Best CBD for Anxiety

Anxiety is an incredibly common issue. According to the American Psychiatric Association, up to 30% of American adults will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. It’s also one of the most common reasons that people try cannabidiol (CBD). Despite the fact that its partner cannabinoid, THC, can amplify anxiety and paranoia, multiple human studies show promising evidence of CBD’s benefits for calming and soothing anxiety.

But finding the right CBD product for your anxiety isn’t exactly straightforward. Some kinds of CBD are better for anxiety than others. Some even include other ingredients that are supposed to work alongside CBD to improve anxiety symptoms further, though it can be challenging to figure out what will work (and what won’t). In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best CBD products for anxiety, including their prices, ingredients, potency, and more.

If you don’t have time to read the whole guide, check out our top six picks in the summary of recommendations below.

Our team has spent hundreds of hours researching and testing various CBD products, from full-spectrum oils to isolate gummies with herbal additions. Over the course of our studies, we’ve read over 100 clinical studies examining how CBD works in the body and what it can (and can’t) actually do to improve your health, separating CBD oil from snake oil. We’ve tried the anti-anxiety products from Lazarus Naturals, Medterra, CBDistillery, and others to help you know what to expect as a customer and give you the most realistic idea of which CBD might best help you relieve tension and relax.

Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions about staying healthy and living healthier lifestyles. Like all health-related content on this website, this review was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy. To keep things up to date, we monitor the CBD landscape and update this page as information changes.

There are four primary criteria we consider to weed out low-quality CBD products and identify the best options to help you calm your anxiety:

• Formulation
• Safety
• Cost
• Customer experience

Formulation is critically important. A CBD product with higher dosing or more flexibility in exactly how much you take means you’ll have a better time getting just what you need, and since anxiety can be a complicated concern, products with additional anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) ingredients like ashwagandha and L-theanine earn a special consideration. We also think full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD products are preferable to isolate, thanks to the entourage effect, a concept describing the interplay between CBD, THC, and minor cannabinoids like CBG and CBA. (More on this later.)

Safety is even more important than formulation; if something isn’t safe, it’s not worth taking, which means things like third-party testing or having easy-to-access certificates of analysis verifying CBD quality since there isn’t much federal oversight. However, safety is often dependent on the formulation and other added ingredients.

Cost is our next most important criterion since CBD can be quite expensive. Because of this, we kept an eye out for cost-saving avenues, like subscription deals or assistance programs for marginalized populations who need CBD but may not be able to afford it otherwise.

Finally, the customer experience can make or break a product choice for someone, but the subjectiveness of this criterion gave it a bit less weight in our evaluation. For example, you may have a great experience with a company’s customer service while someone else doesn’t, or one person may find CBD oils particularly convenient while another may prefer chewing a gummy or swallowing a pill.

Formulation

Winner: Five CBD

One of the most well-known things CBD does is decrease anxiety, but not every CBD works the same way. The particular formula of a CBD product — whether it’s a full-spectrum or isolate product, how many milligrams of CBD per serving, and if there are other anxiety-relieving ingredients, for example — can greatly affect your experience with it. And while no two people are alike, there are some broad trends we know are generally accurate from scientific research.

When we consider a CBD product’s formulation, we look at all of these factors, as well as things like the quality of CBD (like if it’s from organic hemp or grown in the U.S.). We generally prefer full-spectrum CBD extracts over things like broad-spectrum and isolates because of the higher minor cannabinoid content, but the best choice for your unique needs might not be a full-spectrum product. We cover the differences between the various CBD extracts under the “Finding the right CBD product” section further down the page.

Five CBD is our top pick for most people due to a couple of factors:

• It utilizes medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil as the carrier oil, which can improve bioavailability and absorption (this means your body should be able to use more of the product).29
• This full-spectrum tincture provides around 2mg THC in every serving (the latest lab report from the company shows 2.33mg per serving, but it could be as high as 3mg).

The THC content may be a bit controversial because THC can provoke anxiety in some people rather than calming it, but it does offer more of the entourage effect.

Additionally, Five CBD’s offerings (like most Medterra, Green Roads, and Lazarus Naturals products) are vegan-friendly. But, while Five CBD is made in the U.S., it doesn’t use USDA organic hemp or boast U.S. Hemp Authority certification like Lazarus Naturals and Medterra.

If you’re looking to avoid THC or you want to include additional ingredients to improve your anxiety levels, Lazarus Naturals’ CBD Relax capsules are going to be your best bet as long as you can take pills without trouble. These capsules (which also use MCT oil) are in direct competition with Green Road’s Stress Aways gummies, as both have ashwagandha and L-theanine, two ingredients repeatedly shown to lower anxiety levels in studies.

