Pharmstrong is a small Colorado-based CBD company selling CBD oil, capsules, gummies, and topicals. It stands out for offering USDA-certified organic products and running a brick-and-mortar store.
Summary
Although it lacks the recognition of big-name brands, Pharmstrong is a solid CBD company.
Pros
- USDA-certified organic products
- THC-free and full-spectrum products
- Good customer reviews
- Comprehensive third-party testing
- Runs a CBD store
Cons
- Lacking high-potency CBD oil
- Lacking details about production process
Table of Contents
Pharmstrong Overview
Pharmstrong is a CBD company based in the ski resort town of Breckenridge, Colorado. It was founded in 2018 by Melissa Dugan and Ty Storlie, who turned to CBD as a natural solution to staying active and pain-free.
Pharmstrong’s product lineup includes THC-free and full-spectrum CBD oral drops, gummies, capsules, topicals, and pet products. The company also offers discounted kits that include multiple products paired for a specific purpose, like working recovery.
Where Pharmstrong sets itself apart is that it has a brick-and-mortar store. As the only CBD Sample Bar in Colorado, people and pets alike are invited to visit and sample a variety of CBD products.
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.
Pharmstrong Product Lineup
Pharmstrong sells full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oil, topicals, capsules, gummies, and pet products. They come in a variety of flavors, and some include other active ingredients like melatonin and curcumin. Several products are also certified organic by the USDA, which is great to see.
CBD Oil
CBD Oral Drops
| CBD Potency | 30-45 mg/ml |
| Volume | 30 ml |
| Total CBD | 900–1350 mg |
| Cost per mg CBD | $0.10–0.11 |
| Type | Full & broad-spectrum |
| Flavors | 3 |
| Third-Party Test | View report |
The CBD Oral Drops from Pharmstrong come in broad and full-spectrum varieties. They’re certified organic by USDA and flavored with orange, mint, or lime (full-spectrum only).
Third-party tests for the full-spectrum tincture show high levels of minor cannabinoids (~12%), which is good to see. I’d like to see a third, higher strength.
Focus Drops
| Potency | 67 mg/ml |
| Volume | 30 ml |
| Total cannabinoids | 2000 mg |
| Cost per mg | $0.06 |
| Type | Broad-spectrum |
| Flavors | Orange |
| Third-Party Test | View report |
This tincture contains 1200 mg broad-spectrum CBD with high amounts of minor cannabinoids CBG and CBN: 600 mg and 200 mg. Since CBG is purported to improve energy and focus, this tincture is ideal for daytime use.
CBD Gummies
| Potency | 25-35 mg |
| Gummy Count | 12 |
| Total cannabinoids | 300 mg |
| Cost per mg | $0.04-10 |
| Type | Full-spectrum |
| Flavors | Assorted |
| Third-Party Test | View report |
Pharmstrong’s gummies come in two vegan, full-spectrum varieties:
- 25 mg CBD gummies with added l-theanine and vitamin C in assorted strawberry and orange flavors
- Dreamy tea sleep gummies with the same ingredients plus 10 mg of CBN
I like the ingredients and the use of full-spectrum CBD, which is still rare for edibles. Third-party tests also show impressive minor cannabinoid content (~15%). But Pharmstrong should add a larger container for the regular gummies for greater savings and convenience.
CBD Softgels
| Potency | 25-28 mg |
| Softgel Count | 30 |
| Total cannabinoids | 750-840 mg |
| Cost per mg | $0.09–0.11 |
| Type | Broad-spectrum |
| Formulas | 3 |
| Third-Party Test | View report |
Pharmstrong carries gelatin CBD capsules in three THC-free formulas:
- Daily formula with just CBD
- Formula with 3mg added melatonin and 3 mg CBN for sleep
- Formula with added curcumin for relief of aches and soreness
The company says these softgels are made with nano-emulsified CBD, which means they should be better absorbed by the body and therefore more effective. The third-party tests show solid minor cannabinoid levels for a broad-spectrum product (~6%).
CBD Topicals
Pharmstrong carries two kinds of topical products: balms and a roller.
CBD Body Balm
| CBD Potency | 20 mg/g |
| Volume | 1-2 oz |
| Total CBD | 550–1100 mg |
| Cost per mg CBD | $0.06–0.10 |
| Type | Broad-spectrum |
| Third-Party Test | View report |
The CBD Body Balm by Pharmstrong is certified organic by the USDA and made with broad-spectrum hemp. It’s infused with standard skincare ingredients like lavender and eucalyptus. I’d prefer to see full-spectrum hemp for topicals, but this is still a solid product.
CBD Roller
| CBD Potency | 17-22 mg/ml |
| Volume | 60-90 ml |
| Total CBD | 1000-2000 mg |
| Cost per mg CBD | $0.03-0.05 |
| Type | Full-spectrum |
| Third-Party Test | View report |
Pharmstrong’s full-spectrum CBD roller is infused with menthol and arnica for pain relief and comes in two slightly different formulas and strengths. The portable design makes it perfect for keeping it with you on the go, especially at the gym.
Skincare Products
Pharmstrong also sells three CBD-infused skincare products made by FarmHouse Fresh, a skincare brand with its own farm based in Texas.
CBD Pet Products
Pharmstrong also has a line of CBD pet products for your fur family.
