One of the few companies selling almost every CBD format
HempMeds Review
It rarely happens that a CBD brand offers the whole spectrum of CBD-infused goods. Most CBD companies sell a few of the staple products — like CBD oils and capsules, and one or two other categories of generic CBD products.
But only a few brands offer the whole suite of CBD products.
HempMeds, a daughter company of Medical Marijuana Inc. is one of the few companies offering CBD products in just about every category imaginable. We view this as a great thing because you don’t have to bounce between different vendors to purchase what you want. However, such a broad range of CBD products raises some doubts as to whether all of them are made with the same high-quality standards.
In this review, we take a closer look at HempMeds and their CBD selection — highlighting both their strengths and weaknesses.
Mission/Charity5/5
HempMeds has a clear mission of making CBD oil accessible to as many people as possible. We believe the companies claims given the amazing range of different CBD products offered in all budget ranges.
The company also offers a 15% discount on all purchases and free shipping for veterans.
And finally, HempMeds supports ECHO — an independent nonprofit and charitable organization that supplies open-ended collaboration between cannabis patients and doctors. ECHO financially support families facing extenuating circumstances who can’t afford CBD oil.
Hemp Source4/5
HempMeds uses organic, non-GMO hemp plants imported from European farmers who are members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The hemp the company uses is certified by the EU Commission of the Natural Agricultural Ministries and are also lab-tested both in Europe and the US once they make it to one of HempMeds’ partnering laboratories.
Product Range5/5
The company offers virtually all forms of CBD products. From CBD oil drops and tinctures to vapes, and from edibles to CBD for pets — HempMeds has got you covered.
Innovation4/5
HempMeds doesn’t offer any innovative products unless you consider Real Scientific Hemp Oil as innovative, which is just highly-concentrated full-spectrum CBD oil. They do, however, use supercritical CO2 extraction for making their CBD products, which is a good indicator of their potency and purity.
Safety4/5
HempMeds provides detailed information on the use and safety of its products. The company has an extensive blog section where they educate customers about the safety of CBD and cannabis.
The company also uses a triple testing process on some (but not all) of its products. This is designed to demolish any doubt that the company is using sub-par hemp extracts to make its products.
Customer Service4/5
HempMeds has clear shipping & return policies listed on its website. Their customer service has a relatively fast response time for any queries sent through their contact form. If you need immediate assistance from their customer service staff, you can call them via phone.
We didn’t find any issues during our interaction with the customer service staff at HempMeds, Dixie Botanicals, and Real Scientific.
The only downside in this category is the short (14 day) return policy.
HempMeds is one of the first mainstream
distributors and retailers of CBD oil made from hemp, selling an impressive
range of different CBD extracts made from high-quality hemp — although some of
its products lack third-party lab reports to prove the quality and potency.
The
company prides itself on having over 100,000 loyal customers to date — which for some people speaks for itself.
HempMeds paved the way for many other CBD
businesses and continues to maintain the standards it set at the beginning of
their venture in the hemp industry. They’re a powerhouse in the industry — and
for good reason.
As a subsidiary of Medical Marijuana Inc., the
company not only produces its own CBD oil, it’s also the owner of several
daughter brands itself — including Real Scientific Hemp Oil, Cibdex, Cibaderm,
and Dixie Botanicals.
HempMeds sells everything but the kitchen sink
— the online store offers oil drops, topicals, tinctures, edibles,
concentrates, isolates, vapes, and hemp body care products. Prices range from
$19 all the way up to $1546 — meaning that every customer will find something
suitable for their budget.
The company broadly discusses its extensive Triple Lab Testing system. Surprisingly, despite its extensive testing protocol, the company publicly lists Certificates of Analysis for every product on the site.
Now, let’s talk about the company’s commitment
to the cannabis community.
Where Does HempMeds Source Its
Hemp?
While more and more US companies are turning
to domestic farmers for high-quality hemp plants, HempMeds still gets their
hemp from dedicated European growers.
European regions are known to have some of the
best conditions for growing hemp, so it’s no wonder HempMeds wants to stick to
their long-time partners. Not only that, but the farms supplying their hemp
work under the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The OECD promotes good manufacturing and trade practices among member
countries.
HempMeds prides itself in choosing only non-GMO hemp cultivars. Its plants are grown without using herbicides, pesticides, or chemical fertilizers, and the company claims to test them for the cannabinoid content and purity levels both in Europe and the USA. However, not all lab results are available on its website.
It would be easier to answer what products
they don’t sell.