Gummies are convenient, but because they require more effort for our bodies to break down than the exterior of a capsule, what you get from it is less consistent than something in capsule form. Because of this, we generally recommend capsules if you aren’t taking an oil sublingually, and with four additional anxiety-reducing ingredients and origins in USDA organic hemp, Lazarus Naturals’ CBD Relax capsules stand out as a winner. However, our testing team was very impressed by Green Roads Stress Aways gummies; though gummies are susceptible to lower effectiveness, these were potent and effective — a good choice for those who don’t want to (or can’t) swallow capsules.

Safety

Winner: Lazarus Naturals

Since the FDA doesn’t regulate CBD like they do prescription medications, it’s up to CBD companies to set their own safety standards and follow through. One rule that most good CBD companies comply with is third-party testing and transparency. This means that they pay independent labs to test their products, which check two major categories:

• Product purity (that it doesn’t have contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, or residue from the extraction process)
• Cannabinoid content (that levels of CBD and other minor cannabinoids match the label)

This guarantees that you’re getting what you’re paying for. The best companies provide the paperwork (called certificates of analysis) in an obvious place on their website so you can look through them to guarantee quality and safety before you order.

Lazarus Naturals has the most comprehensive safety profile because of the company’s robust certificates of analysis. Each file contains just about everything you could want to know linked to the product page, including the ability to look up specific batch information for previous products (and the CBD you have at home).

The biggest ding against Lazarus Naturals in this category is that it doesn’t have U.S. Hemp Authority certification. While few CBD brands do, this (paid) certification is an indicator that the brand takes extra initiative with high manufacturing standards and best practices; you could think of it as the CBD equivalent of using FDA cGMP-certified facilities.

Medterra and CBDistillery are the two brands on our list that have U.S. Hemp Authority certification. However, neither brand provides as detailed a certificate of analysis as Lazarus Naturals, a company that also makes it easier than Medterra and CBDistillery to reliably dispense the correct quantity of oil, thanks to a clearly labeled dropper. And Lazarus Naturals uses USDA organic hemp to create all of its CBD, meaning you’re even less likely than usual to run into harmful pesticides.

Cost

Winner: Lazarus Naturals

The cost of CBD involves so much more than just the sticker price. While two products may look like they cost wildly different amounts, breaking down the price per milligram of CBD is a much more accurate estimate. And that’s not considering the fact that some CBD products are significantly more potent than others, so you get more CBD per serving, generally at a higher price. A company’s subscription program (which comes with savings and, generally, free shipping), bulk discounts, and assistance programs also play into their cost rating.

At first glance, Lazarus Naturals doesn’t appear to be that inexpensive. Per milligram of CBD, you’ll pay about half the price compared to the average cost per milligram ($0.02-$0.03 versus $0.05-$0.08). Five CBD, the next least expensive option after Lazarus Naturals, charges $9 more for a similar bottle of 1,500mg CBD. However, you can save 30% with Five CBD’s subscription program, bringing Five CBD’s option down to $5 less than Lazarus Naturals’.

Unfortunately, however, Five CBD doesn’t offer nearly the same amount of potency options (and has actually removed its 6,000mg variety since we last reviewed it). And it’s worth keeping in mind that Five CBD’s options are all full-spectrum, meaning they all contain some THC. Lazarus Naturals (like Medterra) offers a collection of THC-free oils.

Lazarus Naturals isn’t perfect — it doesn’t have a subscription program, and its shipping cost is middle-of-the-road. The average CBD company charges between $5 and $8 for shipping on orders less than $50-$75. Lazarus Naturals, Five CBD, and Medterra all charge about $5 for the least expensive shipping option, and Green Roads charges $9.99.

Lazarus Naturals offers a return policy three times longer than average (90 days versus 30) and transparency around how much it saves veterans, low-income households, and people with disabilities in its assistance program (60%). Green Roads is similarly transparent, listing its discount for teachers (25%), military personnel (50%), and first responders (50%).

Assistance programs are common for CBD companies; the only company in our recommendations that doesn’t offer a similar program is CBDistillery. But it’s not often clear how affordable their products are until you’ve gone through the sign-up process, which requires submitting lots of paperwork. Both Lazarus Naturals and Green Roads make it clear up front that their programs can be worth your time if you qualify, which saves you time and, ultimately, money.

Customer experience

Winner: Lazarus Naturals

The customer experience includes things like convenience (such as how easy it is to take each CBD product or what’s involved in managing a subscription), the process behind purchasing the products, connecting with customer service, delivery, and more.

From our experience, Lazarus Naturals provides the most convenient CBD oil with high potencies and an easy-to-read dropper. The company is also highly cognizant of the fact that CBD isn’t FDA-approved to cure, treat, diagnose, or prevent any illnesses. The customer service team at Lazarus Naturals is so responsive that it proactively monitors reviews and will replace or add asterisks to phrases that imply (or directly state) that its products treated or cured any conditions so consumers don’t get the wrong idea. Our testers received their orders from Lazarus Naturals three days after placing the order from the other side of the country.