CBD Dog Chews
| CBD Potency | 2-10 mg |
| Chews Count | 30 |
| Total CBD | 60-300 mg |
| Cost per mg CBD | $0.15-0.54 |
| Type | Broad-spectrum |
| Varieties | 2 |
| Third-Party Test | View report |
Pharmstrong’s dog edibles come in two varieties:
- Bacon-flavored chews with 2 mg CBD each
- Peanut butter-flavored treats with 10 mg CBD
CBD Oral Drops for Pets
| CBD Potency | 16.7 mg/ml |
| Volume | 30 ml |
| Total CBD | 450 mg |
| Cost per mg CBD | $0.12 |
| Type | Broad-spectrum |
| Third-Party Test | View report |
This is a pet-friendly version of Pharmstrong’s USDA-certified broad-spectrum CBD oil. The lower strength is ideal for dogs and cats. I’d like to see a second strength added for larger dog breeds.
Price
The easiest way to compare the value of CBD products is to divide the total cost by the amount of CBD. For example, if you have a 1000 mg CBD oil that costs $100, its price per milligram (mg) of CBD would be 100/1000 = $0.10.
The price per mg of CBD also varies between product types. When comparing what Pharmstrong is charging to the CBD market, most of their products are in the average price range:
- $0.06–0.11 per mg of CBD oil
- $0.03–0.10 for topicals
- $0.04-0.10 for gummies
- $0.09–0.11 for capsules
- $0.12-0.54 for pet products
The best bang for your buck are the sleep gummies, rollers, and focus CBD tincture.
Pharmstrong also has several discount opportunities available. There’s a monthly auto-delivery option that comes with a 30% discount or a BOGO deal, as well as CBD kits that bundle certain products at a reduced price.
Ultimately, Pharmstrong’s prices are reasonable, although you can certainly find cheaper options elsewhere.
Hemp Source and Extraction Process
Pharmstrong sources its hemp from licensed farms in Colorado.
To create a whole-plant hemp extract, these plants are extracted with ethanol, one of the two most popular CBD extraction methods. This extract is then further purified to formulate Pharmstrong’s broad and full-spectrum CBD products.
Still, I’d like to see more details about the production process, like whether Pharmstrong controls the whole process from seed to shelf (vertical integration) or works with other providers.
Third-Party Testing
Most of Pharmstrong’s third-party testing is done by SC Labs, one of the most reputable third-party testing labs out there. Some tests are also done by other reputable labs, like Kaycha. The test results can be found on the dedicated lab results page.
Third-Party Test Results
I always look at third-party lab test results to confirm that CBD companies sell safe, accurate, and effective products. Specifically, I check for:
- The levels of CBD, which should be within 10% of the label (3)
- The levels of minor cannabinoids like CBG (quality full-spectrum products should have at least 10%)
- The levels of THC
- Whether the CBD type (full, broad-spectrum, or isolate) is accurate
- Whether there are any contaminants
I looked at most of Pharmstrong’s third-party certificates of analysis (CoAs). Most match the label claims for CBD content and extract type. The CoAs are also up to date and most show both cannabinoid profiles (levels of CBD and other cannabinoids) and contaminants. But a few products, like gummies, are missing contaminant tests.
I added CoAs (pictured above) for two products to give you a better sense of what you’re getting:
- The test for the full-spectrum 900 mg CBD oil found 996 mg of CBD, which is almost within 10% of the label. The test also found 9.3% minor cannabinoids, which is fairly close to the minimum 10% I expect to see from high-quality full-spectrum CBD products.
- The test for the 25 mg CBD gummies found 31.1 mg, which is 24% higher. That’s a bit of a discrepancy, but it’s better to get more CBD than less. The tests also showed 15% minor cannabinoids, an excellent result for an edible full-spectrum product.
Overall, the third-party testing findings for Pharmstrong are solid, with only minor room for improvement.
Shipping & Returns
Pharmstrong ships throughout all cities and states in the U.S., with free shipping on orders over $50.
Customer Service & Reputation
Pharmstrong is a relatively small CBD vendor. Despite that, it holds a 4.7/5 average rating with over 250 reviews on the independent review site Trustpilot, which is quite impressive.
It’s also nice to see the company reveal the identity of its founders. But I would like to see Pharmstrong allow customers to post individual product reviews directly on its website.
My Verdict: A Solid Boutique CBD Company
While it’s not the biggest or most known name in the CBD industry, Pharmstrong is a solid CBD company.
I like the USDA-organic products and the reduced-price CBD kits. The product variety is also good, and I’m particularly fond of the three capsule formulas.
Still, I’d like to see the company add a high-strength CBD oil and a larger container of gummies. It would also be nice to know whether the company is vertically integrated or sources hemp or finished extracts from other producers.
Gleb is a CBD & cannabis expert from Vancouver, Canada. 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.
Thank you, Gleb. We are taking your comments very seriously, and we appreciate your deep dive into Pharmstrong. We’ve had a lot of growing pains in the last year, and yes, we have not updated our online COAs. However, our products come with a specific batch number, expiration date, and a QR code linking to that product’s most updated COA. We have found this to be an easier way for customers to track their product’s ingredients.
When you reviewed our new and improved CBD Gel Roller, the actual CBD content is 2000 mg, but since you could only reference an old COA of a less potent version of the Roller, it appeared to have less CBD. Thanks for showing us the importance of needing updated, online COAs for everyone’s reference! We are working on updating and correcting these errors.
Finally, because of our retail store in Breckenridge, we have the privilege of meeting thousands of customers every year. Since starting Pharmstrong in 2018, we’ve improved many of our products based on customer feedback. We are committed to providing the highest quality hemp products for our customers. There are more popular CBD brands, but not many carry USDA Certified Organic products. Our customers can rest assured knowing that they are getting the highest quality organic hemp products on the market, certified by the USDA.
Thanks again for helping us see where we need to improve. We value your experience and input! We will be sure to contact you when we’ve made our updates.
Melissa, Ty, and the Pharmstrong Team
Thanks I updated some of the info.
Hey Melissa, I updated the review. Looks like you guys made a lot of improvements, great work 🙂