Best CBD Oil In Australia: Reviews & Guide (2024)

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CBD oil is not that easy to access in Australia. Although the country made it legal to buy low-dose CBD products at pharmacies, they won’t be available for several years.

Aside from that, CBD is regulated in the same strict way as medical cannabis, so it’s only available with a doctor’s prescription. That’s why many Australians buy CBD oil online from international companies.

In this article, I’ll explain the legality of CBD, how to buy it, and review the best CBD oils in Australia.

5 Best CBD Oils in Australia

Out of all the products I tested, R&R’s full-spectrum CBD oil had the best combination of effects and price. Keep reading for full reviews and estimated shipping costs in US dollars.

1. Best Overall: R&R CBD Tincture | full review
2. Best Potency & Shipping: Kiara Naturals Full-Spectrum CBD Oil | full review
3. Best Reputation: NuLeaf Naturals Full-Spectrum CBD Oil | full review
4. Best Full-Spectrum: Endoca Strong Full-Spectrum CBD Oil | full review
5. Best Formulas: Extract Labs CBD Tincture | full review

Looking for CBD gummies in Australia? Check out our related guide.

Best Overall: R&R CBD Tincture

My top pick goes to R&R; its CBD oil is of the cheapest options for Australia. It’s also certified organic by the USDA and certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority, two more signs of excellent quality. This oil comes in full and broad-spectrum versions with three strengths and mint or natural flavor.

Colorado’s R&R CBD is an employee and veteran-owned company. Its products are derived from local organic hemp farms and go through extensive third-party testing.

My experience: I tried out the 1000 mg and 2500 mg tinctures. I felt relaxed and slept better after taking a full dropper (83 mg) of the 2500 mg tincture. The mint flavor is also nice and not overwhelming.

Best Potency & Shipping: Kiara Naturals Full-Spectrum CBD Oil

The full-spectrum CBD oil from Switzerland’s Kiara Naturals is ideal for people who need a serious dose of CBD. All three potencies of this tincture are exceptionally high: 10%, 20%, and 30%.

This CBD oil is also a good choice if you’re looking for cheap and fast shipping. It only costs $9.99 to ship, with free shipping on orders over $49 and a fast estimated delivery time of 6-12 working days.

My experience: I received a sample of the 30% oil, which had fairly potent effects from 10 drops. I felt relaxed afterward and had an easier time falling asleep.

Best Reputation: NuLeaf Naturals Full-Spectrum CBD Oil

NuLeaf Naturals is one of the pioneers of the American CBD industry. Its high-potency CBD oil has over 20,000 satisfied customer reviews with an average 4.9/5-star rating, making it arguably the best-reviewed CBD oil in the world. 

It’s sourced from organic Colorado hemp and comes in 5 bottle sizes (5-100 ml). Unlike most CBD oils, it uses hemp seed oil as the carrier, which is arguably more nutritious and effective than the standard coconut MCT oil.

My experience: This was one of the first CBD oils I ever tried and remains an excellent option. It had potent effects and a natural hempy taste from the hemp seed oil.

Best Full-Spectrum: Endoca CBD Oil

Founded in 2010, Denmark’s Endoca is one of the oldest and most respected CBD vendors in the world. It’s best known for its full-spectrum CBD oil, which comes in two varieties: regular and raw.

Both of these are proper full-spectrum oils rich in terpenes and minor cannabinoids. The raw version retains high amounts of cannabidiolic acid (CBDa), the parent compound of CBD, making it as close to natural as possible. They’re sourced from organic Danish hemp.

My experience: I tested out the strong (150 mg/ml) CBD oil, which had some of the most potent effects of any CBD tincture I’ve used. But be warned, it does have a strong natural hemp taste.

Best Formulas: Extract Labs Tinctures

If you’re looking for CBD oil for a specific benefit, Extract Labs is a good choice. It sells CBD tinctures in five formulas:

• Daily support formula for general CBD benefits
• PM CBN formula for sleep
• Relief CBC formula for pain
• Cognitive CBG support formula
• CBGa+CBDa formula for immune support

You can also choose from full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate options, as well as lemon and raspberry flavors. Extract Labs is a reputable, Colorado-based brand founded by military veteran Craig Henderson. It uses local, organic hemp to make its products.

My experience: I bought the standard 66 mg/ml full-spectrum tincture, which produced notable relaxing and calming effects from a 1 ml dose.

