What does seed-to-sale CBD mean?

Written by Cathy Rozyczko — Edited by Jason Brett on September 27, 2021

The term ‘seed to sale’ is thrown around a lot in CBD marketing. CBD companies that claim to be seed to sale are suggesting that their CBD is somehow more natural, somehow higher quality, somehow a better choice…

But what does seed-to-sale CBD really mean? 

And how do you know if you’re getting truly seed-to-sale CBD? 

We’ll explain exactly what seed-to-sale means in the context of CBD and why people choose seed-to-sale CBD oil. After researching hundreds and hundreds of CBD brands from across the globe, it’s clear that there are consumer advantages with seed-to-sale CBD companies.

At the end, we’ll give you a list of verified seed-to-sale CBD brands that have received perfect scores with our rigorous methodology. Take a look at what makes CBD products truly seed to sale and why it may matter to you next time you’re shopping for CBD oil…

Seed-to-sale CBD definition

While neither the USDA nor another agricultural governing body provide a succinct definition of what seed-to-sale means for cannabinoids, at the end of the day, seed-to-sale CBD is all about traceability.

That traceability must begin at the ‘seed’ level (aka CBD hemp cultivation) all the way to the sale of a CBD product.

For example, the Cannabis Control Commission of Massachusetts requires that cannabis businesses use an electronic tracking system to trace everything that happens to a seed. Here they describe what that seed-to-sale tracking entails in their 2021 Seed-to-Sale Guidance:

Seed-to-sale Electronic Tracking System means… the system of record (Seed-to-sale SOR) or a secondary electronic tracking system used by a Marijuana Establishment or an MTC or an Independent Testing Laboratory. This system shall capture everything that happens to an individual Marijuana plant, from seed and cultivation, through growth, harvest and

Manufacture of Marijuana Products and MIPs, including transportation, if any, to final sale of finished products… (pp 5 of 17)

From this official explanation of cannabis seed-to-sale tracking, along with our own market research of CBD brands claiming to be seed to sale, this is the most comprehensive definition to-date:

Seed-to-sale CBD Definition

CBD oil or CBD products that are fully traceable via proper documentation from seed and cultivation to final sale of CBD products.

How do I know if my CBD is seed to sale?

Many CBD companies use the ‘seed-to-sale’ moniker to let consumers know that their CBD products are traceable at all stages of production. You know if your CBD is truly seed to sale if it is produced by a vertically integrated CBD company or if a CBD brand exclusively sources traceable, seed-to-sale CBD. Here’s an explanation.

1. A CBD company can be considered seed to sale IF:

For a CBD company as an organization to be considered seed to sale, they must be vertically integrated. Ipso facto, the CBD company must essentially have some level of control at most stages of production. So, from planting hemp seeds or even beforehand with hemp genetic research, all the way to posting a finished CBD product for sale online, the company is involved.

Depending on how much CBD is produced, vertically integrated CBD companies may need a lot of cash flow to support their entire product lifecycle. We’ve noticed that vertically integrated CBD brands typically have more employees, seeing as they need to support farmers, marketers, extractors, scientists, etc.

One of the biggest differences we see with vertically integrated CBD companies is in quality control. Because they’re at the ground level during most phases, they can get a handle on problems quickly and offer more consistency of product. Plus, vertically integrated CBD companies can get creative by investing in innovative ideas on many levels.

2. CBD and CBD products can be considered seed to sale IF:

Here’s the deal, not all CBD brands have the expertise, cash, and personnel to operate at a vertically integrated level. But you can still get seed-to-sale CBD from a third-party vendor, provided they disclose their supplier and/or provide evidence like organic certification documentation and third-party testing. If a CBD brand is using seed-to-sale CBD oil to formulate their products or even simply white-labelling them as their own, you’re still getting the same quality level.

Why choose seed-to-sale CBD?