HempMeds offers everything from full-spectrum
hemp oils to CBD isolates in every form possible — including tinctures,
capsules, vapes, topical products, and hemp-based cosmetics.
Here’s the breakdown of their entire
assortment:
1. Skincare
The HempMeds Personal Care line has been
created for people seeking the moisturizing and anti-aging properties of hemp,
and the added benefit of full-spectrum CBD. The collection consists of
hemp-based cosmetics as well as CBD topicals for problematic skin.
HempMeds Revitalizing Body Wash is a sulfate-free
cleanser that combines organic hemp oil with a full-spectrum CBD extract. This
product is high in Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids aimed at regenerating and
nourishing dry, damaged skin.
The product’s formula includes only natural
ingredients; the body wash is free of sulfates, parabens, or artificial dyes.
Despite the simple ingredients, it’s claimed to be one of the most gentle
foaming CBD cleansers on the market.
To use the body wash, simply massage it over
wet skin. Once you give your body a thorough lather, rinse it and complete your
routine with a body lotion.
Unfortunately,
HempMeds doesn’t provide any information about this product’s CBD potency.
The body lotion from HempMeds promises to pack
a healthy and natural punch with its moisturizing and regenerating effects.
This CBD-infused body lotion is formulated
with green tea, CBD oil, almond oil, and jojoba oil. It’s rich in B-complex
vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and other nutrients. Unfortunately, the company
doesn’t provide any information regarding the CBD content of this lotion.
The Purifying Shampoo is aimed at providing a
gentle cleansing experience — leaving users with hydrated healthy hair.
The
shampoo is color-safe, can be used daily, and suits all hair types. It’s been formulated without parabens, sulfates, and artificial dyes,
which makes it stand out from the numerous mediocre commercial shampoos on the
market.
The formula in HempMeds Hydrating &
Purifying Shampoo combines CBD oil with argan oil and goji berry extracts — all
of which have strong nourishing, hydrating, and skin-protective properties.
HempMeds doesn’t list the CBD content of its
shampoo anywhere on the website — an unfortunate theme the company seems to
have with its topical lineup.
Advertised as rich and luxurious, HempMeds
Nourishing Conditioner promises to leave your hair and scalp feeling restored
and moisturized.
While this sounds a bit stretched, the
conditioner is actually comprised of several high-quality organic ingredients such
as CBD hemp oil, argan oil, and a goji berry extract. All of them are known to
have strong antioxidant and hair-nourishing effects.
The CBD
content isn’t listed on this product.
This conditioner is appropriate for all types
of hair. You can use it along with HempMeds Purifying Shampoo to strengthen
hair and replenish their moisture.
The Day & Night Serum from HempMeds is a
CBD-infused moisturizer and protective agent against free radical and oxidative
damage.
The formula includes CBD hemp oil, licorice
root, green tea, and dragon’s blood extracts combined with hyaluronic acid.
This product is targeted at reducing wrinkles and preventing the formation of
new ones.
Like the company’s other topicals, the CBD content isn’t provided for this product.
HempMeds Defined Cleanser combines organic
hemp oil with full-spectrum CBD, and “an ancient blend of Bi-Bong™ herbs”. It’s
also one of the few products from the Personal Body Care collection with its
CBD content listed on the website.
HempMeds
recommends their cleanser to customers who want to remove dirt, makeup, and
dead skin cells from their faces without harming the skin.
The Defined Anti-Aging Exfoliant has been
designed to reduce the signs of aging and help the skin achieve a bright, even
tone.
The all-natural formula of this exfoliant is
aimed at lifting embedded dirt and oil from the skin while giving it the
moisture it needs thanks to the presence of skin-healthy oils.
This product comes from Dixie Botanicals, one
of HempMeds’ daughter brands specializing in CBD topicals. The salvation balm
contains natural beeswax, camphor oil, cedarwood and lavender oils, and a blend
of therapeutic herbs combined with 50 mg of CBD.
HempMeds recommends applying their Salvation
Balm to tired muscles and joints, damaged hair, and dry skin for natural
relief. The product has been formulated without parabens and artificial dyes.
The salvation balm is available in 28-g jars
and contains 1.3 mg/mL CBD. Given the low potency of CBD, the product calls for
a liberal application on the affected area to provide relief.
3. Concentrates & Waxes
The “Pure CBD Oil” category actually refers to
their Real Scientific Hemp Oil, one of HempMeds’ staple products. This is
HempMeds CBD concentrates and wax lineup.
