These CBD Brands Are Protecting Customers Amidst COVID-19

The past few weeks have been extraordinarily challenging for the United States and the rest of the world. 

Fortunately, we have seen unprecedented cooperation and incredible stories of individuals, companies, and leaders stepping up and giving back. 

In that spirit, we felt compelled to highlight some of the CBD companies that we believe are protecting their customers, showing incredible generosity towards the community, and ensuring safe, sanitary supply chains for the CBD products that millions of people depend on every day⁠—all under incredibly challenging circumstances.

To be clear: this is not sponsored content and the brands listed here did not pay to be mentioned.

CBD Brands That Are Protecting Customers

These are the brands, in no particular order, that are keeping customers safe:

1. CBDistillery
2. Social CBD
3. Charlotte’s Web
4. Receptra
5. Panacea Life Sciences

CBDistillery

CBDistillery was founded in 2016 and is based in Colorado. 

The brand is owned by the vertically integrated company Balanced Health Botanicals, which means it manages its entire supply chain.

How is CBDistillery protecting customers?

CBDistillery uses an ISO 9001-certified facility while utilizing current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) to make their products.

The company’s full-spectrum hemp-derived CBD oil and CBD isolate oil also recently achieved self-affirmed Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status. 

This designation means that CBDistillery’s CBD oils were reviewed by third-party toxicologists to determine their safety.

Achieving self-affirmed GRAS status means CBDistillery’s products meet the safety guidelines of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for novel food additives; however, this does not mean that the FDA has approved CBDistillery’s CBD oil.

To prove the purity of their products, CBDistillery uses third-party laboratories to comprehensively test each batch for mycotoxins, terpenes, potency, residual solvents, pesticides, heavy metals, and microbes.

What is CBDistillery doing to help?

To help customers, CBDistillery is offering free shipping on all orders indefinitely.

“During challenging times like these, maintaining healthy habits is so important,” said CBDistillery in an Instagram post. “To make our products even more accessible to you, we are now offering free shipping on all orders until further notice.” https://www.instagram.com/p/B94fliMBwTs/

“This is a very difficult time for everyone and our hearts go out to anyone affected,” said CEO Chase Terwilliger in an email to The CBD Insider. “As a company, we are committed to the safety of our employees and our valued customers. In keeping with our mission to provide the masses with access to CBD, we are continuing business by making adjustments along the way and are fortunate to have an ECommerce presence that can sustain the demand during this period of many unknowns.”

Social CBD

Social CBD, previously known as Select CBD until August 2019, is based in Oregon.

The brand is owned by Sentia Wellness, which prides itself on extensive laboratory testing, accurate and consistent dosing, and compliance with laws and regulations.

How is Social CBD protecting customers?

All of Sentia’s facilities and partner farms are already licensed and regulated by the Oregon Department of Agriculture, which means the state helps ensure Social’s products are safe and clean.

Social CBD’s products are also tested by third-party laboratories that are accredited by the Oregon Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program.

Their products are tested for cannabinoid concentration, pesticides, residual alcohol, and microbes.

Sentia told us about several ways they are prioritizing the safety of their employees and products amidst the novel coronavirus.

First, Sentia closed its headquarters and implemented work from home practices.

In a letter sent out by Sentia’s Director of Quality, Leah Sanders, the company is employing additional sanitation practices at all their manufacturing facilities, such as more frequent handwashing and cleaning of communal areas.

“As always, our product and employee safety is our greatest concern, we will continue to take measures to help prevent the spread of illness and ensure high quality products,” wrote Sanders.

What is Social CBD doing to help?

Sentia Wellness is helping the community in several ways.

The company is donating 1,800 meals per week locally in Oregon through Our Giving Table.

Our Giving Table is an organization that provides healthy meals to foster children and the underprivileged.

Sentia also donated meals to feed 35 families with kids who rely on school lunch programs.