The company also gives a whopping 60% discount to veterans, low-income families, and people with disabilities who sign up for its assistance program, which is both a transparent figure (few companies give the full percentage publicly) and a sign that it genuinely cares about the products being accessible and convenient for those who need them most. In comparison, Green Roads’ program for military personnel and first responders takes off 50%, which is still a nice discount, but the program doesn’t cover as many populations.

The only downsides we found are that Lazarus Naturals doesn’t have a subscription program, which would make it significantly more convenient for customers to keep their products stocked, nor a real-time customer service text-based chat option. But with a 90-day return policy, you have a window three times longer than average to try your CBD and decide it’s right for you, making trying it much easier. (CBDistillery comes in second with a newly-extended 60-day policy.)

If you’re interested in a subscription program, then all of the competitors we mention in this guide could be great alternatives — Five CBD, Medterra, CBDistillery, Green Roads, and PureKana.

To help you quickly assess the CBD landscape, we’ve pulled the most important information about each of the products we recommend to combat anxiety in this guide.

We’ve also compiled some important information about the companies themselves in the chart below.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the two most common active compounds found in cannabis called cannabinoids.1 Unlike THC, the other most common cannabinoid, CBD can’t get you high. Instead, it’s the subject of a lot of research — that we’ll get into later — for its potential health benefits, including plenty of well-performed research into its anti-anxiety properties.

CBD is extracted from hemp, a kind of cannabis plant with a very low THC concentration. The federal U.S. legal limit of THC in CBD products is 0.3%, and, generally, hemp plants conform to this limit.

There are several ways you might consume or use CBD:

• Oils and tinctures
• Capsules and softgels
• Edibles (gummies, chocolate, and others)
• Topicals (creams, balms, bath bombs, and others)
• Vapes and smoking (oil, cartridges, flower, and pens)

Some people even give CBD to their pets to help calm them and relieve aches and pains, as CBD appears to work similarly in cats and dogs as it does in humans.

Generally speaking, oils and tinctures are the most effective way to get the most CBD into your bloodstream without potentially damaging your health like vaping or smoking CBD can. There are four main ways to administer CBD, each with its strengths and weaknesses:2

Not every method is going to work for every person. Since it balances time to onset with efficient absorption and a lower risk profile, we think sublingual administration is generally your best option. But if you’re experiencing a surge of anxiety and need help calming down quickly, an inhaled form of CBD (which takes effect in no more than 10 minutes) may be a better option than oral or sublingual CBD, which can take up to two hours to kick in. (Of course, take that with a grain of salt — smoking is generally not good for your lungs no matter what it is you’re inhaling.)

Here are the major differences between each kind of CBD ingestion:

Note: Topical CBD is absorbed reasonably well, but scientists still aren't entirely sure if it makes its way into the bloodstream as well (if at all) for systemic circulation.30

For more background on CBD, you can check out our comprehensive guide to CBD.

A significant drop in anxiety levels is one of the most common effects people experience when taking CBD.4 Aside from the anecdotal evidence, much of the research backs up its anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties.

If you’re familiar with THC, you may know it can induce fear, anxiety, and paranoia at high doses (or, for some people, even a small dose). However, CBD is responsible for taming THC’s anxiety-provoking effects.5 It binds to both CB1 cannabinoid and serotonin receptors. CB1 receptors are particularly sensitive in the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for your fight-or-flight response. By activating these receptors, CBD reduces the fight-or-flight instinct that drives anxiety.

When it comes to serotonin, CBD interacts with both 5-HT1a and TRPV1 receptors. Buspirone is an anti-anxiety medication that pairs with 5-HT1a receptors in the same way as CBD, for example. TRPV1 is a little more complicated, with less-studied anxiety-reducing effects (they’re more commonly associated with the pain you get from capsaicin-rich spicy foods), but there is some clear evidence that it can reduce anxiety when activated.14

CBD can also reduce the breakdown of anandamide, an anxiety-lowering endocannabinoid made by our bodies.15 Overall, CBD has a promising role as an alternative therapy for managing anxiety disorders.6

However, CBD doesn’t seem to improve all anxiety disorders in the same ways. It’s most beneficial for:9 10

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Social anxiety disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Panic disorder

It also seems to decrease psychosis for some people, likely from its influence over serotonin (which is implicated in psychotic disorders). CBD’s influence over serotonin may also be an important part of why it causes sleepiness and can improve sleep quality for those who also experience anxiety, as serotonin manages your sleep/wake cycle by creating melatonin.8 13 There’s also some mixed evidence — though still mostly positive — that CBD can support anxiety-like avoidant personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.12 More research is needed, however.

