn syrup, no synthetic (FD&C) dyes, and no artificial flavors. Simple, convenient, and effective!
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