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CBD Hacker | Know What You're Taking
Looking for answers to your CBD questions? CBD Hacker is here to help you get the accurate, evidence-based information you need. Know what you're buying with the latest CBD product reviews and evidence-based information. We use third-party lab testing and blind taste testing for our product reviews.
5 Most Affordable CBD Oils for 2019 [With Comparison Calculator]
CBD Hacker | Know What You're Taking by Meg Kramer	- 2d ago
You may already know that cannabidiol, or CBD, can be a great part of your daily wellness routine. But you may have also noticed one area where CBD oil often doesn't promote a healthy balance: your wallet.
In fact, this liquid gold is often priced as if it were…well, actual liquid gold. So, does affordable CBD oil exist? And where can you find it?
We've tested hundreds of CBD oil products, and we're here to tell you that not all CBD tinctures come with an exorbitant price tag. In fact, a few of our most highly rated brands also offer the most affordable prices.
Are you ready to find a CBD oil that won't leave your bank account in critical condition?
Read on for our guide to some of the best values on the CBD market. We'll compare prices, give you some insider advice, and help you find the best deals.
But first, let's take a look at some of our team's top recommendations for affordable CBD.
Most Affordable CBD Oils for 2019
Infinite CBD: CBD Oil Droppers
Ingredients: Coconut oil, CBD isolate
Price: $0.03 per milligram CBD
Potency: 166.67 mg CBD per mL of product
With the rock-bottom price of $0.03 per milligram of CBD, this tincture from Infinite CBD came in at the very top of our list of the best CBD oil values.
And if you want to enhance the benefits of CBD through the entourage effect, Infinite CBD also offers the option to customize their THC-free isolate droppers with the terpene blend of your choice.
Shop Infinite CBD
Save 10% with code: Hacker 10
Lazarus Naturals: High Potency CBD Isolate Tincture
Ingredients: Fractionated coconut oil, CBD isolate, blood orange extract
Potency: 50 mg CBD per mL of product
This tincture from Lazarus Naturals offers a refreshing blood orange flavor and solid potency at a great price point.
This is a company that believes CBD should be accessible to everyone who needs it, and they're putting their money where their mouth is. In addition to their already-low prices, they also offer assistance programs to people with disabilities, veterans, and low-income households.
Shop Lazarus Naturals
Save 10% with code: cbdhackr
PlusCBD Oil: CBD Oil Drops
Ingredients: Hemp oil, olive oil, peppermint oil, monk fruit, silica, monolaurin, quillaja saponaria, ascorbyl palmitate, alpha tocopherol, water
Price: $0.06 per mg CBD
Potency: 12.5 mg CBD per mL of product
PlusCBD Oil is a major player in the hemp and CBD industries. They offer a large catalog of products made from high-quality European hemp, and they offer them at reasonable prices.
This tincture is made with Plus CBD Oil's distilled CBD extract, so you won't find the bitterness that tends to come with other full-spectrum CBD tinctures. And it's perfect if you have a sweet tooth. That's because it's sweetened with monk fruit, which is 300 times sweeter than sugar.
Shop PlusCBD Oil
Save 15% with code: CBDHACKER
CBDistillery: Full Spectrum Tincture
Ingredients: Coconut MCT oil and extracted hemp oil
CBDistillery has a loyal following for their consistent products and excellent value. This tincture is a great choice if you're looking for a high-potency, full-spectrum tincture.
And with their dizzying selection of products, you can get a great deal on just about any kind of CBD product that is currently on the market.
Shop CBDistillery
Head + Heal: CBD Oil
Ingredients: Coconut MCT oil and CBD hemp oil
Potency: 12.5 mg CBD per mL of product.
With Head + Heal, you get a full spectrum CBD tincture with a mild, natural flavor. And you get it at a very fair price, from a brand that controls its product from seed to sale.
That's because it's made by an organic veggie farm in upstate New York, which grows its own hemp using organic practices.
Shop Head + Heal
Most Affordable CBD Oils: Price Comparison Table
Each of the products above went through the same rigorous testing that we use for our CBD oil ranking. This included blind taste testing, secret shopping, and a thorough evaluation of each brand's user experience.
But we know that you're here because you don't just want a quality products and a pleasant shopping experience — you want a fair price, too. So, check out the table below to see how each of the brands in this ranking stacked up when it came to the price per milligram of CBD.
Price per mg CBD
Infinite CBD $0.03 $160.00 Isolate Droppers 5000 mg/30 mL
Lazarus Naturals $0.04 $125.00 High Potency Oral Tincture 3000 mg/60 mL
PlusCBD Oil $0.06 $41.95 Extra Strength Gold Formula 750 mg/60 mL
CBDistillery $0.06 $155.00 CBDrop Full Spectrum Oil 2500 mg/30 mL
Head + Heal $0.06 $77.00 CBD Oil 1200 mg/30 mL
How to Compare CBD Oil Prices
When we look at the concerns that CBD consumers express most frequently, price is right up at the top of the list. But when you're checking out the CBD tinctures for sale on the market, the sticker price on the bottle isn't necessarily the best indication of value.
So what's the secret to getting a great deal on CBD oil? You have to look beyond the number on the price tag, and instead compare the cost per milligram of CBD.
It's often the case that products that seem more expensive are actually higher in potency. And when you crunch the numbers, a more potent product is likely to give you a better bang for your buck.
So, how can you figure out the price per milligram of CBD in a product? Well, we've created a handy calculator to help you compare any two CBD tinctures (it also works well for other types of products, such as CBD vape oils).
CBD Oil Price Comparison Calculator
Use the form below to compare any CBD oil products. Just enter the label details from one or more oils, and our calculator will automatically generate the potency and price per milligram of CBD so that you can see a side-by-side comparison.
First product name
Size (in mL)
Potency (in mg)
Second product name
Potency (mg/mL)
Price per milligram CBD
Is it Safe to Buy Cheap CBD Oil?
CBD prices can vary wildly, and it's often hard to figure out what you're really paying for. Are the brands that charge premium prices really manufacturing safer and more effective products?
