Best CBD Oil In Canada: Reviews & Guide (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.

Even for a resident of Vancouver like myself, 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.

Summary

In Canada, you can buy CBD products from licensed producers or unlicensed vendors. Out of all the products I tested, R&R’s full-spectrum CBD tincture had the strongest effects.

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
4. Best THC-Free: Endoca THC-Free 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. Solid Alternative: Hemplixir CBD oil | full review
4. Best THC-Free: Ufeelu Rest Drops | full review

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

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 three strengths with natural and mint flavours. This CBD oil is available in a broad-spectrum version if you want to avoid THC. 

A veteran and employee-owned brand, R&R uses certified-organic Colorado hemp 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 relaxed with an improved mood within 30 minutes, with the effects 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 comes in exceptionally high potencies of 10-30% (100-300 mg/ml), which is significantly stronger than most licensed CBD oils. It also 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 Swiss hemp 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 with three strengths.

These oils are made in Vancouver, BC from local hemp. 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.

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 THC-Free: Endoca THC-Free CBD Oil

If you need to avoid THC because you’re sensitive to it or for other reasons, Endoca is a good option. Its THC-free CBD oil is flavoured with chocolate mint and comes in two strengths and bottle sizes.

Founded in 2010 in Denmark, Endoca is one of the oldest and most respected CBD companies in the world. It grows organic hemp in partnership with local farmers and controls every step of production from seed to shelf.

Best Licensed Producer CBD Oils

Here, 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.

Solid Alternative: 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 for dosing.

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. But I’m not a fan of the syringe, I replaced it with a regular dropper.

Best THC-Free: Ufeelu Rest Drops

The rest drops from Vancouver’s Ufeelu are made with THC-free broad-spectrum extract, making them the best option for people who want to completely avoid THC.

This CBD oil has a formula rich in cannabinol (CBN), a minor cannabinoid touted for its sleep benefits. It’s made from Ontario-grown hemp and contains a total of 900 mg CBD and 300 mg CBN alongside a blend of 18 relaxing terpenes.

How I Chose These CBD Oils

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. After starting with a list of about 15 oils, I considered the following criteria to choose the eight 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 but also provide THC-free options.
• 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.

Is CBD Legal in Canada?

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

But there are some restrictions. Companies that want to produce, process, or sell CBD products must get a licence from the government. And 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.

But there is one positive bit of news: a Health Canada Scientific Advisory Committee reported in July 2022 that CBD is safe for adults and dogs, which may help loosen the restrictions around the sale of CBD.

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)

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 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 the government. 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 You Buy Licensed or Unlicensed CBD Oil?

There are pros and cons to both.

Licensed CBD Oil

The main advantage of licensed CBD oil is its low price. And since it’s made under strict 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 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 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.

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.