Green Roads CBD makes its purpose clear from the very beginning. Helping people live their best lives through the power of hemp has been the focus since the company was founded in 2013. It was one of the first in the consumer CBD market—several years before CBD was popular or even Federally legal; and co-founder Laura Fuentes recalls the days that she worried about the DEA knocking on her door. Now she breathes a sigh of relief that it’s so much easier than it used to be.
In the early days, the founders of Green Roads struggled to get consumers to see the company as legitimate. They had a hard time finding a bank that was willing to work with them, and transporters wouldn’t even touch their raw materials. Just picture a truck full of hemp hauling through a state like Kansas before the Farm Bill made hemp Federally legal and try not to cringe for the poor driver.
Green Roads has come a long way since then, and it is now consistently on top ten CBD company lists found in publications like Forbes, Buzzfeed, and Cosmopolitan. The company is Remedy Review approved [1], and it consistently wins Best and Most Innovative CBD Products awards at the Cannabis Business Awards year after year. It is the largest privately owned CBD company in the United States, and it is the fastest growing company in South Florida.
Being one of the largest, most trusted and transparent companies in the industry is quite a feat and worthy of bragging rights, for sure. We commend Green Roads for its accomplishments and contributions to the industry. However, one would think that the company’s CBD formula would be better with all that credibility and experience.
The full and broad spectrum formulas are closer to a CBD isolate, which is disappointing considering the big deal that Green Roads made about rebranding its website and products to be more easily understood by customers. The company’s CBD oils come in full and broad spectrum varieties, its topicals are made with broad spectrum CBD, and its gummies are available in a CBD isolate formula—but every single formula is almost exactly the same as the other.
Pros:
- Loads of information about CBD, its history, and its uses
- Transparent company that makes its background and purpose clear
- Lab results are easy to find on each product page
- Green Roads is still privately owned—meaning its decisions are driven by customers, not by corporations or uninvolved shareholders
- Enormous variety of products
Cons:
- Formulas are not as robust as they should be
- Prices are a little high
About Green Roads
Laura Fuentes had been working as a compounding pharmacist for more than 20 years, when her friend came to her with a jar of pure CBD extract and asked her what she could do with it. From that point forward, she started developing products to help her friends and family with their ailments, their aches and pains, and their general wellbeing. Eventually, Fuentes and her friend Arby Barroso partnered with two others to co-found Green Roads, and the rest is history.
The company’s focus on using the power of plants to help as many people as possible has paid off; and Green Roads has played an integral role in the progress of the hemp and CBD industries since 2013. The company works hard to educate the public and politicians about CBD, and it created an entire library of information in the process—which you can find easily on the website. Trust us, by the time you get through all the resources on the site, you too will be an expert in all things CBD.
In addition to the company’s wealth of information made freely available on its website, Green Roads has helped to develop hemp as a viable agricultural product. The company’s most recent major contribution was to donate funding, plants, and leadership to Florida’s Hemp Research Pilot Program [2]. These state programs are the first step in getting approved by the USDA to grow industrial hemp for commercial purposes. They are essentially the research and development phase of legislation, and Green Roads has heavily been part of these processes since it was founded.
Points of Interest
Despite the company’s deep involvement in State and Federal regulatory development, the FDA sent Green Roads CBD a warning letter in 2017 [3], because its website contained statements about CBD’s potential usefulness in improving certain physical symptoms and ailments.
Benefits of CBD are well known, but the FDA prohibits claims about its medical efficacy. At the time the agency sent its letter to Green Roads, CBD was not yet Federally legal; and advertising regulations were murky. They are, in fact, still a bit ambiguous. However, Green Roads works to ensure a balance between informing consumers with the most up to date research and complying with Federal guidelines.
Visitors to the Green Roads website will notice how the company works to legitimize itself right off the bat. The home page holds an almost overwhelming amount of information, and the rest of the site is a bit of a labyrinth. Fortunately, the aesthetic of the site is pleasing and professional, and it draws you in.
The company has been revamping its website, and some of the pages are still a little cluttered and disorganized. Regardless, it is clear that Green Roads is a company that cares about innovating the most useful products possible for its customers. Green Roads may be one of the largest CBD companies in the industry, but its personal appeal makes customers feel like family.
