At CBD Oracle, our mission is to empower consumers to make informed decisions about CBD and cannabinoid products. We achieve this through unbiased, evidence-based, and hands-on product reviews and recommendations.
Our commitment to transparency, integrity, and consumer safety guides every aspect of our evaluation process.
1. Product Selection
We select products for review based on a diverse set of criteria aimed at identifying the most impactful and effective offerings on the market:
- Popularity: We consider products generating buzz through community discussions, search trends, and market presence.
- Innovation: Emerging products with unique cannabinoid combinations or novel delivery methods capture our interest.
- Price Diversity: Our reviews encompass a range of price points to cater to various budgets.
- Product Variety: We ensure our reviews cover different product types, including full-spectrum oils, CBD isolate gummies, and more.
Products are either purchased independently or provided by brands for review purposes. We disclose any affiliate relationships and ensure that reviewers have no contact with the brands to maintain objectivity.
2. Hands-On Testing
Every product we review undergoes firsthand testing by our team, which includes:
- Expert Reviewers: Individuals with extensive experience in cannabis and hemp products.
- Medical Professionals: Healthcare experts who provide insights into product efficacy and safety.
- Real-World Users: Individuals who use CBD for specific health concerns, such as anxiety or sleep issues.
Products are tested over a minimum of two days to assess:
- Effects: Does the product deliver on its claims?
- Ease of Use: Is the product user-friendly, especially for beginners?
- Packaging: Is the packaging functional, secure, and informative?
- Quality: Does the product maintain its integrity during use?
We also evaluate subjective factors like taste, texture, smell, and dosing experience, acknowledging individual preferences and providing transparent insights.
Taste, Texture, Smell & Dosing
Sensory experience plays a big role in how users engage with a product. For edibles, vapes, flowers, and oils, we note the most prominent flavors and share our reviewers’ subjective impressions, along with any personal preferences that might influence their feedback.
We also evaluate texture and smell, highlighting how they contribute to the overall experience. Lastly, we assess dosing: Are instructions clear? Is it easy to measure and consume the recommended dose, especially for groups like beginners or older adults?
3. Evaluation Criteria
Our objective scoring framework assesses products across eight categories:
- Source and Cultivation: Evaluates the origin, cultivation practices, and strain consistency of the hemp used.
- Extraction and Formulation: Assesses extraction methods, cannabinoid profiles, and terpene content.
- Lab Testing and Safety: Reviews the presence of comprehensive lab tests, including COAs from ISO-accredited labs, and checks for contaminants.
- Ingredients and Additives: Examines the use of synthetic additives, unregulated supplements, and inhalation safety for vape products.
- Transparency and Labeling: Verifies the accuracy of labeled dosages, THC content, and ingredient listings.
- Brand Reputation and Ethics: Considers customer service responsiveness, company transparency, and marketing practices.
- Packaging Quality: Looks at child safety features, protection against degradation, dosage clarity, and sustainability.
- User Experience and Efficacy: Evaluates the product’s effectiveness, side effects, and overall user satisfaction.
Learn more: CBD Oracle’s cannabinoid products evaluation framework
4. Scoring System
Each criterion is assigned a base score based on its importance:
- High Importance: 6 points
- Medium Importance: 3 points
- Low Importance: 1 point
These scores are then weighted according to their impact category:
- Safety: 50% of the base score
- Efficacy: 30% of the base score
- Trust: 20% of the base score
The final product score is a percentage calculated from the total points earned versus the total points available for that product type. Scores are categorized as follows:
- Gold Standard: 90–100%
- Recommended: 80–89%
- Needs Improvement: 70–79%
- Failed Evaluation: Below 70%
Awards and Badges: What They Mean
CBD Oracle awards two types of product badges based on our evaluation scores:
Editor’s Choice Award:
This badge is reserved for products that score above 90% and meet the highest standards for safety, quality, and effectiveness. These are products we would confidently recommend to close friends or family—ones that truly stand out in their category.
Recommended Product Badge:
Products that score between 80–89% receive our Recommended badge. These are strong options that perform well overall, but may have some areas of uncertainty, such as incomplete lab results or minor concerns with ingredients, that prevent us from giving a full endorsement.
Both badges are based entirely on our scoring framework and hands-on testing. We never award badges in exchange for payment or partnership.
5. Best Of Lists vs. Individual Reviews
Our approach differs between ranked “Best Of” lists and individual product reviews:
- Product Selection: “Best Of” lists consider a wide range of products, typically from the first 20 pages of search results, while individual reviews focus on specific, noteworthy products or brands.
- Scoring Emphasis: Individual reviews delve into the unique strengths and weaknesses of a product, whereas “Best Of” lists prioritize comparative scoring.
- Inclusion Criteria: Only products scoring above 80% are featured in “Best Of” lists. Products with lower scores may still be reviewed individually but won’t appear in ranked lists.
6. Reviewer and Expert Involvement
Our team comprises:
- Cannabis and Hemp Experts: Individuals with deep industry knowledge.
- Chemists and Toxicologists: Professionals specializing in cannabis-related compounds.
- Healthcare Providers: Medical professionals with expertise in cannabinoid therapies.
All contributors disclose any conflicts of interest and are excluded from reviewing products where such conflicts exist.
7. Ongoing Review Updates
We regularly audit and update our reviews and rankings based on:
- Updated Lab Reports: New COAs or test results.
- Product Changes: Reformulations or updates.
- Consumer Feedback: Complaints or insights from users.
“Best Of” lists are updated twice a year to reflect new products and industry developments.
8. Ethics and Integrity Policy
Our integrity is paramount:
- Full Disclosure: We transparently disclose product sourcing and affiliate links.
- No “Pay for Play”: We do not guarantee favorable reviews or rankings in exchange for compensation.
- Affiliate Neutrality: Affiliate relationships do not influence our evaluations.