Make no mistake, “pure” is not an equivalent
of “isolate”; it describes the purity level of their highly concentrated
full-spectrum extracts.
HempMeds
sells its RSHO products under three labels:
Green (300 mg)
Blue (510 mg)
Gold (720 mg)
Each of them comes in 3 g or 10 g tubes.
On top of being naturally rich in CBD, the
RSHO range contains an abundance of Vitamin E, carotenoids, minerals, essential
fatty acids, terpenes, and other trace cannabinoids.
These products are intended for sublingual
application.
A) Real Scientific Hemp Oil Green
Label
This product is as close to the original hemp
plant as you can get in CBD hemp supplements. It contains full-spectrum CBD
from hemp plants and is contained in its raw form to provide the user with a
range of naturally occurring phytonutrients including essential fatty acids and
chlorophyll.
Cost & Potency Breakdown of
Real Scientific Oil Green Label
Product Image
Product Name
Total mg of CBD
Price Per Bottle
Total mL
CBD Per mL
Price Per mg CBD
Real Scientific Oil Green Label — 3 g
300 mg
$69.00
3 mL
100 mg/mL
$0.23
Real Scientific Oil Green Label — 15 g
1500 mg
$189.00
15 mL
100 mg/mL
$0.13
B) Real Scientific Hemp Oil Blue
Label
The Blue RSHO contains decarboxylated oil in
its unfiltered form, retaining the raw hemp’s nutritional value (aside from the
plant matter) while maximizing CBD content.
Cost & Potency Breakdown of
Real Scientific Oil Blue Label
Product Image
Product Name
Total mg of CBD
Price Per Bottle
Total mL
CBD Per mL
Price Per mg CBD
Real Scientific Oil Blue Label — 3 g
510 mg
$99.00
3 mL
170 mg/mL
$0.19
Real Scientific Oil Blue
Label — 10 g
1700 mg
$209.00
10 mL
170 mg/mL
$0.12
C) Real Scientific Gold Label
The Gold Label of the Real Scientific Hemp Oil
is the strongest and cleanest product in the RSHO range. It contains
full-spectrum CBD accompanied by other trace cannabinoids, essential fatty
acids, and terpenes.
The oil has been filtered to remove any
chlorophyll and excess plant matter for a better taste and smoother experience.
Cost & Potency Breakdown of
Real Scientific Oil Gold Label
RSHO Special Blend contains exceptionally high
levels of CBD (38%) and is slightly lighter in color and viscosity than the
Blue Label Oil, but not filtered like the Gold Label formula.
This product caters to those seeking potent
CBD extracts without sacrificing the naturally occurring phytonutrients from
hemp.
This is the most potent product made by
HempMeds and one of the most potent CBD oils available on the market, offering
45% active CBD per application.
This means that a 10 g tube contains 4500 mg
of cannabidiol, giving you 225 mg per 0.5 mL serving.
The product combines a blend of RSHO Green and
Gold Oils, allowing the user to benefit from the full spectrum of cannabinoids
and the nourishing compounds from hemp such as omega fatty acids, essential
oils, terpenes, and chlorophyll.
How to Use RSHO Products
The RSHO CBD range is intended for oral or
sublingual use. Each bottle comes with a convenient oral applicator for precise
dosing. To use the RSHO, press the applicator and place the desired amount of
oil under your tongue. Hold it there for about 60 seconds, and then swallow.
4. Vape Juices & Cartridges
HempMeds has a modest selection of flavored
CBD vape juices sold under their daughter brand, Dixie Botanicals.
These products are based on purified CBD
isolate. They’ve been designed for people looking solely for the benefits of
cannabidiol instead of the full spectrum of cannabinoids.
The company also sells pre-filled, disposable
cartridges you can easily attach to the battery of nearly every
liquid-compatible vaporizer on the market. These cartridges consist of CBD
distillate and are flavored with cannabis terpenes, adding a slightly sweet,
citrus and pine taste.
These are prefilled, disposable CBD vape
cartridges that can be used on the go, wherever vaping is permitted. It’s been designed to fit standard 510 thread
batteries.
The battery is sold separately on HempMeds’
website.
HempMeds sells its isolate-based CBD e-liquids in only one potency. Each bottle of the liquid comes with 1000 mg of 99% pure cannabidiol.
Dixie Botanicals Vape Liquid is available in
30 mL bottles. This product is sold in three flavor options:
Sour Watermelon
Vanilla Caramel
Blackberry Lemonade
You can use these vape liquids with nearly
every liquid-compatible device. They have a dropper attached on top, which
makes it easy to fill cartridges and liquid tanks.