Green Roads’ Process
With all the focus on transparency, we were surprised that Green Roads does not explicitly state where its hemp comes from. The company does, however, display an “American Farmed Hemp” seal on every product page, and it states on the FAQ that it has a strong relationship with its multiple source farms throughout the US. Green Roads notes that deciding against growing its own hemp has given the company freedom to be choosy about the hemp it uses, rejecting any plants that are not up to snuff.
The company has quality control experts who personally monitor the progress of the hemp as it is being cultivated, and their requirements are quite stringent. Farms must be able to supply Green Roads with a certificate of origin for the hemp seeds, a certificate of analysis proving that the hemp is pure, and supply farms must be registered to grow industrial hemp in their state.
Testing and Extraction
These standards are just the beginning of the quality control policies that Green Roads has set forth. State hemp programs require that raw hemp is tested for purity and THC content before it is harvested. Green Roads tests the raw material coming into processing facilities, and then it tests again after extraction. Green Roads completes the manufacturing of its products in-house, and it tests the finished product one final time before rolling it out to its customers.
Different types of hemp extraction create different effects on the resulting CBD, and Green Roads uses a variety of methods depending on what it deems best for the product it intends to make. The company uses mostly CO2 extraction—which is less expensive, cleaner, and produces a milder product—for most of its products, but it does use an ethanol extraction process for others. This increases the yield of the CBD from hemp [4].
Green Roads uses ISO certified Kaycha Labs to test at all phases, including the raw material and the final items. If either one of these tests indicate that the CBD does not meet the Green Roads standard, the company does not use it. The lab tests for potency and THC levels, but it also tests for pesticides, heavy metals, solvents, microbials, and mycotoxins, to make sure that your CBD is safe and pure.
Lab Results
The lab results are shared on each product page, with a link to every batch found under the “Labsheets” tab. It’s both a good thing and a bad thing that Green Roads relies on the original lab results to assure customers about the quality of its products. The benefit is that customers get to see the results for themselves. The downfall is that they have to read the results for themselves, and they are complicated. Green Roads does not provide any sort of guidance on what anything means, but with a little time and effort, you can decipher the important points.
Green Roads: Product Line-Up
Green Roads prides itself on being at the forefront of research and development in the industry, and its product line-up is certainly indicative of that. There are so many products that it can be a bit overwhelming, and the company has been overhauling its branding, discontinuing certain products as they sell out.
As a result, the categories are quite cluttered, and shopping can get confusing. There are several unique items available at Green Roads, like hemp flower coffee and bath bombs; and there is also no shortage of the standards, like CBD oils, capsules, gummies, and creams. We appreciate that none of these products are tested on animals, with many being vegan friendly.
CBD Oil
- Full and Broad Spectrum CBD Oil: Green Roads carries both full and broad spectrum CBD oil in 30mL bottles containing a total of 300mg, 750mg, and 1500mg of CBD. These formulas are emulsified with a proprietary blend of glycerin, MCT oil, sunflower seed oil, and hemp seed oil, for a mild taste and smooth feel. Full spectrum CBD oils only come in the original, natural flavor; but broad spectrum oils are available in original, mint, and apple kiwi flavors.
- CBD Daily Dose: These convenient single-dose packets contain one 25mg dose of CBD at a time, and you can choose between full and broad spectrum formulas, in single, four, or twelve-packs. Broad spectrum packs come in original, mint, and apple kiwi flavors; and you can order a variety pack that includes one of each flavor, and a full spectrum dose as well.
CBD Topicals
- Heat and Cool Relief Roll-On: These roll-ons are designed for travel, and they are convenient to use wherever you are. The heat relief roll-on is made with capsaicin and rosemary to provide a warm, relaxing sensation. The cool relief roll-on is made with menthol for a cooling, soothing sensation. Each three-ounce roll-on contains your choice of 150mg, 350mg, and 750mg of broad spectrum CBD.
CBD Capsules
- CBD Softgels: The softgels are made for everyday support, designed to be easy to swallow. Each bottle contains 30 capsules with 25mg of CBD isolate, suspended in a blend of MCT and hemp seed oils for fast absorption.
- CBD Relax or Sleep Capsules: Relax capsules contain GABA and HTP, in addition to 25mg of CBD isolate, to help you wind down and lose your jitters. Sleep capsules boost your ability to get a good night’s sleep with a combination of 25mg of CBD isolate and melatonin. Both varieties come in a bottle of 30 capsules that are vegan friendly.