Fortunately, we've found that some of the most trustworthy CBD brands also offer great values. And sales, subscription discounts, or coupon codes can offer additional savings.
So, how can you tell whether you're getting a good deal or just a deal that's too good to be true? Follow these three tips to make savvy CBD shopping decisions.
Buy from a trusted seller
Because the FDA isn't yet regulating the hemp CBD market the way it does many other products, there are some unscrupulous people and companies out there selling adulterated or counterfeit CBD oils, or even passing off hemp seed oil as CBD.
If you find a well-known brand at a much lower price than usual, there's a chance that it's not the real thing. Or even worse, that it's been contaminated with other substances.
The safest way to buy affordable CBD oil is to buy it directly from a reputable brand. And if you would rather buy from a brick-and-mortar store, try to find a shop that focuses on CBD.
More risky shopping choices can include convenience stores and online auction sites. A general rule of thumb is to avoid any seller that makes it hard for consumers to trace the product's source.
Check the source
Industrial hemp plants are often used to clean up land which has been contaminated with chemicals or heavy metals. That's because it's a bioaccumulator — a plant that absorbs whatever is in the soil.
Unfortunately, some products on the CBD market are made from hemp grown in China, which may contain a variety of contaminants.
That's why it's important to look for CBD products made from hemp that is grown using rigorous standards. The highest quality CBD oils tend to be made from hemp sourced from the United States or Europe. And if the grower has organic certification, that's an even better indication of quality.
Most reputable CBD companies are transparent about where they get their hemp extract (some even grow their own to make sure they can control the quality).
If you can't find this information on the company's website, their customer service representatives should be able to help (if nothing else, they should be able to give you the state it comes from, like California or Colorado). And if they won't give you that information, it might be a good idea to pass on purchasing that brand.
Look for third-party lab reports
As the public becomes more educated about CBD, it's becoming more and more common for brands to post third-party lab test results for their products on their websites.
These can be simple cannabinoid potency tests that show whether the product has as much CBD as it's supposed to, or they can be extensive analyses that test for everything from pesticide residue to heavy metals.
The brands that are leading the industry in the direction of greater transparency are making comprehensive third-party test results available for every batch of every product.
The post 5 Most Affordable CBD Oils for 2019 [With Comparison Calculator] appeared first on CBD Hacker.
This Week in CBD: July 12, 2019
A study of CBD and liver toxicity from researchers at the University of Arkansas recently sparked a flurry of sensational headlines about CBD's potential to cause liver damage.
This week, Adrian Devitt-Lee, Project CBD's chief science writer, published an in-depth look at the study and the media coverage surrounding it.
The takeaway? The study had a few problems. Here's a highlight:
On the first page, the abstract makes a claim that is fundamentally impossible, stating that, with chronic administration of CBD, "75% of mice gavaged with 615 mg/kg developed a moribund condition." But there were only 6 animals that received this dose! One doesn't need an advanced degree in science or math to recognize that something is amiss. Seventy-five percent of six equals 4.5.
According to the Little Rock researchers, four-and-a-half mice died because of the dangerous drug known as CBD, while somehow one-and-half mice survived.
This does not mean that concerns about CBD's effect on the liver are wholly unfounded. CBD can interact with other drugs. In some clinical studies, doctors recorded elevated liver enzymes that could potentially damage the liver over time.
But, as Project CBD notes, these risks can be managed when doctors monitor their patients' liver enzymes, stopping or reducing the dose of CBD if needed. And there have not been any reports of lasting liver damage in humans after the patient stopped taking CBD.
This Week's Top CBD Deals
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Pure Hemp Botanicals
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Populum
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4 Corners Cannabis
Plus CBD Oil
CBDmd
Code: 15CBDH
More CBD Deals
Would you be stoked to be able to pick up some CBD cream when you buy your next pair of jeans? Don't worry, you might not have to wait too long for the opportunity.
American Eagle is the newest major retailer to add CBD to its offerings. Products will include CBD-infused lotions, muscle balms and aromatherapy products supplied by Green Growth Brands.
The retailer says that it will begin offering CBD products in October. They'll appear at nearly 500 stores, and the CBD products will also be available online.
Do you know what's in your CBD? Investigators from Fox12 News in Portland, Oregon wanted to find out, so they tested eleven different CBD products purchased at local stores.
The lab results showed that three products contained substantially less CBD than the amount that was indicated on the label. Still more products had confusing information on the labels.
The report did not, however, reveal which brands they tested.
More From CBD Hacker This Week
15 Best CBD Capsules and Softgels for 2019 [With Lab Results]
Looking for a great CBD capsule or softgel? In our newest ranking, we look beyond the hype to help you find the best of the best.
Are American farmers poised to start growing too much hemp? That's the fear that USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue expressed in a recent interview.
According to Perdue, overproduction could drive down prices on what farmers hope will be "a real salvation-type crop."
With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, the USDA is now responsible for regulating hemp as an agricultural product. Farmers are eagerly waiting for the agency to create regulations for the re-emerging crop.
The Iowa Attorney General's Office wants consumers to know that CBD is not yet legal for most people in the state.
Although the Iowa Hemp Act legalized the production of hemp containing less than 0.3% THC, the USDA must approve the state's plan before it can go into effect. And until that happens, CBD oil is still a controlled substance under Iowa state law.
Furthermore, CBD products that are made to be ingested, like food and tinctures, will still be banned unless the FDA approves CBD for consumption.
CVS and Walgreens will dominate the CBD industry in 2019 and beyond, according to a new report from the Brightfield Group.
According to the market and consumer intelligence firm, mass retail chains will generate 57% of this year's CBD sales, despite only entering the market in 2019.
The report also notes that topicals and beauty products are chipping away at the lead that tinctures have held on the market. Due to current regulations, the larger retailers have decided that these product categories are less risky than those that are intended for ingestion.
On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security held a hearing to discuss federal cannabis laws.