They have sent products to nurses working at New York City hospitals, and to Oliver Trevena as he is creating care packages full of necessities that he is delivering to high-risk individuals. https://www.instagram.com/p/B94d-_VHUzS/

Oliver Trevena is an actor and best known for hosting the show Young Hollywood.

Also, Social CBD is offering customers free shipping on all orders.

Charlotte’s Web

Charlotte’s Web was founded in 2011 by the Stanley Brothers and is based in Colorado.

The brand was the first to popularize CBD oil in the US after being featured on Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s “Weed” documentary.

How is Charlotte’s Web protecting customers?

Charlotte’s Web is cGMP certified, which means their manufacturing processes meet FDA requirements.

The brand also uses ISO-17025-accredited third-party laboratories to test their products for cannabinoid potency, residual solvents, heavy metals, pesticides, and microbes.

In light of the pandemic, Charlotte’s Web has taken the following precautions:

• All non-essential staff are working from home
• Increased frequency of full-building cleaning with CDC-approved disinfectants  
• Disinfecting all packing stations where orders are handled 
• All fulfillment staff wear gloves while packing boxes

What is Charlotte’s Web doing to help?

Charlotte’s Web is encouraging people to find out how they can support local stores during this time.

“Many local wellness stores are remaining open but changing their experiences to support social distancing,” said a blog post on Charlotte’s Web’s site.

The company also directed people to visit the Realm of Caring, an organization that supports the research, education, and community around cannabis and cannabinoids.

Additionally, Charlotte’s Web is providing free shipping on all orders.

Receptra Naturals

Receptra Naturals was founded in 2016 and is based in Colorado.

The company is known for using only hemp flower—the part of the plant most concentrated with cannabinoids and terpenes—to produce their CBD oil.

How is Receptra protecting customers?

Receptra is cGMP-certified as of April 2019 and has been operating under these guidelines since its founding.

“We follow the strictest standards for the cleaning and sanitization of all equipment, utensils, and any other contact surfaces that are used to manufacture, package, label, or hold Receptra products,” Receptra told us in an email.

The company also provides transparent third-party laboratory tests for its products, allowing consumers to scan QR codes on products for immediate access to testing results.

Their products are tested for cannabinoid concentration, microbes, heavy metals, and terpenes.

Receptra has also asked some of their team to work remotely.

What is Receptra doing to help?

Receptra is working to support health care workers.

“Receptra is currently putting together a program that will provide heavily discounted product for our most important resource… our front line health care workers,” said Josh Richman, the Receptra Naturals President and CMO, in an email to The CBD Insider. 

“We want to do our part to provide stress & pain relief as well as improved sleep for a group of people that are putting themselves in harm’s way while we stay at home, and of whom we’re all depending on for our long-term health. We are committed to providing our customers with content focused on resources and suggestions for how to be your best self despite the current obstacles, rather than sales-driven marketing.”

Panacea Life Sciences

Panacea Life Sciences is based in Colorado and was founded in 2017.

The company is unique in that it actively participates in hemp-derived CBD research studies to further the scientific community’s knowledge of the cannabinoid.

How is Panacea protecting customers?

Panacea operates under cGMP guidelines and FDA quality control requirements.

Their third-party lab tests are done by the respected lab Botanacor, which tests for cannabinoid concentration, microbes, and residual solvents.

To keep their employees and products safe, Panacea has heeded the guidance from health authorities.

“We have enacted several measures at our facility in Golden to support the WHO and CDC guidelines so that our employees, tenants, contractors, and all involved in any way stay healthy and hygienic,” said Panacea in an Instagram post. “We are doing everything we can to provide safe conditions in addition to ensuring the highest quality of CBD products and services.” https://www.instagram.com/p/B-AEw5-Fanu/

What is Panacea doing to help?

Panacea is discounting its products by 50% to help provide easier access to CBD.

In response to the hand sanitizer shortage, the company has also released its own CBD-infused hand sanitizer with 62% ethyl alcohol, which slightly exceeds the CDC’s recommendation of 60% alcohol.