Researchers haven’t yet determined the best dosage strategies to support a calmer mind. A 2020 meta-analysis found doses ranging from as low as 6mg to as high as 400mg improved anxiety symptoms across various populations experiencing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), PTSD, and seasonal anxiety.11 However, people with anxiety often anecdotally find higher doses of CBD useful. (One genetic test we previously reviewed even suggested one of our testers with a genetic inclination for anxiety take 800mg or more daily.)7 Basically, everyone reacts differently to various doses of CBD and other cannabinoids, so incrementally adjusting how much you take over time (but starting low) could be ideal.

There are a few factors to keep in mind when choosing the best CBD product for you. CBD comes in a few forms, including oils, gummies, and capsules. Some CBD products include additional ingredients for added anti-anxiety benefits, and CBD itself comes in different strengths with or without additional cannabinoids, including THC. Below, we’ll investigate and delineate each of your options.

Product types

We feel that CBD oil is the best option for most people seeking anxiety relief because you can dial in exactly the right dose and quickly and efficiently take large doses if necessary. But other CBD products have their own merits, too.

In the chart below, we quickly break down why you might (or might not) want to try these CBD product options.

Product formulas

Standard CBD products are a great option for anxiety. But you may find that you’re not getting the benefits you’re looking for with CBD alone. If so, you can also consider tailored formulas with other helpful anti-anxiety ingredients.

Here are a few of the most common ingredients you might find in a CBD formula if you’re hoping to combat anxiety:

Types of CBD

The last (and arguably most important) consideration you’ll make is CBD extract type. CBD products can contain one of three types of CBD:

• Full-spectrum: Whole-plant hemp extract containing all of the plant’s cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other natural compounds, including up to 0.3% THC.
• Broad-spectrum: A whole-plant hemp extract where THC is removed to undetectable levels; similar to full-spectrum CBD.
• Isolate: Purified cannabidiol. Showed similar (but slightly lower) effectiveness when pitted against broad-spectrum CBD for stress relief in a 2023 study.32

Generally speaking, we think full-spectrum CBD is the best option. There’s a decent amount of evidence that the entourage effect provides benefits that can’t quite be replicated with CBD isolate, and isolate is also more likely to induce side effects at high doses.

However, some people experience more anxiety when taking THC (or need to pass regular drug tests); in those cases, we recommend trying a broad-spectrum CBD to recoup as much of the entourage effect as possible. Our testers noted it took a significantly higher dose of isolate oil to match the effects they found when trying full-spectrum CBD. However, the Stress Aways gummies from Green Roads went against this trend and worked quite well at their basic 25mg dose.

For a detailed comparison of the different kinds of CBD and more information on the entourage effect, take a look at our detailed CBD guide.

CBD is generally considered a safe, non-intoxicating compound. Most of its side effects are mild, including:

• Fatigue or sleepiness
• Dry mouth
• Diarrhea and nausea
• Low blood pressure
• Lightheadedness
• Changes in appetite or weight

People who use CBD to help them sleep are actually taking advantage of these side effects; anecdotally, people who use CBD for sleep tend to experience the best outcomes if they also suffer from high levels of anxiety.

These side effects are almost exclusively reported in studies using high oral doses of pure CBD, which isn’t how most people take it. You’re most likely to run into these problems when taking CBD for anxiety, though, as it can take higher-than-average doses to quell tension and worries. Taking full-spectrum CBD can also mitigate some of these side effects, so if you’re okay with consuming a very small amount of THC, full-spectrum products from Five CBD, Lazarus Naturals, or Medterra could be a good option.22

No matter how safe a supplemental product may appear, we always recommend speaking with your doctor first. And some ingredients that may be included in some CBD products aren’t safe for certain populations. For example, ashwagandha isn’t safe for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.33

Liver enzymes and CBD

Some brands will warn you against taking CBD if you take any medications that contraindicate with grapefruit (like antidepressants).34 This is because those medications are broken down by certain liver enzymes, called cytochrome P450 enzymes, and consuming CBD (or grapefruit) will stop those enzymes from working.23

If you take any of these medications, we recommend either avoiding CBD or speaking with your doctor first before trying it:

This isn’t a complete list — cytochrome P450 enzymes break down almost half of all drugs. If you’re concerned that one of your medications may make it not a good idea to try CBD, this list from Indiana University’s School of Medicine is robust. Likewise, most medications will have a warning notice on the bottle if you shouldn’t eat grapefruit (or use CBD) while taking them. Other questions should be directed to your doctor or pharmacist, who will know more about your particular situation.

Best for most people

Five CBD's CBD+THC Oil offers a unique alternative that can either be very effective for reducing anxiety or potentially make it worse for some people due to it containing around 2mg (but up to 3mg) THC per serving, which is the same standardized amount of THC in Medterra’s full-spectrum oils. For those who are highly sensitive to THC, this amount could produce undesirable (though likely mild) anxiety of its own, but for most people, it should be constructive alongside the CBD and other minor cannabinoids. Overall, we think it’s worth a shot to see if it can help your symptoms.

