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- Top CBD brand for organic full-spectrum products: Cornbread Hemp
- Top CBD brand for organic broad-spectrum products: Joy Organics
- Top CBD brand for flavored products: Lazarus Naturals
- Top CBD wellness brand: Saha CBD
- Top CBD brand for topicals: Empower Bodycare
- Top CBD brand for athletes: Just Live
- Top CBD brand for variety: cbdMD
- Top CBD brand for beginners: Green Gorilla
- Top CBD brand for isolate products: Medterra
Once you’ve made the decision to try cannabidiol (CBD), deciding on a brand is the logical next step. But with countless CBD brands on the market today, you may be wondering where to even begin.
To get you started, we’re sharing our picks of the top CBD brands in multiple categories.
We chose these brands based on criteria we think are good indicators of safety, quality, and transparency. Each brand in this article:
- provides proof of third-party testing
- is transparent about where their hemp is grown
- sells products with no more than 0.3 percent THC, according to the certificate of analysis (COA)
- tests their products for pesticides, heavy metals, and molds
As a part of our selection process, we also considered:
- certifications and manufacturing processes
- whether the brands products are certified organic
- indicators of user trust and brand reputation, like:
- customer reviews
- whether the company has been subject to an FDA
warning letter - whether the company makes any unsupported health claims
Pricing guide
Each of these brands sells multiple products that vary in price. We based this pricing guide on the average price across all of a brand’s products.
- $ = under $30
- $$ = $30–$50
- $$$ = over $50
Top CBD brand for organic full-spectrum products
Cornbread Hemp
- Price: $$$
- CBD type: full-spectrum
- Potency range: 300–1,500 mg per bottle
- Organic: yes
- Who it’s best for: those looking to benefit from the entourage effect, those who prioritize organic ingredients
- COAs: available online
- Pros: organic, full-spectrum, 30-day guarantee
- Cons: pricey
Cornbread Hemp is a family-owned business that made its name on organic, flower-only, full-spectrum CBD products. It was the first CBD brand in Kentucky to earn the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic seal, which is a big differentiator in the market.
The brand offers a limited line of CBD products but still manages to include all of the basics, including oils for pets. Pricing falls into the moderate-to-expensive range, but again, the products are organic and full-spectrum. Plus, Cornbread offers generous discount programs to make CBD more accessible, and they stand behind all their products with a 30-day guarantee.
Cornbread Hemp well over 1,000 five-star reviews on its website, but reviews on third-party sites like Trustpilot are really limited. Still, the company has an excellent rating.
Use code “HEALTHLINE” for 25% off.
Best CBD brand for organic broad-spectrum products
Joy Organics
- Price: $$
- CBD type: broad-spectrum
- Potency range: 300–2,250 mg per bottle
- Organic: limited collection
- Who it’s best for: those looking to avoid THC, those who prioritize organic ingredients
- COAs: available online
- Pros: organic, no THC, great reviews
- Cons: few full-spectrum options
Joy Organics creates broad-spectrum CBD products that are extensively tested and incredibly well-reviewed. The company is committed to transparency at every stage, with the results of internal and third-party lab testing readily accessible.
Joy Organics has a wide range of products, including a collection of organic products. Most of the company’s products are formulated without tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). But since they’re broad-spectrum, they do still contain beneficial terpenes and flavonoids, plus other cannabinoids like cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabinol (CBN).
There are also options for CBD products with THC.
Prices are in the moderate range, particularly given the number of USDA-certified organic products. Plus, Joy Organics offers a number of discount programs for qualifying consumers.
Reviewers sing the company’s praises online, not only in regard to the quality of the products, but also the customer service.
Use code “healthcbd” for 20% off.
Best CBD brand for flavored products
Lazarus Naturals
- Price: $–$$
- CBD type: full-spectrum, isolate
- Potency range: 500–20,000 mg per bottle
- Organic: limited collection
- Who it’s best for: those who don’t like the unadulterated flavor of hemp
- COAs: available online
- Pros: inexpensive, lots of potency and flavor options
- Cons: no broad-spectrum products
This Portland-based, employee-owned company launched in 2014, which makes it pretty well established in the CBD world. Lazarus Naturals is forthcoming about the sourcing, manufacturing, and testing of its CBD products, and many of its products are vegan. Plus, the company recently earned USDA organic certification for some of its products.
Lazarus Naturals sells its full-spectrum and isolate CBD oils in a range of seasonal and standard flavors — think chai tea latte, apple cider, blood orange, winter mint, and many more. Its CBD fruit tarts come in sour fruit flavors too. Flavored options like these are a good choice if you don’t like the earthy flavor of hemp.
Lazarus Naturals prices its products in the low to moderate range, with affordable bundles that are a great way to sample a mix of the company’s offerings. The company is also known for its generous assistance program, which offers 60 percent off for qualifying consumers.
You’ll find glowing reviews of Lazarus Naturals on their website and a few third-party sites too.
Use code “Healinggeeks10” for 10% off your first order. One-time use only.