The hearing, entitled "Marijuana Laws in America: Racial Justice and the Need for Reform," focused on the disparate impact that federal cannabis prohibition has had on communities of color. It included discussion of the STATES Act, which would recognize state-level cannabis laws, and on removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act entirely.
Notably, the committee members seemed to agree on the subject of decriminalizing cannabis.
According to Congressman Tom McClintock, a Republican from California, "Marijuana decriminalization may be one of the very few issues upon which bipartisan agreement can still be reached in this session."
You can watch a video of the hearing below.
Marijuana Laws in America: Racial Justice and the Need for Reform - YouTube
The post This Week in CBD: July 12, 2019 appeared first on CBD Hacker.
Best CBD Capsules and Softgels for 2019 [With Lab Results]
CBD Hacker | Know What You're Taking by Sonja Soderlund	- 6d ago
If you want to try CBD but also like the familiarity and convenience of capsules or softgels, there's no lack of companies ready to sell you their wares. To find find out which brands are worth your time, we've combed the industry for the top players (as well as a few up-and-comers) and have subjected them all to our rigorous evaluation.
We scrutinized these companies and their products from every angle — from hemp quality to customer service. We even sent samples to an independent lab for potency testing.
So, whether finding the best value, the best customer service, or the highest potency is your top priority, we've got what you're looking for. Read on for our top CBD softgel and capsule picks!
Top CBD Capsules and Softgels
Each of these products excelled in quality, value, and customer service, earning them the highest overall scores in our ranking.
Bluebird Botanicals
Regular price $39.95 – $74.95
Joy Organics
Lazarus Naturals
Keep reading to find our full reviews of each of these products and to learn how they landed at the top of our list.
Our ranking of the best CBD oil capsules and softgels is based on a thorough evaluation of CBD companies and their products, which gives us a ton of data to work with. We look at everything from the price of the product to company transparency and customer service — and we want to share as much of that information as possible.
For beginners (or the insatiably curious) we'll also cover some general knowledge about CBD — what it is, how it works, and its current legal status. You'll also find a section on CBD capsules which will give you an idea of what to look for in a good product.
You can, of course, read through the whole ranking from start to finish. If you're looking for something specific, though, the links below will help you find what you're looking for:
Best all-around CBD capsules
Best full spectrum CBD capsules
Best THC-free CBD capsules
Value comparison
Cannabinoid potency
Safety concerns and side effects
Is CBD legal
Why choose CBD capsules
How to choose CBD capsules
CBD Capsules and Softgels: Best All Around
Want to learn more about the brands that landed at the top of our list? Here's a closer look at each of our top three highest-scoring CBD capsules and softgels.
Best 3 CBD Capsule Brands for 2019
Bluebird Botanicals: Concentrated CBD Capsules
Ingredients: Full-spectrum hemp extract, organic virgin hemp seed oil
Testing Notes: Translucent, average-sized softgel with clear, olive-green liquid
Bluebird Botanicals often scores at the top of rankings, and for good reason.
The company combines high-quality products with some of the most transparent practices in the industry. Their database of third-party lab tests is open for customers to peruse before making a purchase, and their customer care is second to none.
The drawback to Bluebird's CBD tinctures is the bitter taste, but by taking capsules you can avoid the flavor entirely. And with a solid 30-day return policy, this is a risk-free purchase.
Local hemp
Public database of lab results
Lower potency option
Shop Bluebird Botanicals
Joy Organics: CBD Softgels 25mg
Ingredients: Phytocannabinoid-Rich Hemp Extract, Polysorbate Emulsifiers, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Beta Caryophyllene
Testing Notes: Translucent softgel with clear, light amber liquid. Average sized capsule (13mm)
Joy Organics, a family business based in Colorado, swept onto the CBD scene in 2018 with an extensive line of THC-free CBD products. From the beginning, they've been getting it right – from high-quality ingredients to first-rate customer service (including free shipping and a generous return policy).
They use water-soluble CBD in their capsules which may help with absorption, and they offer capsule options for sleep (with melatonin) and joint pain (with curcumin).
Highly transparent company
Fantastic customer service
Less established brand
Shop Joy Organics
Lazarus Naturals: CBD Capsules
Ingredients: Organic Brown Rice Flour, Vegetable Cellulose (Capsule), Fractionated Coconut Oil, Hemp Extract, Silicon Dioxide, d-Limonene, Myrcene, Beta-Caryophyllene
Testing Notes: Long (20mm), opaque white capsule containing yellowish powder
Lazarus Naturals is an established CBD company with a strong social conscience. Based in Oregon, they now grow most of their own hemp in that state, ensuring that sustainable growing practices are used.
The company manages to keep prices low without cutting corners on transparency – you can find third-party lab reports for all products on the website. Their capsules come in a variety of potencies (as well as a THC-free option), and for the vegans among us, there's no gelatin used in the capsule itself.
Established, transparent company
Several potency options
Customer service could be more polished
Our Full-Spectrum Pick
Looking for a CBD product that offers the full range of natural cannabis goodness? Endoca's Raw Hemp Oil capsules stood out for their use of unfiltered, unheated hemp with a respectable ratio of alternative cannabinoids in addition to CBD.
Best Full-Spectrum CBD Oil Capsules
Endoca: Raw Hemp Oil Capsules
Ingredients: Full spectrum hemp oil, Omega-6, Vitamin E
Testing Notes: Long (20mm), opaque orange capsule containing dark green liquid
Endoca was first founded in Denmark and has only recently established itself in the United States. The company grows its own organic hemp in northern Europe and uses clean CO2 technology to extract its true full-spectrum hemp extract.
These capsules are kosher, vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO. And most importantly for this category, they include a broad range of cannabinoids in addition to CBD, including CBDa, CBDV, CBN, CBC, and CBG. If you want to experience the entourage effect, this is a great option.
Responsive customer service
Capsules have a broad range of cannabinoids
Strict return policy
Imported hemp
Shop Endoca
Our Top THC-Free Selection
Want to get the benefits of CBD without the effects of THC? Read on to discover the THC-free softgels that earned the highest scores in our testing process.