Since CBD and THC work synergistically — this standardized THC dose piggybacks on CBD’s calming and soothing effects, helping to distance you from too-intense feelings, but it’s still low enough that most people won’t experience any heightened anxiety levels or paranoia. If you’re new to THC or know you have a low tolerance, it may not be your best option to start out with. But with a higher THC ratio also comes more minor cannabinoids that do have some potential anxiolytic properties. Most full-spectrum oils you'll find contain a 10:1 or lower ratio of CBD to minor hemp cannabinoids, but Five CBD's tincture has a ratio of 5:1.

This THC dose does mean you’re more likely to experience a psychoactive buzz, though. (And the inclusion of THC means this product isn’t a good option for people who are regularly drug tested.) Even if you don’t experience anxiety from THC, we recommend being mindful of your dose size.

Five CBD used to offer this oil in three different potency options, and we were disappointed to see that the 6,000mg was discontinued. So, currently, you can get this oil in two different potencies:

• 1,500mg total (30mL bottle of 50mg CBD per serving)
• 3,000mg total (30mL bottle of 100mg CBD per serving)

Both size options are available in citrus and mint chocolate flavors; there aren’t any unflavored options for this CBD oil, but our testers found these flavors to be generally pretty accurate and agreeable. This oil also seems to work best when taken with food. It is also slightly sweetened with stevia, which can be rough on sensitive stomachs.

Five CBD uses U.S.-grown hemp in its vegan CBD and provides certificates of analysis for the latest batch on each product page. (This is all to be expected from a high-quality CBD oil.) The comprehensive analyses provide all of the important information about its purity, potency, and contaminants, though it doesn’t break down terpenes or specific minor cannabinoid content like Lazarus Naturals.

Pricing

Not only is this a fairly strong CBD oil — which can be great for anxiety — but it also comes at a surprisingly low price. Similar potencies can cost upward of $100 per bottle; even the most expensive oil from Five CBD costs $89.99 if you purchase it without a subscription. In this case, you’ll only pay $0.03 per milligram of CBD, which is one of the lowest prices in the CBD landscape (but Lazarus Naturals still wins out for the most cost-effective option at $0.02 per mg of CBD in its 6,000mg oil).

And if you join Five CBD’s subscription program, you’ll save an additional 30% on all orders and get free shipping every time. One-time orders must reach at least $60 for free shipping; otherwise, you’ll pay about $5, which is average for CBD brands.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how much you’ll pay per bottle (both flavors cost the same):

Unfortunately, the subscription program isn’t modifiable; you’ll get a new bottle once a month until you skip, pause, or cancel your subscription. Five CBD also offers a 30-day return policy, which is average, and an assistance program with discounts for veterans, students, healthcare workers, and first responders. Overall, we think Five CBD is a great deal with low prices and high efficacy for those who tolerate the additional THC along with their CBD.

Best budget option and best capsule

Lazarus Naturals offers two excellent CBD choices to ward off your anxiety: oil tinctures and capsules. If you don’t have a lot of money to spend but want to try CBD, either of these products should provide you with results, along with larger versions that cost more up-front but are the least expensive picks per milligram of CBD (particularly the CBD oil, which is generally your best option if you’re looking to get the most for your money).

Each product batch has its own certificate of analysis, providing the most in-depth walk-through of any CBD brand we’ve seen (with Medterra’s being a close second). These certificates delineate potency, pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents from extraction, and cannabinoid content, including minor cannabinoids and terpene percentages. It’s a long read, but very worth it to flip through if you’re curious about exactly what you’re taking.

The company doesn’t have any subscription or bulk deals, which is a bummer for a company that is otherwise so convenient and budget-friendly, but there is a steep 60% discount for veterans, low-income households, and people with disabilities. Lazarus Naturals grants free shipping on all orders over $50; otherwise, expect to pay $5. And the company offers the longest return policy of our picks, tripling the average for a full 90 days to try your CBD, contemplate the effects, and return the product if it doesn’t work for you. CBDistillery comes in second with a 60-day policy, and the others are all 30 days.

When our testers ordered from Lazarus Naturals, the process was straightforward and simple; their packages arrived quickly (an average of three days after placing their orders). The company uses inconspicuous, small cardboard boxes.

Full-spectrum, high-potency tincture

This tincture comes in one potency: 50mg/mL, which packs a punch. It’s not the most potent, but it’s the most affordable potent option. (CBDistillery takes the win for most potent oil with its 167mg of CBD per serving in its full-spectrum oil.) Lazarus Naturals’ oil comes in two bottle sizes (30mL and 120mL) and three flavors (classic/unflavored, chocolate mint, and strawberry lemonade). Previously, you could purchase two other bottle sizes (15mL and 60mL), as well as an additional flavor, French vanilla mocha.