Based on our research, seed-to-sale CBD offers significant advantages for consumers, including:

1. Better quality control– Especially with vertically integrated CBD companies, quality control is more effective and organized.
2. Traceable and transparent– These are the defining characteristics of seed-to-sale CBD. Seed-to-sale CBD is traceable (often through seed-to-sale software), so consumers can have a clearer understanding of where and how their CBD supplements are grown and made.
3. Eco-conscious– More often than not, seed-to-sale CBD is an eco-conscious endeavor. Since production is less scattered across multiple organizations and locations, seed-to-sale organizations can get more done with less and often keep things super local to lower their carbon footprint.
4. Consistency of product– With seed-to-sale CBD, relatively the same processes with the same vendor are in place every time you buy a CBD product. Sometimes with brands like Receptra Naturals and Charlotte’s Web, you’re getting the same CBD hemp genetics each time as well. This means more consistency for consumers who regularly buy CBD.
5. Lower cost– Seed-to-sale CBD companies commonly offer lower prices, even for high-grade, certified-organic CBD oil and CBD products. This is because vertically integrated CBD companies will usually save significantly on production costs by owning the machinery, extracting CBD themselves, etc.

How to find seed-to-sale CBD

If you’re looking for a seed-to-sale CBD product— whether from a vertically integrated CBD brand or one that exclusively uses seed-to-sale CBD— make sure the seed-to-sale claim checks out. You can also just read one of our CBD brand reviews on the company to save time.

What are the best seed-to-sale CBD brands?

Finding verifiably seed-to-sale CBD brands with other quality indicators like fantastic product formulation can be daunting. Luckily, we’ve reviewed hundreds of CBD brands that claim to be seed to sale. Generally, when we can verify that a CBD company is indeed seed to sale, it indicates that they are heavily invested in quality. We therefore thought it useful to make a list of the CBD brands we’ve reviewed that both:

• Are either a vertically integrated seed-to-sale CBD company or they exclusively source seed-to-sale CBD;
• Earn a perfect score of 5/5 badges, according to our methodology.

To earn a perfect score from CBD Oil Review, a CBD brand must earn all 5 badges to meet the following requirements:

Quality– The CBD brand must be able to verify the geographic source of their hemp and growing methods. Additionally, the CBD brand must utilize a clean extraction method.

Safety– The CBD brand must provide up-to-date, independent laboratory results to prove that their CBD oil is safe and contains what’s advertised. To earn this badge, a brand must show potency tests for each SKU, as well as a panel to test for contaminants on all bulk cannabidiol used to make product.

Mission– The CBD brand must have a cohesive and understandable mission that aims to make a positive impact.

Charity– The CBD brand must actively engage in charity. Common examples include offering a military discount on CBD products, donating to nonprofits, etc.

Innovation– To earn the Innovation Badge, a CBD brand must engage in cutting-edge or out-of-the-box ideas. This can be anything from leveraging technology to coming up with unique blends with natural ingredients. The point is that the CBD brand is doing something new or disruptive in the interest of providing CBD users with a better experience.

Seed-to-sale CBD brands with a perfect score from CBD Oil Review

The following seed-to-sale CBD brands have been reviewed and scrutinized by us. Each brand has received badges for Quality, Safety, Mission, Charity, and Innovation for a perfect score of 5/5 on CBD Oil Review.

Best Seed-to-Sale CBD Brands

Endoca [Read the Review]

Receptra Naturals [Read the Review]

Prime Sunshine [Read the Review]

Charlotte’s Web [Read the Review]

Lazarus Naturals [Read the Review]

Mission Farms CBD [Read the Review]

Ambary Gardens [Read the Review]

Kat’s Naturals [Read the Review]

Is seed-to-sale CBD the best choice?

While there are various vendors with awesome CBD supplements that are not considered seed to sale, after researching hundreds and hundreds of CBD brands from around the world, it’s clear that there is a correlation between quality and eco-consciousness and seed-to-sale CBD. Other marked benefits include traceability, consistency of product, and often, a lower cost for CBD consumers.

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