Best THC-free CBD Softgels
Green Roads: CBD Capsules 750
Ingredients: Hemp Derived Cannabinoid Extract, Safflower oil, Vegetable cellulose
Testing Notes: Translucent, average-sized softgels containing clear, amber colored liquid.
Green Roads, another Colorado-based company, has been around since 2011, making it one of the pioneering companies of the industry. The company is committed to providing customers with pharmacist-formulated products, quality ingredients, and accessible third-party lab tests.
Green Roads' capsules contain 25 milligrams of organically grown, CO2-extracted CBD oil with no THC whatsoever. The drawback is a fairly strict return policy – Green Roads only accepts unopened products for returns.
Solid return policy
Only one potency option
Returns available for unopened products only
Shop Green Roads
Save 10% with code: cbdhacker10
Best CBD Capsules and Softgels: More Great Choices
Looking for more excellent choices? There were a lot more CBD capsules and softgels that left a great impression on our team. Browse through the reviews below (listed in alphabetical order) to learn more.
CBDistillery: Softgels 900
Ingredients: Fractionated Coconut Oil (MCT – Medium Chain Triglyceride), Full Spectrum Hemp Extract (Aerial Parts), Sunflower Lecithin, Gelatin (Gelatin Capsules)
Testing Notes: Translucent gelcap with clear, amber liquid. Average sized capsule (15 mm).
CBDistillery has been around for a while and they have built a company that prioritizes quality products at accessible prices. The company is certified by the US Hemp Authority, which means they have met standards of quality and transparency, translating to peace of mind for consumers.
CBDistillery offers a range of CBD capsules. We tested the full spectrum gelcaps that give a solid 25 mg of CBD per dose. But if you're looking for THC-free or vegan capsules, CBDistillery has those too.
Established company
Lots of capsule options
Customer service can be lacking
CBDPure: CBD Softgels 750
Ingredients: Organic hemp oil, concentrated hemp extract (containing CBD)
Testing Notes: Translucent gelcap with clear, dark green liquid. Average sized capsule (15mm).
Established in 2016, CBDPure is based in the Pacific Northwest but sources its organically grown hemp from Colorado. The company follows strict CGMP manufacturing guidelines as well as stringent quality control protocols to provide consistently dosed products (which our lab test verified).
CBDPure offers full spectrum, easy to swallow gelcaps with a solid 25 mg of CBD per dose.
On the other hand, customer service is lacking. It took us five days to get a response to an email inquiry, and it was a pretty perfunctory answer.
Lab results on website
No free shipping
Shop CBDPure
Charlotte's Web: Extra Strength Hemp Extract Capsules
Ingredients: Hemp Extract, Rice Bran, Maltodextrin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cellulose, Fractionated Coconut Oil. Contains Coconut.
Testing Notes: Long (21mm), transparent capsule containing yellowish powder.
If you've heard of CBD, there's a good chance you've heard of Charlotte's Web. The company is one of the oldest and most trusted CBD companies in the industry. They grow their own strain of hemp (for which their company is named) and control the entire process of production – from seed to sale.
Charlotte's Web's full spectrum capsules come in two potency options and there's no gelatin in them, so they're appropriate for vegetarians. And our lab test actually showed a bit more CBD than labeled, so they're erring on the right side. One downside: customer service wouldn't send us a lab report before purchasing.
Seed-to-sale control over product
Established, trusted company
Two potency options
Difficult to see lab tests before purchasing
Hard to find ingredients list on website
Shop Charlotte's Web
Hemplucid: Soft Gel Caps 50 mg
Ingredients: Hemp Seed Oil, Gelatin, Purified Water, Glycerin, Hemp CBD Oil
Testing Notes: Capsule looks almost black but contains a clear, dark green liquid in translucent gelcap. Average sized capsule (15mm).
Hemplucid, a Utah-based CBD company, was established in 2016 and is building a reputation for predictably high-quality products and solid customer service. The company is dedicated to using full spectrum CBD, and our lab test found traces of cannabinoids like CBG, CBDa, CBDV, CBC, and a tiny amount of THC.
The capsules we reviewed pack a powerful punch of 50 mg of CBD per capsule, while still staying small enough to swallow easily. But if you're looking for a lower (or higher!) concentration, Hemplucid has you covered with multiple potency options.
Multiple potency options
Slow website
Shop Hemplucid
Infinite CBD: Isolate Capsules
Ingredients: Powdered coconut oil, CBD isolate, gelatin capsule
Testing Notes: Opaque, black and white capsule containing fine white powder. This capsule is large: 23mm long and pretty..
This Week in CBD: July 5, 2019
CBD Hacker | Know What You're Taking by Meg Kramer	- 1w ago
A new hemp law is having an unexpected impact on marijuana prosecutions in Texas.
That's because the law, which went into effect on June 10, legalized hemp that contains less than 0.3 percent THC.
In the past, law enforcement only had to prove that THC was present in a sample in order to pursue a possession charge. Under the new law, more precise testing is necessary to prove that the substance in question falls under the state's definition of "marijuana."
But most labs aren't equipped to determine the exact amount of THC in a sample, and third-party testing is costly. So, without a lab test to prove that the substance in question in above the 0.3 percent threshold for THC, the state has a backlog of possession cases that it can't prosecute.
In one county, the district attorney's office will dismiss around 200 misdemeanor cases instead of paying to retest the samples for THC percentage.
Could Congress be considering an end to cannabis prohibition in the US?
This week, Marijuana Moment reported that the House Judiciary Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee is planning a hearing on marijuana policy. The hearing, which is scheduled for July 10, is titled "Marijuana Laws in America: Racial Justice and the Need for Reform."
Few details were available, but the publication had received a list of witnesses who were expected to be invited to testify. According to Marijuana Moment's Kyle Jaeger:
"Given the backgrounds of these individuals, it seems apparent that committee members will be discussing not whether the U.S. should end federal cannabis prohibition, but will focus primarily on how to do it."