Pricing for this oil is as follows, and, similar to Five CBD, all flavors cost the same:

• 30mL (1,500mg CBD): $40 ($0.03 per mg)
• 120mL (6,000mg CBD): $120 ($0.02 per mg)

While this may look expensive at first, one-time purchases from Lazarus Naturals for the 1,500mg variety are $9.99 less than from Five CBD and $20 less than the 1,000mg full spectrum CBD oil from CBDistillery (for 500mg less CBD).

And, if you look at the per-milligram cost, Lazarus Naturals’ 6,000mg full-spectrum oil is the least expensive option at just $0.02 per mg of CBD. Additionally, Lazarus Naturals offers the highest discount for an assistance program we came across, taking up to 60% off for veterans, those on long-term disability, and those with low income.

Our testers tried the unflavored version of this CBD oil; it had a complex flavor: earthy, somewhat bitter, and vaguely floral, akin to 85% dark chocolate. When they looked at the certificate of analysis for this batch, they noted that it contained 34.8% farnesene, a terpene that’s most commonly found in green apple skins and known for its earthy, bitter taste. So that terpene (and, consequently, minor cannabinoid content) is high enough to be immediately noticeable. If that doesn’t sound appetizing, we recommend opting for one of the flavored options.

Of the CBD oils our testers tried, this was their favorite. It was easy to draw up and measure, and the 50mg serving was strong enough to relax but not strong enough to cause any side effects. The calmness came on within half an hour and lasted about four hours. While it didn’t block out the anxiety completely, it dimmed the feeling and made it significantly easier to cope.

CBD Relax capsules

Lazarus Naturals also offers our top choice for CBD capsules, its CBD Relax capsules, each of which contains 25mg of full-spectrum CBD, along with:

• 200mg ashwagandha
• 150mg L-theanine
• 150mg chamomile
• An unknown, but apparently small, amount of vitamin B6 (in high doses, B6 may lower anxiety)28

Unfortunately, because the amount of vitamin B6 isn’t listed, it’s hard to say whether or not it’d be enough to make a difference. And Lazarus Naturals, unlike Green Roads, doesn’t specify if it uses a standardized ashwagandha extract, so it’s difficult to predict exactly how much of that ashwagandha is active compounds your body can use.

That being said, all of these ingredients show clinical evidence that they can work to lower anxiety, and most are available in doses that are generally lower than, but close to, those used in successful research studies. Ashwagandha is the furthest off, as its solo investigations generally find success around 600mg per day.

These capsules are available in two container sizes:

• 40 capsules (1,000mg CBD): $32 ($0.04 per mg)
• 200 capsules (5,000mg CBD): $120 ($0.02 per mg)

At 2-4 cents per milligram of CBD, this is exceptionally inexpensive for a multi-ingredient, full-spectrum CBD product.

Strongest options

CBDistillery sells just about every CBD product you can imagine: oils, gummies, capsules, and creams available as full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolates. However, this vast network of products isn’t easy to navigate. Every product is listed separately, even when it’s the same thing in a different size. When it comes to addressing anxiety, CBDistillery’s 5,000mg full-spectrum CBD tincture is likely your best option. It’s a high-potency oil ranging from 500mg all the way to 5,000mg per 30mL bottle, making it the strongest on our list.

That 5,000mg bottle is our favorite because it packs a hefty punch for people who need a lot of CBD to knock down anxiety levels. It’s not uncommon to need a higher dose to combat anxiety than you might for pain relief or to help you fall asleep; some medical experts recommend up to 600mg/day for people with anxiety.10 Each serving (1mL or one full dropper) from the 5,000mg bottle may not quite reach that amount at 167mg of CBD, but it’s certainly more than you’ll get from many competing oils.

Other CBD oils contain an average of 50-83mg/mL. The next most potent options on our list are Five CBD’s full-spectrum oil at 3,000mg and Medterra’s True Full Spectrum and Isolate CBD oils at 3,000mg — all of which give you 100mg of CBD per serving. However, 100mg is still 67mg less than CBDistillery’s strongest option. But Five CBD and Medterra are much more affordable.

For a one-time purchase of the 5,000mg oil, you’ll pay $240. That’s still only $0.05 per mg of CBD, but it’s a steep price that requires a lot of capital upfront. You’ll earn free shipping (available for one-time orders of at least $75), but it doesn’t offset the fact that it costs nearly two and a half times more than some competitors (like Five CBD). You can join CBDistillery’s Subscribe & Save program, which saves you 30% (lowering your price to $168) and also provides free shipping, though that’s less of a deal-breaker here. The subscription program allows you to pick how frequently you want a new bottle:

• Four weeks
• Six weeks
• Eight weeks
• Ten weeks
• 12 weeks

It’s worth mentioning that, other than the price, another hazard of a full-spectrum product that’s this strong is its taste. If you try a different CBDistillery CBD oil product (CBN + CBD Sleep Tincture, for instance), you may marvel that it doesn’t taste like much at all. (Our testers were impressed by this.) But this particular oil is almost seven times stronger than the Sleep Tincture, and at that strength, it’s almost inevitable that an earthy, funky hemp taste will seep through. And, unfortunately, CBDistillery seems to have removed all flavor options other than “Natural Hemp Flavor” (also known as unflavored) for all of its CBD oils. Previously, lower strengths (like the 1,000mg and 2,500mg full-spectrum oils) had options like mango or occasionally peppermint.