Best CBD wellness brand
Saha Self-Care
- Price: $$–$$$
- CBD type: broad-spectrum
- Potency range: 300–2,500 mg per bottle
- Organic: no
- Who it’s best for: those looking to avoid THC, those who want to support Black-owned and Black-funded CBD companies
- COAs: available on product pages
- Pros: no THC, many vegan products
- Cons: small selection
Saha Self-Care is 100 percent Black-owned and Black-funded. It’s a CBD company with a focus on delivering what it calls hemp-derived wellness products — everything from bath salts and gumdrops to body butters and even personal lubricants.
The big differentiator for Saha Self-Care is in the commitment of the founder, Charles Smith. He shares his motivation for walking away from a successful corporate career to start a CBD company. From customer service to quality products, the brand is all about transparency.
Pricing for Saha Self-Care products are in the moderate to expensive range. Reviews are a little limited on the company website, but the ones that are up there are overwhelmingly positive.
Best CBD brand for topicals
Empower Bodycare
- Price: $$
- CBD type: broad-spectrum, full-spectrum
- Potency range: 30–9,000 mg per bag/bottle
- Organic: yes
- Who it’s best for: those looking for high potency CBD topicals
- COAs: available online
- Pros: cruelty-free, vegan, non-GMO, organic
- Cons: limited selection
As the name suggests, Empower Bodycare is a purveyor of CBD products for the body. The LGBTQ+, women-owned business specializes in THC-free, CBD-infused body oils, lotions, and creams, as well as bath salts. Organic hemp is paired with high-quality, organic botanicals and oils for luxurious and concentrated topical products.
The company also offers full-spectrum CBD drops.
Prices are on the moderate to expensive end, but high CBD potency means fewer applications and good value.
Best CBD brand for athletes
Just Live
- Price: $$$
- CBD type: broad-spectrum, isolate
- Potency range: 300–1,500 mg per bottle
- Organic: no
- Who it’s best for: those looking to avoid THC
- COAs: available on product pages
- Pros: THC-free, lots of options
- Cons: pricey
This athlete-founded CBD company offers gummies, topicals, tinctures, and supplements that are free of THC. With athletes like Alex Morgan and Klay Thompson representing the brand, the company is committed to full transparency to ensure completely compliant, high-quality products.
Just Live offers discount programs for many groups, including first responders, teachers, students, older adults, even real estate agents, among others.
Reviews of Just Live products are overwhelmingly positive on and off the company website.
Best CBD brand for variety
cbdMD
- Price: $–$$$
- CBD type: broad-spectrum, full-spectrum
- Potency range: 300–7,500 mg per bottle
- Organic: no
- Who it’s best for: those looking for the best deals and a wide range of products
- COAs: available on product pages
- Pros: wide variety of product types, bundles available
- Cons: no full-spectrum or isolate products
If you want choices, you’ll find it at cbdMD. With oils, gummies, topicals, softgels, beverages, bath products, and more, cbdMD specializes in broad-spectrum CBD.
Pricing runs the gamut, though if you bundle two or three items, you can save up to 25 percent.
Reviews are really positive on the cbdMD site, but a little more mixed on third-party sites like Trustpilot.
Best CBD brand for beginners
Green Gorilla
- Price: $$–$$$
- CBD type: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, isolate
- Potency range: 20–7,500 mg per bottle
- Organic: yes
- Who it’s best for: those looking for sample sizes and all types of CBD
- COAs: available online
- Pros: sample sizes and all types of CBD available
- Cons: not a lot of variety
If you’re new to CBD and not yet sure how you’ll react or what consumption might work best for your needs, Green Gorilla has you covered.
The farm-to-shelf company offers CBD products in small sample sizes, so it’s easy to test anything from gummies to CBD oil before committing to the expense of a full-size version. You’ll also find all forms of CBD here — full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate.
Green Gorilla says they were the first USDA-certified organic CBD brand in the country, and the company is committed to regenerative and sustainable farming practices. Pricing is moderate to expensive compared to other brands, but quite affordable if you’re opting for the sample sizes.
Reviews both on the Green Gorilla website and third-party sites like Trustpilot are excellent.
Use code “healinggeeks” for 15% off
Best CBD brand for isolate products
Medterra
- Price: $$–$$$
- CBD type: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, isolate
- Potency range: 750–6,000 mg per bottle
- Organic: no
- Who it’s best for: those looking for the best prices
- COAs: available on product pages
- Pros: lots of different types of products and potency options, bundles available
- Cons: few full-spectrum products
Medterra is a small CBD company based in Irvine, California, with a commitment to high-quality products. While they sell all three types of CBD, they have a particularly wide variety of offerings made with CBD isolate.
The company prides itself on pricing its products affordably, and it also offers value bundles. A loyalty program is another way to enjoy even lower prices.
Medterra products are generally well-reviewed by past customers, both on the company website and third-party sites.
