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While most CBD manufacturers claim their products are organic, the USDA organic seal is the only way to be sure. This seal stands for high quality, ensuring that the CBD oil is sourced from organically grown hemp and contains organically processed ingredients.
But finding USDA-organic CBD oil can be challenging, especially if you’re on a budget. That’s why I’ve researched and created a list of the best organic CBD oils backed by the USDA seal. I tested over a dozen organic CBD oils and compared their effects, minor cannabinoid levels, price, and other criteria to find the best options.
Table of Contents
Summary
The overall best organic CBD oil is sold by Vermont’s Upstate Elevator Supply Co. It had the best combination of certifications, effects, and price of all the organic CBD oils I tested.
- Best Overall: Upstate Elevator Supply Hemp Extract | Full review
- Best Value: Lazarus Naturals Full-Spectrum CBD Oil | Full review
- Strongest: R&R CBD Full-Spectrum Tincture | Full review
- Best THC-Free & Flavors: Joy Organics CBD Tincture | Full review
- Honorable Mention: Charlotte’s Web Max Strength CBD Oil | Full review
CBD Glossary
- Hemp: cannabis variety with high CBD and low THC levels (no more than 0.3%).
- Terpenes: aromatic plant compounds with various beneficial properties (1).
- Minor cannabinoids: CBN, CBG, CBC, and other beneficial cannabinoids found in smaller amounts in hemp. They may work in synergy with CBD.
- Full-spectrum: whole-plant hemp extract containing multiple cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. This form of CBD is about four times more potent than pure CBD (2).
- Broad-spectrum: whole-plant hemp extract similar to full-spectrum CBD, but with THC removed (may contain trace amounts).
- CBD isolate: pure CBD without any other hemp compounds.
Best Overall: Upstate Elevator Supply Co. Hemp Extract
| CBD Potency | 50 mg/ml |
| Volume | 30 ml |
| Total CBD | 1500 mg |
| Cost per mg CBD | $0.03 |
| Type | Full-spectrum |
| Flavors | 2 |
| Third-Party Test | View report |
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Pros:
- Exceptionally low price
- Free shipping over $50
- Two flavors
- Two organic certifications
Cons:
- No unflavored option
Upstate Elevator Supply Co. offers the best USDA-certified organic CBD tincture I’ve tried. It’s certified organic not just by the USDA but also by Vermont Organic Farmers, has solid minor cannabinoid levels (~10%), and is made from unique hemp cultivars explicitly bred for Vermont’s short growing season.
You can pick from peppermint and lemon flavors at a low price of 3 cents per mg of CBD. Vermont’s Upstate Elevator Supply Co. is one of the top three CBD brands I’ve reviewed, thanks to its low prices and top-tier hemp extract quality.
My experience: I tested the lemon-flavored CBD oil, which had a pleasant lemon taste. I felt noticeable calming and relaxing effects within 20 minutes, and they lasted for several hours.
Best Value: Lazarus Naturals High Potency CBD Tincture
| CBD Potency | 50 mg/ml |
| Volume | 15-120 ml |
| Total CBD | 750-6000 mg |
| Cost per mg CBD | $0.02-0.03 |
| Type | Full-spectrum |
| Flavors | 3 |
| Third-Party Tests | View report |
Pros:
- Exceptionally low price
- Free shipping over $50
- Multiple flavors and bottle sizes
Cons:
- No subscription option
If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, I recommend the full-spectrum CBD oil from Lazarus Naturals. This tincture costs only 2-3 cents per mg of CBD, which is an exceptionally low price for a USDA-certified organic oil.
It’s made from hemp cultivated on the Lazarus Naturals farm in Central Oregon and comes in classic (natural), strawberry lemonade, and chocolate mint flavors. The employee-owned Lazarus Naturals is known for its unbeatable combination of low prices and quality and is my overall favorite CBD brand.
My experience: This is my most purchased CBD oil. I’ve tested the classic flavor tincture multiple times, finding it to have powerful relaxing and mood-boosting effects. It starts to work within 15 minutes and the effects last for up to six hours. The oil has a hempy taste and a dark color.
Strongest: R&R CBD Full-Spectrum Tincture
| CBD Potency | 167 mg/ml |
| Volume | 30 ml |
| Total CBD | 5000 mg |
| Cost per mg CBD | $0.03 |
| Type | Full & Broad-spectrum |
| Flavors | 2 |
| Third-Party Test | View report |
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Pros:
- Exceptional potency
- Free shipping over $60
- Two flavors
Cons:
- THC-free oil only available in 1000 mg
If you’re looking for the strongest organic CBD oil, you won’t find any better options than R&R CBD. Its USDA-organic full-spectrum CBD oil is sold in an extra-high 5000 mg (167 mg/ml) potency. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a CBD oil this strong, organic or otherwise.
Besides, it’s rich in minor cannabinoids and terpenes, has a low price, ships for free, and is certified by the US Hemp Authority. The oil is available in natural and fresh mint flavors. R&R is one of the best CBD brands I’ve reviewed. Its products are sourced from USDA-certified organic hemp cultivated in Colorado.
My experience: Although I haven’t used the 5000 mg version, I did test the 2500 mg mint oil. It had a pleasant flavor and dark color I usually see in high-quality full-spectrum oils. I felt potent relaxing effects within 20 minutes, slept deeper, and woke up well rested.