The removal of the flavors may (strangely enough) work in CBDistillery’s favor in this case. In the past, only its unflavored oils were U.S. Hemp Authority certified, but that’s since expanded to cover all of the company’s products.

CBDistillery charges the most for shipping (starting at $10) if you don’t hit the $75 threshold to make it free (Green Roads comes close with a flat rate of $9.99 if you don’t hit $59 for free shipping). And it’s also the only company on our list that doesn’t offer an assistance program for veterans, low-income households, people with disabilities, or anyone else who may not be able to afford CBD. All of this combined with its high sticker price means it’s not the best choice if you’re on a budget, but it’s worth it if you need a lot of CBD to get through the day and are ready and willing to invest.

Best THC-free option

Even though it plays a big role in the entourage effect, THC isn’t for everyone, and it can increase feelings of anxiety in some people. If you’re looking to steer clear of THC, Medterra offers our favorite options. While the company previously only offered THC-free CBD (primarily broad-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate), Medterra now carries 13 isolate products, seven full-spectrum, and only six broad-spectrum, all of which are U.S. Hemp Authority-certified. This reasonably sized catalog provides a few options for most concerns, including CBD intended for relaxation.

Medterra offers free shipping on all one-time orders over $75, but expect to pay $4.80 otherwise. Or you can join the subscription program for 30% off, free shipping, and delivery whenever it works for you. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to cancel a subscription through Medterra because you don’t have to have an account, which is a bit strange to us. If you’re a member of the military (active and veteran) or on long-term disability, you’ll qualify for its discount program, though it’s not stated how much you’ll save before joining. And, like most companies on our list, Medterra offers a 30-day return policy. You can save some money by choosing Medterra as your CBD, but don’t opt for it for the price alone.

Note that Medterra’s shipping times are often slower than the website quotes. It took three days for our testers’ orders to process and then another six days for the boxes to show up on their doorsteps. Granted, this was around the holidays, and standard shipping is typically anywhere from two to eight days, but our testers had their products in hand from every other CBD company they tried by the time Medterra’s shipped.

The company will also offer you some deals when you add items to your cart and again at checkout, including on something you’ve just added or purchased. However, these are add-ons, not coupons; you won’t be able to apply the price to your cart retroactively or in the moment. And while the customer service team tried their best, response times were slow and required several rounds of clarification before our testers got an answer to their questions.

The company uses organically grown hemp, and the most recent certificate of analysis is linked on each product page. These are relatively detailed certificates of analysis, breaking down minor cannabinoid content, pesticides, residual solvents (important considering Medterra uses a proprietary extraction method), and potential microbial and heavy metal contaminants. It doesn’t go as far as to discuss terpenes, but few CBD brands do.

Ultra Broad Spectrum CBD Oil

Like Five CBD’s tincture, Medterra’s Ultra Broad Spectrum CBD Oil (“Enhanced Relief Oil”) has a lot of minor cannabinoids (like CBG, CBC, CBN, CBDV, and terpenes) in a 10:1 ratio of CBD to minor cannabinoids. While this is an average figure for full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD typically has fewer minor cannabinoids, a ratio of 20:1. So while it’s average amongst full-spectrum CBD oils, this can be a great option if you want the benefits of the entourage effect without risking coming in contact with a meaningful amount of THC.

This oil comes in two flavors (citrus and unflavored) and two strengths (1,000mg or 33mg/mL and 2,000mg or 67mg/mL). Here’s a quick look at how much you’ll pay for each Ultra Broad Spectrum “Enhanced Relief” oil strength option either as a one-off purchase or as part of a subscription:

Calm Gummies (formerly Keep Calm)

Medterra’s “Calm” CBD Gummies used to be known as “Keep Calm,” and they were our previous favorite CBD gummy (but now that title goes to Green Roads Stress Aways).

When the name was changed, so was the formula. Medterra, for some reason, removed the 125mg of Sensoril ashwagandha that we really enjoyed about the product. The company states that it has “upgraded” these gummies “to improve their taste and effect.” However, removing a nice dose of branded ashwagandha doesn’t seem like an improvement, in our opinion. Plus, nothing else seems to have changed about the gummies; the CBD (broad-spectrum; 25mg) and L-theanine (125mg) doses are the exact same as before. If there were ingredients added or increased doses, we might be more understanding of this change.

