Best CBD Oil In Canada: Reviews & Buying Guide (Jan. 2023)

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Although adult-use cannabis is legal in Canada, buying CBD oil isn’t that simple.

Companies can only sell their products in licensed stores and online deliveries are restricted to individual provinces. There’s also a bustling unregulated CBD market full of products with questionable quality.

Navigating this marketplace can be confusing. To help you make an informed choice, I’ll review the best CBD oils in Canada and explain how to buy CBD products in the Great White North.

Top 6 Best CBD Oils in Canada

In Canada, you can buy CBD products from licensed producers or unlicensed vendors (more on the differences below). Here are the 6 best CBD oils available in the country:

Best Unlicensed CBD Oils

1. Best Overall: R&R CBD Tincture | full review
2. Best Potency & Shipping: Kiara CBD Oil | full review
3. Best Canadian Brand: CBDNorth CBD Oil | full review

Best Licensed CBD Oils

1. Best Overall: Medifarm Labs CBD oil | full review
2. Best Value: Lofi CBD oil | full review
3. Hemplixir CBD oil | full review

How to Buy CBD in Canada

There are three ways to buy CBD products in Canada:

• From a licensed Canadian company (online or in-store)
• From an unlicensed Canadian vendor (online or in-store)
• From an international CBD brand (online)

Is CBD Legal in Canada?

Yes, CBD products are fully legal in Canada. The country legalized recreational cannabis in 2018. 

But there are some restrictions. Companies that want to produce, process, or sell CBD products have to get a licence from the government. Additionally, they can only ship their products within a single province. You’re also not allowed to bring CBD products into or out of the country. 

Coupled with the relatively limited variety of licensed CBD products, these restrictions have encouraged many Canadians to buy CBD oil from unlicensed sources.

Buying Licensed CBD Oil In Canada

Technically speaking, it’s only legal to buy CBD oil in Canada from a licensed producer (LP). These companies have to apply to Health Canada for a licence to produce, process, or sell cannabis products, including CBD. 

Some companies only apply for one licence, while others might have two or all three, enabling them to grow, extract, and sell their products under one roof. Licensed producers have to follow strict rules for cannabis cultivation, extraction, testing, packaging, and labelling. 

Their CBD products are mostly sold by the official, government-regulated cannabis store of each Canadian province. If you live in Ontario, for example, you can buy CBD oil and other cannabis products from the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS).

Private retail cannabis stores can also sell licensed CBD products if they hold a retail operator licence. Both government and private retailers have online and physical stores and require buyers to be 18-21 years of age, depending on the province.

They can only sell and ship their products within each province. Some LPs are only active in one province, while others may offer their products in multiple ones.

Buying Unlicensed Canadian CBD Oil

Although unlicensed Canadian CBD vendors operate outside of the established cannabis market, they’ve been mostly left alone by government authorities. Similar to licensed vendors, you can buy their CBD products online or from brick-and-mortar stores.

There’s a multitude of unlicensed cannabis & CBD dispensaries and brands in Canada that ship throughout the country. 

But some of these brands are not of the greatest quality:

• Some lack proper third-party test results to verify that you’re getting what’s advertised
• Some products contain less CBD than labelled, the wrong type of extract, or have low minor hemp cannabinoid levels

Buying CBD Oil From International Brands

The third and final option is to buy CBD oil from international CBD companies that ship to Canada. Most American and European brands don’t ship CBD oil to Canada because it’s not exactly legal, but there are a couple of trustworthy options.

While there is a chance of having your CBD product seized at the Canadian border, most companies make their packages look inconspicuous and don’t mention CBD on the label, so the risk is low.

Should I buy Licensed or Unlicensed CBD Oil?

There are pros and cons to both; check below for a quick summary.

Licensed CBD Oil

The main advantage of licensed CBD oil is its low price. And since it’s made under thorough government regulations, you’re more likely to get a high-quality product. 

But the downside is the lack of transparency and difficulty of access. For example, you don’t know what’s exactly in your CBD product because the third-party tests are not provided, and product reviews are not available on the official government cannabis store websites.

There have also been negative reviews of the government-regulated provincial cannabis stores, particularly in terms of delivery problems.

Unlicensed CBD Oil

The main advantage of unlicensed CBD products is that you can easily ship them anywhere and check reviews and third-party test results to know what you’re getting. 

But they tend to cost more than licensed options. Many unlicensed CBD products are also of low quality so you have to do some research to find reputable brands.

Best CBD Oils in Canada Tested & Reviewed

I reviewed the best CBD oils available in Canada to help you find the best fit. Three of these are made by licensed producers and the other three by unlicensed international and Canadian brands. I personally tried most of the oils on this list by buying them or receiving a free sample.

