Charlotte’s Web is a flagship CBD brand – indeed. The founders of Charlotte’s Web actually contributed to putting CBD in the mainstream. Established long before CBD became trendy, Charlotte’s Web is a reputable company that has a strong focus on quality and social responsibility. They’ve had a few hiccups along the way. Which a lot of CBD brands have as the early days of CBD marketing and promotion were a little murky. But at the end of the day we judge a brand by one simple question: would we recommend them to a friend? That’s the truest way we know how to tell if a brand has the reputation and high-quality practices to make their products worth your money. So let’s dive in.
Charlotte’s Web CBD – A Quick Company Overview
Charlotte’s Web is a company founded by the Stanley Brothers, a group of seven brothers based in Colorado. In 2011, the brothers created a strain of high-CBD, low-THC hemp.
In 2012, Paige Figi contacted the Stanley Brothers looking for a source of CBD for her daughter. Charlotte Figi, who was then five years old, had a rare form of epilepsy that meant she had nearly 300 seizures a week. The Stanley Brothers shared their extract with the Figi family, and named their strain Charlotte’s Web. After a year of regular CBD treatment, Charlotte only had seizures twice to three times per month.
This incredible story was covered by CNN’s Dr Sanjay Gupta. It later became international news and raised a great deal of awareness around CBD, which was not nearly as well-known back then. The Stanley Brothers then founded a company named Charlotte’s Web, which now offers their famous hemp extract in a range of different products.
Heartbreakingly, Charlotte Figi passed away in April 2020 at the age of 13. In her memory, Colorado Governor Jared Polis proclaimed April 7 “Charlotte Figi Day” in Colorado.
What CBD products do they make?
Charlotte’s Web offers a wide range of hemp-infused products, including:
- CBD oils
Charlotte’s Web Max Strength CBD Oil - CBD topicals
Hemp-Infused Balm with CBD - CBD gummies
Charlotte’s Web Recovery Gummies
Charlotte’s Web Calm CBD Gummies
CW’s CBD Gummies for Sleep - CBD for dogs
CW’s CBD Chews for Senior Dogs
Charlotte’s Web CBD Drops for Dogs
Hip and Joint CBD Chews for Dogs - CBD capsules
Charlotte’s Web 25mg CBD Oil Liquid Capsules
Most of their products are full-spectrum, but they also offer a THC-free tincture. They have products with added natural flavorings, as well as products with additional healthful ingredients.
They have a useful product finder tool on their website if you’re overwhelmed by their product range. This tool recommends a specific product based on your needs.
Products from Charlotte’s Web can range from around $15 to over $100 each. The company offers a generous rewards program as well as a discount for veterans.
What our experts say about Charlotte’s Web CBD:
From a budtender…
“Charlotte’s Web might have been my very first introduction to CBD. The CNN piece emphasizing the story of little Charlotte Figi was as touching as it was informative. With an origin story like that, there are some high expectations. They essentially started the CBD movment, and were influential in helping pave the way for the proper methods of delivery and formulations. Also, they’re recently certified as a B Corp, which legally requires them to consider their impact on workers and the environment. Pretty much everywhere I look, I find more and more refreshing things about this company. They even mention the fact that while they aren’t certified organic, they use all organic practices in the hope of becoming certified. A big plus in my book.
They have high quality standards, but also try to make a product that is affordable to several different groups of consumers. I would personally recommend anything from this company, as they have been around for a very long time and they seem to hold themselves to a very high standard of quality. Cost may be prohibitive, but if you can find a product that works for your wallet as well, I don’t think that you’re going to run into any issues.” – Willy Christie
From our Doctor…
“Charlotte’s Web is one of the oldest and more well-established CBD brands. However, there are mixed reviews on the brand’s reputation. It received a warning letter from the Food and Drug Administration in 2017 to label the products as dietary supplements and not claim health benefits. The brand is currently facing lawsuits because of overstating the amount of hemp and their CBD topical and mislabeling CBD products.
The company is certified by the US Hemp Authority and offers certificate of analysis for each batch that goes into their products. As compared to other prominent brands, Charlotte Web products are pretty reasonable and range from $15 to $200. The company produces its own hemp in Colorado, which is still in the process of getting certification for being organic. Charlotte’s Web has many positive user reviews, making it a prominent CBD brand despite the two warnings it has received from the FDA and 2 class action lawsuits it faces.” – Dr. Neil Shah
Also read: Martha Stewart CBD – Would we recommend it to a friend?
What is the quality of Charlotte’s Web CBD products?