Also, in terms of “improving” the taste, Medterra hasn’t added a new flavor — the only available flavor is Strawberry Lemonade, which was the only option available before. (Our testers enjoyed this flavor in the past, stating it had a pleasant tartness to it.)

Ultimately, we don’t quite understand where the “upgraded” part of this change comes from, and we’re a bit disappointed by it.

Green Roads Stress Aways Ashwagandha Gummies is our top pick for those searching for a CBD gummy for anxiety. Previously, our top choice was Medterra’s Keep Calm gummies, but those have since undergone some changes (the most important of which is the removal of the ashwagandha that made them our top choice).

These Green Roads gummies contain 25mg of CBD isolate each. And, while isolate is our least favorite form of CBD, our testers found them to work exceptionally well for a product that doesn’t benefit from the entourage effect. This effectiveness could very well be due to the two additional ingredients that round out Green Roads Stress Aways — 150mg of KSM-66 ashwagandha and 100mg of L-theanine.

Most of ashwagandha’s benefits, including those for relieving anxiety,35 are due to its withanolide content, so it’s important (or at least better) that you find a product that includes a standardized amount of this substance.36 In the case of Stress Aways, the KSM-66 ashwagandha used is standardized to 5% withanolides (but it can be up to around 15%, according to the KSM-66 website). In comparison, the ashwagandha in Lazarus Naturals Relax Capsules is unbranded and doesn’t have its withanolide content listed.

L-Theanine has also demonstrated the ability to relieve anxiety and improve sleep quality, among other benefits.37 Green Roads Stress Aways Gummies contain 100mg of L-theanine — this dose is half of the typical 200mg often seen in successful studies, however.16

When it came time to try these gummies, our testers (as previously mentioned) found them to work surprisingly well for a CBD isolate product. The only downside was that the cherry flavor was a bit “heavy.” It managed to cover up the hemp taste, but we wish Green Roads offered a few different options.

Pricing

These gummies come in two sizes: a 10-count option and a 30-count one. The potencies are the same, with 25mg of CBD per gummy.

Here’s how the pricing breaks down:

Disappointingly, only the 30-count has a subscription option. We hope Green Roads will one day offer a subscription for the 10-count, even if there’s no discount; the convenience alone is nice.

If you’re a first responder, a veteran, or currently in the military, Green Roads offers a 50% off discount on all orders. A similar program is available for teachers, but the discount is reduced to 25%.

Free shipping from Green Roads kicks in once you spend $59; otherwise, it’s a flat rate of $9.99. Compared to competitors (like the $5 cost from Lazarus Naturals), this is one of the higher shipping costs if you don’t hit the free shipping threshold. And, like most other companies in this guide, Green Roads offers a 30-day guarantee.

While not our top recommendation for CBD gummies, PureKana’s Calm gummies are still a decent option if you want an anxiety-reducing CBD gummy.

PureKana’s gummies previously contained ashwagandha, black seed oil, and lemon balm; now, there’s only passion flower extract for a purported anxiolytic boost. Unfortunately, this change stripped several ingredients with a decent amount of research (ashwagandha and lemon balm) and replaced them with something that simply doesn’t have as much research supporting it. The research on passionflower is much less broad and successful for anxiety reduction than ashwagandha, which is a gold standard herb for anxiety reduction. Green Roads Stress Aways are closer to PureKana’s original formula, making it a better choice now (and both options are vegan).

Each gummy contains 25mg of CBD and is grape-flavored. They’re square, which makes them a little easier to cut if 25mg is too large of a dose for you; this is particularly convenient knowing that PureKana only offers one potency and one bottle size at this time (25mg per gummy, and 30 gummies per bottle). Like the reformulation, PureKana has also cut the number of gummies per bottle from 60 to 30. If you have to take CBD more than once daily, this may not be a great option for you, either. (A CBD oil may be better for you if you need a high dose or frequent applications.)

One bottle costs $49.99 once or $34.99 if you join the subscription program, where you’ll automatically get a new bottle shipped every two weeks, each month, or two months. For what you’re getting, it’s on the more expensive side, but it isn’t horribly out of line with competitors like Medterra. However, based on the formula alone, we don’t recommend PureKana as your first stop. PureKana does offer free shipping on all orders and has an additional discount for veterans, low-income households, and people with disabilities. Like all good CBD manufacturers, you can find the certificate of analysis linked directly on each product page.

As much as CBD improves anxiety, it’s not a perfect fix and won’t work for everyone. In some cases, changing the kind of CBD (from isolate to full-spectrum or from gummy or capsule to sublingual oil, for example) may be enough to make a difference. But dozens of other supplements also aim to relieve anxiety, and some make as much of a difference as CBD.

Here are a few alternatives you might consider instead of (or, in some cases, alongside) CBD to improve your anxiety levels.