Use code “health20” for 20% off.
| CBD brand | Price range | CBD type |
|---|---|---|
| Cornbread Hemp | $$$ | full-spectrum |
| Joy Organics | $$ | broad-spectrum |
| Lazarus Naturals | $–$$ | full-spectrum, isolate |
| Saha Self-Care | $$–$$$ | broad-spectrum |
| Empower Bodycare | $$ | broad-spectrum, full-spectrum |
| Just Live | $$$ | broad-spectrum, isolate |
| cbdMD | $–$$$ | broad-spectrum, full-spectrum |
| Green Gorilla | $$–$$$ | full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, isolate |
| Medterra | $$–$$$ | full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, isolate |
While anecdotal evidence is easy to find, clinical evidence about the effectiveness of CBD is limited. Still, there is research linking CBD to:
It’s important to note that CBD isn’t a cure-all, and we’re still only beginning to explore how exactly it works to help these and other conditions.
Additionally, there’s more animal research on CBD than there are human studies. More human studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness.
Understanding indicators of a quality CBD brand helps you avoid companies that cut corners. As you navigate the CBD market, here’s what to keep in mind:
- Third-party testing. Look for current, comprehensive COAs from third-party labs that confirm cannabinoid potency and confirm a given product has passed contaminant testing.
- Transparency about hemp cultivation and manufacturing processes. Reputable CBD companies are often exceedingly proud of the sources of their hemp and their cultivation methods. If a company isn’t upfront about where they get their hemp or how they manufacture their products, make sure to do some digging to figure out why.
- Company reputation. It’s simple to
search online to confirm whether a CBD brand has received an FDA warning letter or been involved in any lawsuits. You can also get an idea of what real customers and reviewers think about a company and its products. Spend some time browsing reviews and poking around a brand’s website before buying. If you see unverified health claims or lots of bad reviews, it’s worth exploring other brands.
Pro tip — if you’re shopping on Amazon, don’t be fooled by any products that claim to contain CBD. At this time, CBD isn’t for sale on Amazon, so “CBD” products you see there are likely just hempseed oil.
Since CBD comes in different forms, taking it correctly depends on the product you’re using. These include:
- Oils and tinctures. CBD oils and tinctures are used sublingually, or beneath the tongue, but can also be added to foods and drinks. Effects from sublingual consumption are body-wide and usually come on quickly.
- Pills and capsules. CBD pills and capsules are swallowed whole. This option also offers a full-body effect, but because absorption happens via the digestive system, it takes longer to feel the effects.
- Edibles. You can find CBD in products like gummies, teas, and more. They’re easy to dose and discreet to carry with you.
- Topicals. These products are massaged directly into the skin for localized effects.
While
Some people may experience side effects when taking CBD. These include:
- fatigue
- diarrhea
- changes in appetite
- changes in weight
It’s a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional before trying CBD, especially if you’re already taking any medications. CBD can interact with certain medications, particularly those with a grapefruit warning.
It’s also important to be mindful about ingesting CBD products alongside high-fat meals, which can dramatically
If you’re trying a topical CBD product for the first time, apply a small test patch first to gauge your reaction before using it widely.
How much CBD should you take?
Proper dosage varies depending on the product and is often a process of trial and error. Our dosage guide is a good place to start, and it’s also wise to check the packaging for a suggested dose.
Keep in mind that individual body weight, body chemistry, product type, and potency will all influence the appropriate dose. In general, it’s best to begin with the lowest dose you can and build from there.
Will CBD get you ‘high’?
The “high” that’s associated with cannabis comes from THC. This cannabinoid causes psychoactive effects characterized by pleasure, euphoria, or heightened sensory perception.
CBD doesn’t cause the same kind of effects, but it can help you feel more relaxed or reduce anxiety, which may make you feel more uplifted. Still, it doesn’t mean you’re high.
Keep in mind that full-spectrum products contain some THC. If you take a large enough dose of a potent enough product, you could be ingesting enough THC to cause an intoxicating effect.
Is CBD oil the same as hempseed oil?
No. While both are derived from the cannabis plant, hempseed oil is made from the hemp seeds themselves, which contain no CBD. CBD comes from the flowers, leaves, and stems of the hemp plant.
Does CBD show up on a drug test?
No, CBD itself doesn’t show up on drug tests. But taking large enough amounts of full-spectrum CBD products, which contain small amounts of THC, could lead to a positive drug test.
Is CBD oil FDA-approved?
At this time, the FDA has approved only one CBD product, Epidiolex, which is used to treat seizures. Over-the-counter CBD products aren’t FDA-approved.
Finding a reputable CBD brand takes a little effort. It’s important to research your options and opt for companies that are committed to safety, purity, and quality. If you’re interested in trying CBD, the brands outlined in this article have earned our recommendation for exactly that.
Be sure to consult a healthcare professional before trying CBD.
Is CBD legal?The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3 percent THC federally legal. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3 percent THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them federally illegal but legal under some state laws. Be sure to check state laws, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the FDA has not approved nonprescription CBD products, and some products may be inaccurately labeled.
Jessica Timmons has been a freelance writer for more than a decade. She writes, edits, and consults for a great group of steady accounts and the occasional one-off project, all while juggling the busy lives of her four kids with her ever-accommodating husband. She loves weight lifting, really great lattes, and family time.
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