5. Tinctures & Oils
At HempMeds, you can buy a variety of CBD
tinctures and oil drops, available both as full-spectrum CBD and isolate.
They’re sold in several different strengths,
sizes, and flavors. This provides CBD users with plenty of opportunities to
personalize their experience with cannabidiol.
Green Label — unfiltered,
raw (non-decarboxylated) CBD oil
Blue Label — Unfiltered
& decarboxylated CBD oil
Gold Label — Filtered &
decarboxylated oil
The
green label is a raw, unfiltered CBD extract. Being
the least processed form of cannabidiol, not only does the Green tincture pack
a decent amount of CBD, but it also contains a wide range of terpenes, Vitamin
E, carotenoids, minerals, essential fatty acids, chlorophylls, and trace
cannabinoids from hemp.
The
Blue label is infused only with decarboxylated CBD,
which means there’s no CBDA inside. However, the oil is unfiltered, so you also
receive the aforementioned botanicals from hemp in the package.
The
Gold label is both decarboxylated and filtered, so the
oil has a cleaner and smoother taste. This is a good option for those who can’t
stand the distinct, earthy flavor of unfiltered oil.
All tinctures are infused in coconut oil and
sustainably sourced palm oil.
B) RSHO Liquid Hemp Oil
RSHO Liquid Hemp Oil is similar to the RSHO
tinctures, save for the fact it has been extracted without the use of alcohol.
These are full-spectrum CO2 extracts sold in
three versions:
Green Label — unfiltered,
raw (non-decarboxylated) CBD oil
Blue Label — Unfiltered
& decarboxylated CBD oil
Gold Label — Filtered &
decarboxylated oil
Each version of the RSHO Liquid Hemp Oil comes
in a 120 mL bottle and contains 1000 mg of full-spectrum CBD in raw,
unfiltered, or clean forms.
RSHO-X Hemp Oil contains only pure isolated
CBD, which means there are no other cannabinoids, including THC.
This product is for people who want to benefit
from CBD oil but don’t want any traces of THC in their supplements. This is
perfect if ordering CBD oils to Europe where there are strict no-THC
stipulations on hemp products in certain countries.
The isolate powder has been infused into medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil for the added benefits of healthy fatty acids and increased bioavailability.
You can use RSHO tinctures and liquid hemp oil
sublingually (under the tongue) or add them to your favorite foods and
beverages.
6. Capsules
HempMeds offers two types of capsules from
their two daughter brands: Real Scientific Hemp Oil (RSHO) and Dixie Botanicals.
Each contains 25mg per capsule but they are different in terms of the overall
formula.
RSHO capsules are available in raw, unfiltered, and “clean” versions, just like their CBD tinctures and hemp oil. Each capsule has been infused with 25 mg of CBD and formulated with 200 mg of calcium and 200 mg of HempMeds’ blend of powdered turmeric root and white willow bark.
HempMeds recommends taking one capsule 1-2
times daily.
B) Dixie Botanicals CBD Gel
Capsules
Dixie Botanicals offers soft-gel capsules that
are easier to swallow than their RSHO counterparts and contain the
full-spectrum CBD (25 mg per capsule) along with MCT oil derived from coconut
oil for better absorption.
Cost & Potency Breakdown of
Dixie Botanicals CBD Oil Capsules
The CBD isolate powder from HempMeds is
extracted from non-GMO hemp using supercritical CO2 extraction. After
extraction, the CBD hemp oil is purified to remove the plant material along
with excess waxes, resulting in pure, CBD isolate powder.
The isolate is completely THC-free and
designed for CBD users interested solely in the benefits of cannabidiol. The
isolate is also available for bulk purchases. You can buy it as a 6 pack
($279.00) or 12 pack ($439.00).
HempMeds has created isolate-based, flavored
CBD chews that combine full-spectrum cannabidiol with vitamin D3 or caffeine
depending on the formula variation.
The CBD content of these edibles isn’t even
listed on the website. We did some digging in their Certificates of Analysis
and it turned out each version of Dixie Botanicals KICKS contains around 4–5 mg
of CBD per chew.
The Mango Citrus and Sour Apple flavors are
infused with 60 mcg of Vitamin D3, whereas the Chocolate option packs 100 mg of
caffeine per chew. This should be enough to provide the user with sustainable
energy without the crash of excess calories from sugary energy drinks.
HempMeds developed a line of CBD products
designed specifically for our four-legged friends. Their Vitality CBD oil
contains full-spectrum CBD infused in MCT oil derived from organic coconut oil.