Best THC-Free & Flavors: Joy Organics CBD Tincture
| CBD Potency | 15-75 mg/ml |
| Volume | 15-30 ml |
| Total CBD | 450-2250 mg |
| Cost per mg CBD | $0.06–0.10 |
| Type | Full & broad-spectrum |
| Flavors | 6 |
| Third-Party Test | View report |
Pros:
- Six flavors & four strengths
- Free shipping over $50
- One of the only broad-spectrum USDA-organic oils
Cons:
- Not as cheap as some other tinctures
Joy Organics is my top pick for THC-free organic CBD oil. It sells one of the only USDA-certified organic broad-spectrum CBD oils on the market. It’s also a great pick if you prefer flavored CBD oil since you can choose from six flavors. Joy Organics is a family-run Colorado CBD company.
My experience: I tested the tropical sunrise flavor full-spectrum CBD oil, which had a tasty, mild flavor. The effects kicked in about 20 minutes later, with a mix of potent relaxation, calm, and improved mood. They lasted for more than four hours.
Honorable Mention: Charlotte’s Web Max Strength CBD Oil
| CBD Potency | 17-60 mg/ml |
| Volume | 10-100 ml |
| Total CBD | 510-4000 mg |
| Cost per mg CBD | $0.05–0.12 |
| Type | Full-spectrum |
| Flavors | 3 |
| Third-Party Test | View report |
Pros:
- Free shipping over $74
- Unique hemp cultivar
- Three flavors
Cons:
- Not as cheap as some other tinctures
The full-spectrum organic CBD oil from Charlotte’s Web deserves an honorable mention. This USDA-organic tincture is made from proprietary hemp cultivars and certified by the US Hemp Authority. It’s available in three flavors: chocolate mint, orange blossom, and lemon twist.
Named after a young girl who found relief from intractable seizures using their unique hemp cultivar, Charlotte’s Web is one of the country’s oldest and largest CBD brands.
My experience: I tested the mint chocolate tincture during the daytime, which had a pleasant refreshing taste. It kicked in about 20 minutes later with relaxation and a better mood that lasted for several hours.
What is USDA-Organic CBD Oil?
Most manufacturers claim that their CBD oil is organic. But “organic” is a fairly ambiguous and confusing term that can be difficult to understand or prove. When it comes to CBD oil, the only way to know for sure that it’s organic is the seal from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The USDA organic seal is granted to companies that undergo a rigorous certification process by a USDA-approved agent. This is the exact same seal you can find on many organic vegetables and fruits at the supermarket. For CBD oil, the seal signifies two key things:
- The CBD oil is sourced from hemp grown to meet the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) requirements, such as ensuring the soil is free of prohibited synthetic fertilizers and pesticides for three years before harvest.
- The CBD oil contains over 95% ingredients that are not only certified organic but also organically processed. This means both the CBD extract and the carrier oil (usually coconut MCT oil) are certified organic, as well as any flavoring. But the challenging part is that every step of the extraction and refinement process must also be done with certified organic methods. That’s why only a few dozen brands have managed to get the USDA organic label and only for some products.
The USDA organic seal is one of the most recognized and trusted certifications for agricultural products. It adds another level of trust and quality control to CBD products.
What are the Advantages of USDA-Organic CBD Oil?
USDA-certified organic CBD oil has several advantages over regular CBD oil. For one, it promotes sustainable farming practices that conserve water and energy, protect soil health, and support biodiversity.
You also reduce the risk of having contaminants in your CBD oil. Hemp is known to be a bioaccumulator: a plant that absorbs heavy metals and other contaminants from the soil (3). Research as recent as December 2022 found that many CBD products carry heavy metals and other contaminants, such as phthalates (4).
Since the USDA organic certification requires the soil to be free of prohibited substances for three years and has other stipulations around synthetic chemicals, it helps reduce the risk of contamination.
The bottom line is that the USDA organic logo means you’re getting a safer, higher quality, and more environmentally sustainable CBD oil.
How I Chose Organic CBD Oils
I’ve tested and reviewed hundreds of CBD oils, including about a dozen USDA-certified organic tinctures. I tried each CBD oil for at least a week. Then, to find the best ones, I compared them by using the following criteria:
- Third-party test reports: Carried out by an independent lab, these tests ensure the safety and accuracy of CBD oil. I always check third-party test results to make sure they match the label and to compare the minor cannabinoid and terpene levels of different oils.
- Effectiveness: Of course, the ultimate test is to compare the effects of each CBD oil. The ones I recommend had the strongest and most varied effects.
- Type of CBD extract: I advise using full-spectrum CBD products (containing CBD and the complete range of hemp cannabinoids and terpenes) for optimal results. Additionally, I recommend broad-spectrum (THC-free) options for those who need to steer clear of THC.
- Potency: This refers to the quantity of CBD in milligrams per milliliter (mg/ml). I opt for high-concentration (40+ mg/ml) CBD oil as it provides better value for money and is suitable for both beginners and seasoned users.
- Brand trustworthiness: I focus on trusted companies that reveal their production methods and have a record of favorable customer feedback.
- Pricing: I assess the worth of CBD oils by determining the cost per mg of cannabinoids in cents, considering free shipping offers and other savings opportunities.
If you want to shop for USDA-organic CBD oil on your own, be sure to keep these factors in mind.
Other USDA-Organic CBD Products
Although CBD oil is the most popular option, you can also find other certified-organic products from the abovementioned companies. These include gummies, salves and other topicals, pet products, and minor cannabinoid tinctures like CBG or CBN oil.
Although they’re not as common as CBD oils because they contain more ingredients (making it harder to get the USDA seal), there are enough organic options to suit your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gleb is a freelance writer from Vancouver, Canada specializing in CBD and cannabis. He’s read thousands of studies on CBD and other supplements, helping him translate complex science into plain language. Gleb has tried and reviewed dozens of CBD brands and products, written third-party testing reports, and knows the CBD industry inside and out. When not writing, he likes to kickbox, travel, and tell everyone how awesome intermittent fasting is.