Best Unlicensed CBD Oils

These CBD oils are sold by international or unlicensed Canadian CBD brands.

Best Overall: R&R CBD

My top pick goes to the full-spectrum CBD oil from Colorado’s R&R. It’s certified organic by the USDA, a rarity in the CBD industry.

You can choose from low, medium, and high potencies with natural and mint flavours. This CBD oil has a relatively low price tag and is available in a broad-spectrum version if you want to avoid THC. 

A veteran and employee-owned brand, R&R uses USDA-certified organic hemp grown in Colorado to make its CBD products. It’s also certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority, adhering to strict hemp quality standards.

My experience: I tried the 1000 mg and 2500 mg versions, finding them to have equal or greater effects than similar full-spectrum oils. I felt relaxation and uplifted mood within 30 minutes, lasting for several hours.

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

If you’re looking for the strongest CBD oil, I recommend Kiara Naturals. Its full-spectrum CBD oil is available in exceptionally high potencies of 10-30% (100-300 mg/ml), which is significantly stronger than most licensed CBD oils. It’s also affordably priced and ships for free in 7-14 business days.

Switzerland’s Kiara Naturals lives up to the country’s reputation for quality. Its products are sourced from organic hemp cultivated in the Alps and certified by Bio-Suisse, the country’s leading organic farming organization.

My experience: I tried the strongest (30%) version and felt potent relaxing effects that lasted several hours. I also had an easier time falling and staying asleep.

Best Canadian Brand: CBDNorth

Vancouver’s CBDNorth is one of the most popular unlicensed CBD oil brands in Canada. You can choose from CBD isolate and full-spectrum oils available in three strengths.

These oils are made in Vancouver, BC from local hemp. They’re comprehensively tested by a Vancouver-based third-party cannabis lab, proving that they contain multiple cannabinoids.

CBDNorth also offers a large 45% discount to low-income households, university students, veterans, seniors, and many other groups, and welcomes anyone in need to apply for this discount.

My experience: I tried 2 full droppers (~80 mg CBD) of the 2000 mg version. It did produce calming, relaxing effects but they weren’t as strong and long-lasting as some of the other products on this list. Still, it’s the best unlicensed Canadian CBD oil available.

Best Licensed Producer CBD Oils

I only chose full-spectrum CBD oils that also contain terpenes and come in high-strength (50+mg/ml) versions. Keep in mind that the prices are based on the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) and may vary at other retailers and provinces. 

Best Overall: Medipharm Labs CBD Oil

MediPharm Labs is the overall best option for licensed CBD oil because it’s available in most provinces, affordably priced, and full-spectrum.

Founded in Ontario in 2015, this brand is a licensed cannabis extractor and seller. It offers full-spectrum CBD oil in three potencies (25, 50, and 100 mg/ml), complete with natural cannabis terpenes.

There’s also a sleep tincture that combines a 1:2 ratio of pure CBD and cannabinol (CBN), a minor cannabinoid touted to support sleep.

Best Value: Lofi CBD Oil

Lofi is one of the cheapest licensed full-spectrum CBD oils; it costs only about 2 cents per mg of CBD. You can choose from 30 ml 1500 mg and 50 ml 2500 mg bottles.

This CBD oil is sourced from hemp grown in Ontario which is then sent to BC for alcohol extraction, one of the most popular, time-proven cannabis extraction methods. 

My experience: Lofi’s tincture has similar effectiveness to unlicensed tinctures of the same potency (50 mg/ml), making it an affordable pick. It worked great for promoting relaxation and calm.

Hemplixir CBD Oil

Purefarma’s Hemplixir CBD oil comes in two strengths: medium (30 mg/ml) and high (100 mg/ml). This is another high-quality full-spectrum CBD oil without any bells and whistles and an affordable price tag.

It’s sourced from BC-grown hemp that’s extracted with carbon dioxide. The tincture comes with a syringe that makes it easy to measure doses of up to 0.5 ml.

My experience: I took 3 doses of the 30 mg/ml oil (~45 mg CBD) since I have a high tolerance. It has a bitter, hempy taste similar to other licensed CBD oils. The effects were similar to the Lofi tincture, with noticeable relaxation and improved mood that lasted for a few hours.

Other CBD Products Available in Canada Reviewed

CBD oil is far from the only way to use CBD. You can also use CBD capsules, gummies, vape products, topicals, and more. Again, you can choose from licensed products or unlicensed & international brands. Here’s a review of the best options available in Canada.

Best CBD Gummies in Canada: R&R

For CBD gummies, I recommend R&R. These USDA-certified organic gummies provide 25 mg of broad or full-spectrum CBD per piece. In contrast, most CBD gummies are made with pure CBD isolate, which is less effective.