This product contains less than 0.3% THC, so
it has no psychoactive effects on pets.
HempMeds recommends a dose of 1 to 5 mg per kg
— unless your veterinarian suggests otherwise.
Yet another HempMeds CBD oil product for pets,
this time 100% THC-free. Instead, this oil offers an abundance of CBD and other
trace cannabinoids packed in organic coconut oil chock-full of heart-healthy omega fatty
acids.
Each 1.5 mL serving measures to about a
dropper and a half, and carries 25 mg of CBD.
If your dog or cat doesn’t like the earthy
taste of CBD oil but responds positively to CBD, you may want to treat them
with HempBone Bacon Apple Donuts.
These are tasty CBD-infused chewy pet treats —
even the editor’s picky pug, Bruschetta, loves them.
Appropriate for every breed, each treat
provides 4 mg of CBD for daily use.
HempMeds recommends a dosage of 1 – 4 chews
per day, depending on the pet’s weight.
What Does HempMeds Do Well?
1. Large Product Selection
What we like the most about HempMeds is the
feeling of browsing through a marketplace of CBD products, with all their
daughter brands and CBD goods sold in one place.
HempMeds offers all the essentials — including tinctures, oil drops, capsules, skincare products, vape liquids, CBD pet treats, and more.
2. High-Quality Hemp Source
HempMeds uses only non-GMO, pesticide-free
hemp for its products. The company gets its hemp plants from certified European
farms working under the OECD program.
3. Exceptionally Potent Products
Some of the HempMeds CBD oils pack as much as
45% CBD, which is insanely strong compared to other manufacturers. The company
uses supercritical CO2 extraction and selective hemp cultivars with naturally
high concentrations of cannabidiol.
4. Triple Lab Testing
HempMeds is very meticulous about testing
their products — some would even say they’re obsessed over it. But when it
comes to the quality of CBD, nothing can prove it better than thorough
lab-testing.
In the first stage of processing, the hemp is
tested by HempMeds’ partnering growers in Europe periodically throughout the
growing process and then again after harvest.
Afterward, HempMeds tests their extracted oil in the US at an ISO-certified testing lab to check for the potency of CBD and verify the safety of their extracts.
Finally, the CBD oil is sent to HempMeds’
California-based formulators, who are certified in Good Manufacturing Practices
(GMP) for food supplements. Once the oil is crafted into different CBD
products, it’s tested once again for exact cannabinoid content and given a
final safety check.
Where Could HempMeds Improve?
1. Not Every Batch of Their
Products Is Lab-Tested
Either that, or for some reason, HempMeds has
problems with publishing Certificates of Analysis for some of their goods.
Currently, lab testing reports aren’t
available for their isolates, body care line, or vape juices.
While we’re not going to argue with the
influence HempMeds has had on the CBD industry, transparency is paramount for
us — and this is where the company falls short at some points.
2. There’s Much Confusion Around
HempMeds’ Many Daughter Brands
HempMeds owns multiple brands, such as Real
Scientific Hemp Oil, Cibaderm, Beauty Defined, Animal Phyto Health, and Dixie
Botanicals.
However, some of these brands are either
scattered around different third-party websites (Cibaderm), or they don’t have
valid Certificates of Analysis (Beauty Defined) to prove their cannabinoid
content and purity.
This raises doubts about whether HempMeds ensures
the same quality standards for all their products.
Final Verdict: HempMeds Is a
Great Company With Many Stellar Products — With One Caveat
On the
whole, HempMeds is a CBD company you can trust. They
have everything it takes to be considered one of the best CBD brands in the
industry.
An impressive selection of products, a wide
range of prices which makes CBD oil affordable for different budgets, a clear
and noble mission, and almost pristine transparency — that’s what HempMeds
looks like at first glance.
Most of the claims made by the company are
backed by extensive third-party lab testing, so potential customers can rest
assured they receive high-quality CBD oil sourced from organic hemp and extracted
with sustainable methods.
The biggest potential red flag for HempMeds is
actually that they sell too many products under far too many different labels.
As much as we understand their drive for dominating the CBD market and
retaining their “Trailblazer” title, we’ve seen much inconsistency in some of
their collections.
For example, their Body Care line and vape
juices don’t carry Certificates of Analysis, and their Cibaderm collection
isn’t even available on their website — save for the Cibaderm conditioner.
With all that aside, HempMeds remains a strong
option for CBD products if you live in the Americas.