CBD preparations with small amounts of THC are now more accessible for Kansans with certain health conditions.
That's due to Claire and Lola's Law, which went into effect in the state on July 1. It provides an affirmative defense against prosecution for people with certain conditions who use cannabidiol products with less than 5 percent THC relative to the concentration of CBD.
The law also protects parents from child removal proceedings due to possession or use of these CBD products.
Has there ever been a pair of trends more clearly destined to meet than plant-based protein and CBD?
North American Cannabis Holdings and Kali-Extracts have partnered with West Coast Venture Group to introduce a new CBD-infused meatless burger. And it could be arriving on plates in the US this summer.
Those CBD burgers won't be appearing on any New York City restaurant menus, though. That's because a ban on CBD-infused food and drinks went into effect this week in NYC.
With the FDA's hesitance to approve CBD oil as an ingredient, the city's health code states that businesses can't add cannabidiol to food or drinks.
NYC's health inspectors will now look for CBD as part of their routine inspections. But they won't begin issuing violations until October.
In Massachusetts, a lawmakers are working to resolve the local hemp industry's anxiety about CBD regulations.
A recent policy statement from the state's department of agricultural resources conformed closely to the FDA's current statements about hemp products. Specifically, the statement declares that the sale of any of the following is unlawful in Massachusetts:
Any food product containing CBD;
Any product containing CBD derived from hemp that makes therapeutic/medicinal claims;
Any product that contains hemp as a dietary supplement;
Animal feed that contains any hemp products;
Unprocessed or raw plant material, including the flower that is meant for end use by a consumer.
In response, state legislators introduced a bill that would make it legal to add CBD to food and beverages.
The post This Week in CBD: July 5, 2019 appeared first on CBD Hacker.
Cannisence: Science-Driven CBD for Wellness
CBD Hacker | Know What You're Taking by Sonja Soderlund	- 2w ago
For shoppers tired of an opaque CBD shopping experience, Cannisence (formerly known as EsseCann) takes the headache factor out of finding a quality, full spectrum CBD product.
The newly re-branded, Florida-based company has created products designed for customer needs. They use organically grown hemp, clean extraction methods, and perform extensive third-party testing. And their moderate pricing means you'll be able to buy it without taking out a second mortgage on your home.
If that sounds like something you're looking for, keep reading for more information.
Shop Cannisence
Hemp Source: Domestic
CBD Types: Full spectrum
Transparency: Third party lab reports for all products on website
About Cannisence
Started by a group of Florida-based hemp professionals and medical experts, Cannisence is the new face of the company previously known as EsseCann.
With a primary focus on high-quality CBD wellness products, Cannisence is committed to providing customers with premium CBD that will improve overall health and quality of life – at accessible prices.
At Cannisence, organically grown, American hemp is at the heart of all their products. They use clean CO2 extraction, and their CBD extract is full spectrum, or "whole hemp." This means that their products contain a range of terpenes, minor cannabinoids, and fatty acids that bolster the properties of CBD.
The company also places a premium on research and experimentation, keeping science at the heart of what they do. They test all products at multiple points in the manufacturing process to ensure they meet high quality and purity standards. And you'll find third-party lab tests for cannabinoid and terpene profiles on all product pages.
So far, Cannisence is keeping things pretty simple when it comes to product offerings. They offer a CBD muscle cream and a body cream, but it's not clear from their descriptions what the difference is between the two products. From our previous testing, we know that the muscle cream contains menthol and arnica, while the body cream does not.
Their tinctures offer a bit more to choose from, with two flavors (we can attest that the Lemon Drop flavor tastes wonderful) and two strengths, both of which are pretty potent.
These are early days for Cannisence, and there's a lot of room for growth, but the company's attention to both quality and value helped them make it onto our 20 Best CBD Oil Drops for 2019 and our Top 15 CBD Creams, Balms, and Salves (you can find them under their previous name, EsseCann).
User Experience Customer Service Purchase/Shipping Transparency
Cannisence's recently re-designed website is like a cool oasis of calm. It's nice to look at, easy to navigate and makes finding key information about products and processes very easy.
Product pages give you the basics of what you need to know, but they also provide third-party labs, so you can easily check out what you're getting.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can get in touch with a Cannisence rep easily by using the email form on their website, messaging them on Facebook, or by phone.
Our calls went through to voicemail, but the company responded to our email messages almost immediately. And their responses were friendly and clear, if somewhat perfunctory.
Purchase/Shipping
In the past, we've had frictionless experiences with Cannisence's purchasing process. Since their re-launch, it appears that they are experiencing issues with their payment processing system. As of this writing, they are only accepting orders via phone.
Shipping is free over $100, otherwise, you'll pay a flat rate of $6.96 for shipping.
Their return policy gives you 30 days to change your mind. But you can only return unused items, so do your research before opening.
Accountability is especially important in the unregulated CBD industry, and Cannisence is fairly open about their leadership. You'll find information about their Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jose Foradada on their website.
The company performs extensive third-party testing on all their products, and they make them easily accessible to customers. You'll be able to see both the cannabinoid and terpene profile of any product before purchasing.
Cannisence creates potent, domestically-sourced CBD products that meet high standards for quality. If you're looking for reasonably priced, full spectrum CBD, this company is definitely worth checking out.
The post Cannisence: Science-Driven CBD for Wellness appeared first on CBD Hacker.
This Week in CBD: June 28, 2019
In the race to fight new antibiotic-resistant superbugs, CBD may be scientists' latest weapon. Researchers at this week's annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology reported on recent research which shows CBD to be as effective as many other common antibiotics. Unlike other antibiotics, though, it seems not to lose effectiveness over time.
For the study, researchers at the University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience's Centre for Superbug Solutions partnered with Botanix Pharmaceuticals, a drug discovery company investigating topical uses of synthetic CBD for skin conditions. They tested synthetic CBD against a wide range of bacteria, with promising results.