My experience: I ran through a container of these gummies quite fast because they were delicious and had noticeable relaxing whole-body effects after taking a few pieces at a time.

Best CBD Vape in Canada: Pure Sunfarms Full Spectrum CBD Cartridge

My top choice for CBD vape products in Canada is the full-spectrum CBD cartridge from Pure Sunfarms. It’s made with full-spectrum CBD, has a low price, and is available in major provinces.

Pure Sunfarms is a licensed cannabis producer that grows cannabis in Delta, BC.

Best CBD Capsules in Canada: Endoca

Endoca’s CBD softgel capsules are your best option in Canada. They’re available in regular and raw formulas with strengths of 10 or 50 mg per softgel. Endoca is one of the oldest and most reputable European CBD companies. Its products are potent and as close to natural as possible.

My experience: The 10 mg raw softgels I bought were the strongest CBD capsules I’ve ever used. Taking 3-5 softgels made me feel calm, relaxed, and happy for about 6 hours.

Best CBD Topical in Canada: LivRelief 1:1 CBD:THC Transdermal Cream

If you’re looking for a topical CBD product for pain relief, I recommend getting one that has a roughly 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC. You can’t get high from applying THC topically so you want to get equal amounts of both cannabinoids for optimal pain relief and other benefits.*

There are many 1:1 topicals on the online provincial cannabis stores. I live in BC so I could only buy the 1:1 CBD/THC (125 mg of each) transdermal cream from LIvRelief (which is also available in ON). If you can’t find this one in your province, choose another 1:1 product.

My experience: I applied the cream to my achy legs and shoulders after a kickboxing session and it seemed to help reduce the soreness. The cream has a pleasant natural smell and a lightweight feel. I didn’t experience any THC-related side effects.

*Transdermal products are designed to absorb through the skin into the bloodstream, so they could theoretically get you high if they contain THC and you use a large enough dose (3)

Best CBD Oil for Dogs in Canada: CBDNorth

While you can also give your dog human CBD oil, a pet tincture can be a better option for two reasons:

1. It has a lower strength that better suits dogs
2. It’s flavored, making it easier to give to your pooch
3. Dogs are more sensitive to THC so you have to be careful with full-spectrum products (4)

The dog CBD oil from CBDNorth is a great choice for Canadians. It contains 500 mg of pure CBD and is flavoured with salmon.

Best CBD Isolate in Canada: Sundial

CBD isolate powder can be used in a wide variety of ways, such as cooking or making your own CBD tinctures and vape oils. It’s also arguably the cheapest way to use CBD.

I recommend the CBD isolate from Sundial, a licensed cannabis producer from Alberta. It’s cheap and contains 97+% pure CBD isolate with only traces of THC.

How I Choose CBD Products

I personally tried and tested dozens of CBD oils and other CBD products from a variety of sources, including licensed producers, unlicensed Canadian vendors, and international brands. I considered the following criteria to choose the best options:

• Effects: I tried and compared many different products, favouring those that had greater effects and ideally at lower doses.
• Third-party testing: Done by independent laboratories, third-party tests check the levels of CBD, other cannabinoids, and look for pesticides and other contaminants. I prefer third-party tested products and check the test reports myself to ensure accuracy and good minor cannabinoid levels.
• Type of CBD: Full-spectrum CBD contains all of hemp’s beneficial cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds. I favour full-spectrum products because they’re the most effective.
• Product potency: Potency is the amount of CBD (mg) per ml of CBD oil. I prefer high-potency products because they’re more affordable and more convenient for both beginner and advanced CBD users.
• Hemp/cannabis source: CBD is usually sourced from hemp (or cannabis, in the case of most licensed producers), so its quality is important. I give preference to brands that grow and extract their own plants, have certifications like USDA-organic, and provide details about how their cannabis is cultivated.
• Company reputation: Trustworthy CBD producers provide details about their production process and have positive customer reviews.
• Price: I break down the prices of CBD oil into cents per mg to make it easy to compare and see if you’re getting a good deal. I also account for free shipping deals and other discounts.

Summing Up: Buying CBD Oil in Canada

CBD oil is fully legal in Canada and available both online and in physical retail stores. You can buy it from licensed Canadian producers, unlicensed online vendors, or international CBD brands that ship to Canada.

Each option has its pros and cons. I recommend giving both licensed and unlicensed CBD a try and seeing what’s more effective for you. In my experience, the quality of CBD oil varies quite a lot between individual brands.

And don’t forget that potency (amount of CBD per ml) plays a big role as well, so if a CBD oil isn’t working, you may need to try a stronger product.

Another bit of news is that Health Canada may soon allow CBD products to be sold in grocery and drug stores after the positive findings of its Scientific Advisory Committee.