Do Charlotte’s Web products really live up to their reputation?
Overall, the company has an impressive reputation, with thousands of positive reviews on their website and independent websites. In 2019, the Better Business Bureau accredited the Charlotte’s Web with an A rating.
The company offers batch-specific certificates of analysis (COAs) that are accessible online. The ingredients for every single product can also be viewed on their website.
Charlotte’s Web is certified by the US Hemp Authority. They use an FDA-registered manufacturing facility and have obtained the National Sanitation Foundation International’s dietary supplements Good Manufacturing Practice certificate. Although they state that they follow organic farming practices, they are not yet certified organic.
Also Read: Charlotte’s Web CBD Oil Vs Curaleaf CBD Drops – Which Is Right For You
Do they make safe products?
According to their lab results, Charlotte’s Web products are free from contaminants – which is good news, as some CBD products contain traces of harmful substances like pesticides, molds, and heavy metals.
However, we’d be remiss if we didn’t note that the company has faced a few bumps over the years. In 2017, Charlotte’s Web received a warning letter from the FDA for labeling some of their products as “dietary supplements” and for making unproven health claims. They have since corrected this mistake, judging from their website. They have also faced class action suits over mislabeling CBD products and overstating the amount of hemp extract in their CBD creams.
Recently, however, Charlotte’s Web does have a focus on quality and transparency, and their products seem safe.
Where do they source their CBD?
Charlotte’s Web products contain hemp extract from Colorado-grown hemp. Since its inception, the company has been based in Colorado.
What is their brand ethos?
Social responsibility is a core value of Charlotte’s Web, which makes sense, given the history of the company.
They are a certified B Corp and invest in the community by partnering with various groups and organizations. A few of their partners including Children’s Hospital Colorado, Freedom Service Dogs of America, Mile High Workshop, and the Women’s Bean Project.
Charlotte’s Web were also the lead sponsor for Realm of Caring’s Rock the ROC. This was a benefit concert and memorial for Charlotte Figi which was co-founded by Figi’s mother.
They also seem to have a strong focus on consumer education. Through their blog and media coverage, they aim to educate people about CBD. Given that their company was founded at a time when CBD was misunderstood and not very trendy, it makes sense that education is one of their core values.
What are people on the web saying about them?
The Good
One review-type article, written by a hemp journalist and published on Health, gave Charlotte’s Web a glowing review. When reviewing Charlotte’s Web Calm CBD Gummies, the author wrote that he was “pleased by the mental clarity and tranquility” that CW products offered.
On Trustpilot, one user wrote that Charlotte’s Web provided excellent service. “They ship very quickly, especially considering the Covid-19 impact on the USPS,” they wrote. They noted that the sleep gummies “actually [work] like a charm!” and added “I can count on being sound asleep within 10minutes of chewing a serving.”
Another Trustpilot review called Charlotte’s Web the “most trustworthy vendor of CBD oil.” The user said that they found their CBD oil helpful for “managing anxiety and improving sleep.”
The Not So Good
Overall, Charlotte’s Web has a 2.7 star rating (out of five) on Trustpilot, based on seven reviews. One of those negative reviews was from a reviewer who said that they had “possibly the worst customer service experience ever,” as an order never came. The reviewer said calls were finally returned three months after the order was placed. “They are shipping a replacement but did nothing to address the 3 month wait time,” they said.
The other negative reviews on Trustpilot mostly point to poor customer service, with one reviewer saying that their customer service was “rude.”
Our final thoughts – Is Charlotte’s Web worth buying?
Charlotte’s Web is a reputable brand with tested, safe products. And their years of experience generally put them ahead of their competition. Their products generally receive positive feedback from CBD journalists and ordinary users alike, and they have a reputation for producing high-quality, effective products.
If you’re a consumer who likes to support socially responsible companies, Charlotte’s Web might be a good choice for you. They have a strong focus on supporting positive causes, which sets them apart from the competition.
Read our other CBD brand reviews:
Lord Jones CBD
Papa & Barkley CBD
Curaleaf Hemp CBD
Martha Stewart CBD
Koi CBD
Diamond CBD
Green Gorilla CBD
Nordic Oil CBD
The Greenest is a collective of doctors, pharmacists, dietitians, veterinarians, ex-and-current budtenders, medicinal mushroom and adaptogen experts — as well as CBD and hemp experts. The Greenest was launched to help those curious about the intersection of health, wellness and how we can all live better. We want to answer (in laymen’s terms) all the questions you have around living a better life.