"Given cannabidiol's documented anti-inflammatory effects, existing safety data in humans, and potential for varied delivery routes, it is a promising new antibiotic worth further investigation," noted lead study investigator Mark Blaskovich, PhD, a senior research chemist at the University of Queensland.
Following the federal legalization of hemp with the signing of the 2018 Farm Bill, the US Department of Agriculture has been busy hammering out new regulations for the hemp industry. These federal regulations will spell out for farmers and stakeholders the conditions under which hemp can be legally grown in the US.
The hemp industry has been eagerly awaiting the publication of these regulations, and the agency announced this week that they should be ready for public viewing sometime in August. This is earlier than many farmers had anticipated since the agency had previously only promised regulations would be in place "for the 2020 growing season."
In Florida on Wednesday, Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 1020, a bill that officially creates an industrial hemp program in the state. The bill had unanimous bipartisan support in the legislature and its passing could see crops planted as early as this fall.
Agricultural Commissioner Nikki Fried expressed excitement over the prospects of the state's new hemp program: "Tonight's hemp bill signing marks a transformation in Florida, and a critical step on the journey to creating a green industrial revolution, strengthening agriculture with an alternative crop of the future, and expanding access to safe, quality CBD products."
Hemp growers demonstrated outside the Massachusetts State House in Boston on Monday, decrying the state's newly published guidance which outlaws the production of a wide range of CBD products.
Among the products banned by the guidance are lucrative items like CBD-infused food products, hemp in animal feed, and any product that makes therapeutic claims or includes CBD as a dietary supplement (like tinctures or capsules).
The recently formed coalition includes farmers, businesses, advocates, and consumers that want the state's Department of Agricultural Resources to clarify its position. Many farmers have already invested heavily in the growth of a crop which, under the current guidelines, they fear they may not be able to turn a profit on.
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On Monday, the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco issued its first permits to businesses wanting to sell hemp-derived CBD products. So far, twenty temporary permits have been issued, according to the office.
On June 6, lawmakers passed a bill that would allow some hemp-derived CBD products to be sold in Louisiana, but the bill excluded inhalable hemp products. Food and beverages containing CBD are also exempt from the bill until the FDA decides if CBD is allowable as a food additive.
Novartis, a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company, just sold a major manufacturing facility in Boulder, Colorado to Mile High Labs, an industrial-scale CBD manufacturer. Mile High Labs paid $18.75 million for the 400,000 square foot production facility which it will use to produce private label CBD products.
According to Stephen Mueller, chief technology officer of Mile High Labs, "This transaction is the largest infrastructure purchase in the history of the CBD market…Over the coming quarters, we plan to leverage this tremendous infrastructure to build the global center for CBD products manufacturing."
Vermont is holding public hearings this week on the regulation of hemp, giving stakeholders in the industry a chance to weigh in on how the state regulates the crop.
According to the notice sent out by the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the new rules will establish "standards and expectations for record keeping, reporting, testing, and labeling, and include enforcement provisions as outlined by both state and federal law."
The hearings are taking place in Brandon and Newport, VT. Members of the public can contribute by filling out a comment form.
The post This Week in CBD: June 28, 2019 appeared first on CBD Hacker.
Over the last week, the Food and Drug Administration has updated CBD customers and stakeholders on where things currently stand for CBD regulation after the public hearings that took place on May 31st.
Since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, the CBD industry has been waiting on tenterhooks to see how the FDA will regulate the now legal substance, particularly with regard to CBD-infused food and beverages.
The agency's lengthy statement outlines the issues at stake in CBD regulation. The main takeaway? The FDA is committed to a science-based approach to regulation that both protects consumers and leaves flexibility for the use of CBD outside of the drug setting.
Major concerns the agency cites include possible drug interactions, safety concerns for at-risk populations, long-term exposure, and safe dosing.
The task force working through these issues is expected to have recommendations for FDA regulation by the end of the summer. From the perspective of the CBD industry, certainty about the future of regulation can't come too soon.
Payment processing continues to be a major issue for the CBD industry. On Wednesday, Thrive Market, an online seller of natural and organic products announced that it would stop selling CBD products at the demand of the company that processes its customer payments.
But according to a blog post written by Nick Green, CEO of Thrive, the company isn't giving up on CBD: "Rest assured that we will be working behind the scenes in the coming weeks to get hemp products back on Thrive Market."
In a related story, the US Hemp Authority, a hemp self-regulator that has taken leadership in developing certification standards for CBD companies, was dropped by its payment processor, Stripe.
The San Fransisco-based merchant processor stated that it dropped the Hemp Authority's account due to liability concerns, even though the non-profit does not actually sell hemp or CBD products.
"We're being told we're high risk. We're actually trying to minimize human risk," responds Hemp Authority President Marielle Weintraub.
Facebook is being hit with a federal lawsuit for refusing ads that promote posts about CBD and an online cannabis event. The plaintiff is Cannaramic Media Inc.
Founder Felicia Palmer says that she paid Facebook to promote the posts, only to have the promotion blocked by the social media giant.
The lawsuit states that this activity demonstrates a "pattern of censorship and suppression of information and content pertaining to legal uses of cannabis across Facebook's platform as well as that of the popular social media app, Instagram, also owned by Facebook."
The lawsuit is being filed while Facebook is also the subject of a New York Times Square advertising campaign by the Hemp Industries Association. The campaign, which simply states "Facebook: Stop Censoring Hemp," will continue through August 24.
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Massachusetts farmers are expressing concern that the state's restrictive hemp regulations will keep them from being able to compete nationally. While growing hemp has been legal in the state since 2016, a new policy statement put out by the state's Department of Agricultural Resources, lays out a regulatory framework for the crop.
The new framework prohibits farmers from selling hemp flower meant to be used by consumers – either as dietary supplements, CBD-infused food, or smokeable hemp. CBD is currently the most lucrative area of the hemp industry, leaving Massachusetts farmers who have already invested in CBD out in the cold.