CBD Edibles
- CBD Chocolate Bar: As if chocolate was not good enough on its own, now you can get it infused with CBD. Vegan friendly, this 42g bar contains 182mg of CBD isolate, and is divided into 12 pieces.
- CBD Relax Bears: One of Green Roads’ most popular products, these sweet and sour gummies contain 10mg of CBD isolate each, and they are available in a jar of 30 or a bag of five.
- Hemp Flower Coffee: You read that right. Green Roads has made coffee out of hemp flower. Choose between French vanilla or hazelnut in 2.5 or 12-ounce bags. CBD concentration varies between batches.
CBD Pet Products
- CBD Pet Drops: For cats, each 30mL bottle contains 60mg of broad spectrum CBD. For dogs, choose between 30mL bottles containing 60mg, 210mg, and 600mg of broad spectrum CBD.
Lab Results & CBD Quality
We sent Green Roads’ 300mg full spectrum CBD oil for lab testing, and the amount of CBD labeled was accurate within a few milligrams—quite impressive. Unfortunately, we were disappointed to learn that this full spectrum formula was closer to a CBD isolate. To see full lab results and a more in-depth analysis read Green Roads CBDStudy’s review.
Our Green Roads Shopping Experience
When you shop with Green Roads, you get a mixed bag of experience. The website overall is well-organized and easy to navigate. There is a ton of text on most pages, but the site manages to make clear the most important information, without forcing customers to sort through all the rest. We like that that information is available not just throughout the website, but also within the ten tabs under the “Learn” menu item. There is also an eBook available on the website.
The confusion starts when you hit the “Shop” tab. Products are broken down into categories but clicking on the category will take you to a hodgepodge of everything the company sells with no apparent organization. It is difficult to see what your options are and get a grasp on everything Green Roads offers but clicking on individual items will help you understand the details.
For example, you have to sort through all the oils in a way that does not feel organized at all. However, when you click on a CBD oil it will take you to the product page, where you can choose between broad or full spectrum, see the concentration options, and choose the flavor you want—all in one place.
Shipping and Returns
Once you figure out what you want to order (you can use their handy product finder to help you select the right items for you), you will likely qualify for free shipping since it is offered for orders of $50 or more. The company generally processes within two to three business days, and items are shipped through USPS Priority Mail. You can order Green Roads no matter what state you live in, and the company also sells products in stores across the country.
If you find yourself dissatisfied with your order from Green Roads for any reason, you can return your products within 30 days for a full refund. This separates the company from those that require your package be returned unopened in order to receive a refund.
Final Thoughts on Green Roads
Green Roads is one of the most trusted and respected companies in the market. It has built a reputation as an innovator since its beginnings in 2013, and it has played an integral role in the growth and legitimization of the industry. The company is transparent and overall straightforward, and it has managed to build a sense of family despite its size.
The products that Green Roads offers are a bit lackluster in their formulas, and the cannabinoid profiles could be a lot stronger. While the full and broad spectrum formulas are not particularly robust, they are developed by a compounding pharmacist for efficient absorption—and the overall quality of the products reflects that. When you are looking for a product with a strong entourage effect, this is not your company. However, Green Roads products are unique and innovative, and they are definitely worth a look.
Your time will be well-spent visiting their site, and you can learn enough to earn your PhD in CBD from their resources. For a more detailed analysis of the lab results and some of the products offered, be sure to visit CBDStudy’s review of Green Roads.
References
[1] Ashley Jordan Ferira. (2018). Green Roads CBD Review. RemedyReview.com. Retrieved from: https://www.remedyreview.com/reviews/green-roads-world-cbd-oil-review/
[2] Business Wire. (2019). Green Roads Donates, Delivers First Certified Hemp Plants into Florida in 70 Years to Launch UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Pilot Program. BusinessWire.com. Retrieved from: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190404005440/en/
[3] U.S. Food & Drug Administration. (2017). WARNING LETTER – Green Roads of Florida LLC. FDA.gov. Retrieved from: https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/green-roads-florida-llc-513854-10312017
[4] Cesar Pegaro et al. (2019). Chemical profiles of cannabis sativa medicinal oil using different extraction and concentration methods. Nat Prod Res. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31512513/
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