How I Chose These CBD Oils

I’ve tried hundreds of CBD oils and did some research to find the best ones that ship to Australia. After coming up with a list of about 10 options, I narrowed my choices down further by considering the following factors:

• Third-party testing: Performed by an independent, certified laboratory, third-party tests verify the potency and purity of CBD products. Reputable CBD brands pay for this testing to reassure customers that they’re getting exactly what they paid for.
• Effects: There’s a very clear difference between a quality CBD oil and a subpar one. I tested multiple tinctures, favoring those that had stronger effects.
• Type of CBD: Full-spectrum CBD produces the greatest effects. However, some people may need to choose THC-free options (broad-spectrum or isolate CBD).
• Potency: Potency is the amount of CBD you’re getting per dose. I usually recommend higher-potency CBD oils because they’re convenient for both beginner and advanced CBD users and also help you save money.
• Hemp source: CBD is extracted from hemp, so plant quality matters. I choose brands that use organic hemp and are transparent about their hemp source and production process. 
• Company reputation: Reputable CBD brands have hundreds of satisfied customer reviews and provide detailed information about their third-party testing, hemp source, and more.
• Price: I look for affordable but quality CBD brands to help you save money. I also consider shipping costs and other ways to save, like subscriptions.

Is CBD Legal in Australia?

Yes, but you won’t be able to access it for several years. In December 2020, the country’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) moved low-dose CBD preparations from schedule 4 (prescription-only) to schedule 3 (pharmacist-only medicine).

This means CBD products providing no more than 150 mg/day are legal to buy over-the-counter (OTC) at Australian pharmacies. 

Unfortunately, these products have to go through a lengthy approval process with the TGA. According to some estimates, they won’t be available until at least 2024. So even though OTC CBD is technically legal, you can’t buy it yet.

These products will also be restricted in their cannabinoid levels. CBD will have to account for at least 98% of the total cannabinoid content. That means companies will have to remove some cannabinoids from full-spectrum products, making them less effective.

How to Buy CBD in Australia

You have three options for accessing CBD products in Australia:

• Get a prescription from a doctor
• Buy online from an international brand
• Buy at a pharmacy (not available until 2024 or later)

Buying CBD With a Prescription In Australia

Right now, the only legal way to buy CBD oil in Australia is to:

• Get a prescription from a general practitioner
• Get a prescription from an Authorized Prescriber
• Participate in a cannabis clinical trial

You have to be eligible to get access. The precise eligibility criteria differ by Australian state and typically include having specific conditions that medical cannabis can help with, such as chronic pain.

1. General Practitioner CBD Prescription

You can go to any Australian GP and ask for a CBD oil prescription. They can then apply through the Special Access Scheme (SAS) system to get permission to prescribe CBD.

The doctor will have to wait for approval or a request for more information before they can give you a prescription. 

You can also go to a dedicated medical cannabis clinic, which will make the process easier because the doctors will be experienced with cannabis and the prescription process. These clinics are common in major Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.

Keep in mind that many doctors and clinics will charge you several hundred dollars for the consultation. 

2. Authorised Prescriber CBD Prescription

Authorized Prescribers (AP) are doctors who were approved by the TGA to prescribe medical cannabis to their patients. They can immediately prescribe CBD oil and other cannabis products without having to apply for permission with the TGA.

Unfortunately, there’s no public list of APs so they’re not easy to find. 

3. Cannabis Clinical Trial

Another option is to enrol in medical cannabis clinical trials. While this route isn’t easy, there are always clinical trials happening. You’ll have to find CBD clinical trials that specifically study the effects of CBD-rich cannabis preparations. 

Buying CBD Oil Online in Australia

Most Australians choose to buy CBD oil online from international brands. Although not strictly legal, this method is popular because it’s cheaper and takes less time than going through the medical cannabis system. 

But there’s a possibility of having your order seized at the border because importing CBD into Australia without special permission is considered illegal. You may also have to pay duties.

When buying CBD oil online, you have two options:

• Order from CBD brands that ship directly to Australia, like the ones I mentioned earlier
• Use a mail forwarding service to buy CBD from a foreign brand and have it forwarded to Australia

Most people use the first option because it’s cheaper and easier. However, if you want to buy products from a specific brand then you might have to use the second route. 

History of CBD Laws in Australia

Like in most countries, the legality of CBD in Australia is tied to cannabis. Individual Australian states began to prohibit cannabis in the 1920s and 1930s.

The country followed a similar trajectory to the United States, effectively banning cannabis for much of the 20th century.

In November 2016, the Australian government legalized medical cannabis, which includes CBD and other hemp-derived products. This allowed people to access CBD with a doctor’s prescription.

However, the recreational use of any cannabis product remains illegal. There’s only one exception to this rule — the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), which legalized recreational cannabis in 2019.

Most recently, a December 2020 TGA ruling downregulated low-dose CBD from prescription to pharmacy medicine. But Australians won’t be able to buy over-the-counter CBD products from pharmacies for at least a few years as they have to go through a lengthy approval process.

Summing Up: Finding the Best CBD Oil in Australia

CBD is not fully legal in Australia just yet. Although you’ll start to see CBD oil appear on pharmacy shelves in the near future, for now, it’s only available through the medical system.

But getting CBD oil via prescription takes time, money, and requires you to have eligible symptoms or conditions.

That’s why many Australians choose to buy CBD oil online from international brands, which are cheaper, easier to purchase, and available in a wider variety.