Luis Hummel, a southeastern Minnesota farmer, is facing felony charges for growing hemp with around 10 to 12 times the allowable amount of THC. Hummel was growing hemp to turn into CBD products. But he had his license revoked when law enforcement pulled over one of his distributors and tested the product, finding the THC to be well over the legal limit.
Along with losing his license, Hummel was ordered to destroy his crops, valued at more than $3 million. He was then charged with fifth-degree drug sale and possession of a controlled substance, as well as fifth-degree drug possession. Hummel has filed a federal lawsuit against the state to keep both his license and his crops.
The US Hemp Roundtable announced this week that there is hope for hemp in South Dakota. The announcement comes only a few months after Governor Kristi Noem's veto of a bill that would have legalized hemp growth and product sales in the state.
Key legislative leaders, including Governor Noem's Policy Director, have traveled to Kentucky to meet with US Hemp Roundtable leaders and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. The group of legislators also visited hemp farms and processing operations, looking for a way forward for hemp in South Dakota.
Finally, as a reminder that hemp is also a big deal outside of North America, a plan to grow hemp on a massive scale in eastern Mongolia moved forward this week.
HempMongolia LLC began carrying out trials involving high CBD varieties of hemp, obtained from Spanish breeders and crossbred with Mongolian strains.
The inaugural grow is located near the city of Chinggis on the northern bank of the Kerlen Gol River. Hemp Mongolia has plans to lease 20,000 hectares in eastern Mongolia for hemp farming. "We are growing for seeds to use next year and biomass for CBD extraction," said Anar Artur, CEO at HempMongolia.
CBD Hacker | Know What You're Taking by Sonja Soderlund	- 1M ago
For animal lovers who want the best CBD for their pets, Pet Releaf has you covered. The company's mission is "to change what healthy means for pets" with products that are designed to promote wellness from the inside out.
With a full line of CBD products for cats and dogs, Pet Releaf uses certified organic hemp and a clean supercritical CO2 extraction process. Their CBD products certainly aren't the cheapest you can find, but if you want a company that doesn't cut corners, Pet Releaf fits the bill.
Interested? Read on for more details.
Shop Pet Releaf
Hemp Source: Colorado
CBD Types: Certified organic, full spectrum CBD
Transparency: Website provides third-party lab test results for all products
Pet Product Categories:
About Pet Releaf
Unlike most CBD companies that offer pet products as an aside, Pet Releaf puts animals at the center of what they do. Company founders Steve and Alina Smith take pet health seriously, and their company processes testify to that.
Started as a way to promote wellness in their own pets, the Smiths have chosen the highest quality ingredients available for their products. All their hemp is sourced from a USDA-certified organic hemp farm in Colorado, and even the variety of hemp has been chosen specifically for animals.
For their CBD oil, Pet Releaf developed PR-33, a proprietary strain of hemp with very low levels of THC, intended specifically for pets. This means that pet owners can take advantage of the other beneficial cannabinoids present in a full spectrum CBD oil without worrying about THC toxicity.
And for pets who need to take their CBD oil with food, Pet Releaf has developed a liposome delivery system for their CBD. While there's been little scientific research on liposomal CBD, studies have shown liposomes to protect other drug molecules as they pass through the digestive system, resulting in better absorption.
In addition to tinctures and capsules, Pet Releaf also offers a variety of handmade edibles for dogs and cats. These contain no wheat, corn, dairy or soy, fillers or chemical preservatives. And for skin irritation, the company has an all-natural CBD-infused Canna Care topical.
All Pet Releaf products undergo extensive third-party testing which is available for customers to view on the website. They also have responsive customer service, so feel free to ask questions before purchasing.
Is it possible to find a less expensive option for quality pet CBD? Definitely. On the other hand, Pet Releaf checks all the necessary boxes that pertain to premium, rigorously tested CBD products. And few companies hold pet wellness to be such an essential part of their company ethos.
Pet Releaf's website is both attractive and well-designed. You'll find loads of information about everything from the company's hemp strain to the extraction process and product manufacturing processes.
Important information like product ingredients are easy to find as well, and they provide useful tools like a usage calculator to help you figure out which CBD products are most appropriate for your pet.
We found Pet Releaf's customer service to be responsive and friendly. They answered our email within an hour, and it was clear that they knew their products well.
Their website form does require that you give a phone number, which we don't love. However, if you prefer, you can contact them through Facebook, or you can phone them.
We found Pet Releaf's purchase process to be glitch-free. On the downside, free shipping only begins at $200, which is a relatively high minimum order. If your shopping cart contains less than that, you'll have to pay $8.00 for shipping.
But you can feel confident that Pet Releaf stands behind their products. While the company doesn't accept physical returns of their products, if you're not satisfied, you can request a refund within 30 days.
Pet Releaf stands out for highly transparent company practices. Company founders Steve and Alina Smith are proud of their products. And unlike many CBD company founders, they put their names on the line.
Third-party test results are available on the website for all products. They are up-to-date, include batch numbers, and test for guaranteed potency of CBD and THC levels. There are also contaminant testing results for some products.
Pet Releaf sets a high bar for CBD pet products.
With seed-to-sale oversight, the company creates premium-quality, organic CBD products that you can trust for your pets.
The post Pet Releaf: Premium CBD Products for Pets appeared first on CBD Hacker.
CBD Hacker | Know What You're Taking by Benjamin Gorman	- 1M ago
In today's CBD market, CBD oil, gummies, and vape juice reign supreme. Topical products often take a backseat to more mainstream offerings, but not at Panther Wellness.
This Florida CBD company puts its topical products front and center. They promise a luxurious feel and the highest quality relief from all-natural CBD.
But do they keep their promises? Read on for the full story below.
Shop Panther Wellness
Transparency: Lab results available on each product page
About Panther Wellness
Panther Wellness is a family-owned CBD company based in Florida. They are dedicated to producing highly effective CBD products made from ultra-pure, full spectrum hemp extract.
According to the Panther Wellness website, their mission is to fight the "daily battle for health and well-being" using all-natural CBD. They use 100% Colorado-grown organic hemp, which is non-GMO, pesticide-free, and kosher.
Some other ingredients used in the products are also all-natural and organic, such as the shea butter and avocado oil found in their Hemp Lotion. They use supercritical C02 extraction to extract CBD and other cannabinoids, terpenes, and essential oils from the hemp.
Panther Wellness differs from other CBD companies for a few reasons. For one, they only sell products in a few categories. There are just four types of CBD products available on the site. This may be because they launched in 2017, but given the quality of their hemp and other ingredients, it's likely that they've opted for quality over quantity—a good sign.
Secondly, Panther Wellness features its balms and lotions — not its tinctures and capsules — front and center. While other companies are simply placing hemp extract into oils, pills, and sugary snacks, Panther has chosen a niche and worked to produce great products that are good enough to stand alone as CBD topicals and beauty cosmetics.
In fact, Panther Wellness' Hemp Lotion was the highest rated lotion in our list of the top 15 CBD creams, salves, and balms. Those with skin irritation, aching muscles, or joint pain have a reason to rejoice.
Panther Wellness has a sleek and speedy website that is both a joy to look at and easy to navigate. While the use of cheesy stock images can be a little off-putting, the overall experience is seamless.
Each product is easy to find and modify (strength can be changed, but not size). They provide a good deal of information for each offering, including a full description, lab results, suggested use, and ingredients. All of these are easily accessible on each product page. Rarely does a CBD site make it this easy.
Again, Panther Wellness shines brightly here. We reached out to customer service via Facebook Messenger and received a response in under 30 minutes. The representative we spoke with was friendly and able to answer all of our questions in detail.
Customer service is available via email, Facebook, and an online contact form. The company is also reachable on social media.
Panther Wellness has a decent shipping and returns policy, offering free shipping on orders over $65 and free returns.
A money-back guarantee covers all products. If a customer is not satisfied, they can return any product for a full refund within 30 days of purchase.
All of our purchases arrived on time and intact, in packaging that was both attractive and protective.
A third-party lab tests all of Panther Wellness' products, and you can easily access test results on the company's website. The product pages clearly list the ingredients for each product, as well as the source of the hemp.
In our independent tests of their topical products, we found the potency and purity to be within acceptable ranges of those reported by the company.
The website provides little information about the company's leadership. This information is available elsewhere online, though.
Panther Wellness may be a young company with only a few products on the shelf. But its luxurious, all-natural topical products are some of the best we've come across. A reliable company that made us feel confident, we highly recommend Panther Wellness to those seeking CBD relief.
The post Panther Wellness: A Top Pick for Topical CBD appeared first on CBD Hacker.
This week the US Postal Service made things much easier for the CBD industry by clarifying its policy on mailing CBD products. In the past, CBD companies have run into resistance from local post offices about the legality of mailing their products.
In response, the USPS issued clarifying guidance earlier this year which the industry still felt was overly restrictive. Counsel for the US Hemp Roundtable sent a letter requesting a less-burdensome policy, and the USPS took note.
The new policy requires mailers to keep evidence that their products comply with federal law, but doesn't require that evidence to be shown every time a package is mailed.
Kroger is the latest national retailer to jump on the CBD bandwagon, announcing this week that it will start selling topical CBD products like lotions, balms, oils, and creams. Other major retailers like CVS and Walgreens have already announced that they will sell CBD, cashing in on the high demand for the now federally legal extract.
The CBD products sold at Kroger's will be THC-free and they will be available in 945 stores in 17 states. In a statement, Kristal Howard, head of corporate communications at Kroger, said that their "limited selection of hemp-derived CBD topical products is from suppliers that have been reviewed for quality and safety."
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If you live in the Lone Star State, you can now carry your CBD around with you legally. On Monday, Governor Greg Abbot signed a bill into law that formally legalizes hemp and hemp-derived products. The new law, which had broad bi-partisan support, will result in a federally approved program for farmers to grow industrial hemp, allowing Texan farmers to cash in on the so-called "green rush."
Hemp-derived CBD has been readily available in Texas for some time. Until this week, though, the state's laws did not differentiate between hemp and marijuana.
California's Senate Health Committee approved a bill on Wednesday that would provide some clarity around the sale of CBD products in the state. The bill states that the inclusion of hemp-derived CBD in foods, beverages, or cosmetics does not contravene the state's Sherman Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law.
Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), who authored the bill, made a case for the economic benefits of the CBD boom, which generates millions of dollars and employs many people in California: "Should the state choose not to clarify that hemp CBD products are legal, these jobs and this business would be lost."
Two Canadian cannabis companies have announced plans to invest heavily in the US hemp industry over the next year.
Canopy Growth Corporation, which announced its investment in the US market back in February, has now decided to increase its cultivation efforts in six or seven states.
Leviathan Cannabis Group has also announced plans to build a hemp processing facility in Tennessee, which the company hopes will be able to manufacture up to 3000 kilos of CBD isolate per month.
With the current CBD shortage in Canada, Canadians are no doubt hoping that some of that CBD will make its way onto store shelves north of the border.
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Last week we reported on the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe's lawsuit against the USDA for delaying the approval of their plans to grow hemp on their land.
This week, Federal Judge Karen Schrier denied the request of the tribe to force the USDA to follow the guidelines of the 2018 Farm Bill (giving the USDA only 60 days to approve or deny plans).
The USDA has stated that regulations would be in place sometime in the fall of 2019, and the agency will begin approving plans once those rules are in place.
You know that taboos around cannabis are eroding fast when the Church of England is willing to invest in the plant.
Following the recent legalization of medicinal cannabis in the UK, the denomination has decided that medicinal cannabis does not contravene their Ethical Investment Standards, which exclude profiting from industries like gambling, alcohol, and tobacco.
A spokesperson for the Church Commissioners, who manage church funds (used to pay bishops and ministry costs), told ABC News: "We will hold medicinal cannabis to the same standards as we hold other pharmaceuticals, and invest only if properly licensed and regulated for medicinal use."