Organic CBD Oil Advantages and Where to Buy in Australia

In Australia, organic CBD oil from sustainably farmed hemp has become immensely popular. It’s now the preferred choice of CBD oil amongst consumers. There’s a good reason for this. Organic products tend to be safer. Unfortunately, many CBD oil products in Australia are contaminated with toxins.

It’s common for these toxins to be discovered in non-organic CBD oils subjected to lab tests. Poisonous compounds like:

• Heavy metals (which often contaminate soil)
• Pesticides
• Herbicides
• Chemical fertilisers
• Fungicides
• Artificial preservatives

Are commonly found in such tests. These can accidentally infiltrate CBD oil made without adequate quality controls and testing procedures. Each of these compounds is harmful. They can cause problems like

• Acute or chronic inflammation
• Allergic reactions
• Poisoning
• Organ damage
• Metabolic or hormone dysfunction
• Cancers

For example, many common pesticides used on hemp, like DDT, are carcinogenic (cancer-causing) when consumed by humans. DDT is also an endocrine disruptor, impairing the body’s ability to regulate hormones. Accidental ingestion of these types of toxic chemicals should be of significant concern if you’re using CBD oil in Australia. The risks add up further over time if you’re ingesting potentially contaminated CBD oil regularly.

Opting for Australian organic-certified CBD products has become a key avenue to reduce the risk of ingesting contaminants. Additionally, shopping organic helps consumers to support environmentally safe hemp farming. Organically farmed hemp is better for the earth and produces cleaner, purer CBD extracts.

The growing awareness of organic products and their importance has also accelerated among CBD oil producers. More are pursuing organic certification than ever. Let’s review organic CBD oil’s advantages for your health and the environment. We’ll explain what ‘organic’ means and where you can buy organically certified CBD oil in Australia.

What Makes a CBD Oil ‘Organic’?

‘Organic’ isn’t just a buzzword when describing CBD oil and its origins.

Certified Organic

In Australia, ‘organically certified’ products carry a distinct certification that distinguishes them from non-organic products. Obtaining this certification requires fulfilling a challenging, multi-stage verification and approval process. An independent body in Australia oversees this entire process and the standards that govern it. This body is called ‘Australian Certified Organic’ or ACO.

Along with assessing all prospective suppliers and controlling their organic certification, the ACO regularly audits organically certified suppliers to verify their continued compliance with their standards. This compliance must be maintained by rigorously upholding organic farming, production, extraction and formulation practices throughout the CBD oil production cycle. Australian Organic certification verifies that a particular CBD oil is sourced, extracted, formulated, and bottled according to organic standards.

Characteristics

Several characteristics unique to organically certified CBD oils make them different from their non-organic counterparts. 

• Organic Hemp Source: All ‘organic’ CBD oil can only be extracted from organic hemp plants. This ensures these extracts aren’t contaminated (knowingly or unknowingly) by pesticides, synthetic farming chemicals, or agricultural byproducts. Organic hemp is grown without the use of any such chemicals, making it a much safer source of CBD oil versus hemp that is sprayed or treated with toxic substances.
• Chemical-Free: Organic CBD oil producers can’t use synthetic or toxic chemicals to extract, refine, or produce their extracts. The extraction must use techniques that don’t involve harmful chemicals like solvents (e.g. ethanol) or hydrocarbons. Most organic CBD oils are derived from supercritical CO2 gas extraction. This extraction method prevents exposing the CBD extract to toxic solvent compounds like ethanol. Even with intensive filtration, it’s nearly impossible to entirely clear these compounds (or their residues) from the CBD end product.
• Carrier Oil: Any carrier oil used within a CBD oil (as a tincture) must also be organically certified. Carriers like MCT, olive oil or coconut oil are commonly mixed with CBD to help with both taste and absorption. Even if a CBD extract is pure, a carrier oil might not be. Validating its organic status is critical for producers to obtain certification for their CBD product.
• Natural Additives: any additives used in an organic CBD oil must come from organic, natural sources. For example, some organic CBD products include natural flavourings like vanilla bean, sea salt, natural sweeteners, or almond extract. These must come from whole plant (or animal) sources that are also organically verified.

When choosing CBD oil in Australia, organic status is often a certification buyers seek in their product. Why is this? These products have a range of advantages. Let’s take a look at what these are.

Advantages of Organic CBD Oil

Organic CBD oil is rarely ‘stronger’ than non-organic CBD oil. However, its purity and nutrient variety is superior.

Higher Purity

Certified organic CBD oils are much purer, safer and better tolerated. Unlike non-organic CBD oil, they are assured not to contain toxic chemicals or contaminants.

Some studies have found that up to 87% of CBD oils tested contained traces of fungicides or insecticides, such as cyprodinil. These chemicals are intended to kill or poison undesirable insects, rodents, plants, or fungi. To achieve this, such chemicals must be potent and very toxic. It should come as no surprise that they’re also poisonous and harmful to humans. They can damage tissue, organs and hormones down to the cellular level. Some pesticides even wreak havoc on the body’s DNA, which is why they can cause cancer.

An unfortunate fact about CBD oil sourced from hemp is that these plants are ‘bioaccumulators’. This means they absorb and store chemicals from their environment. In turn, these chemicals ‘accumulate’ in the plant’s tissue. Because of this, hemp is very susceptible to becoming toxified from its surrounding soil, air or water. Chemical sprays or fertilisers easily enter the plant. This includes undesirable contaminants like poisonous heavy metals often found in poor-quality soils.

Hemp Contamination 

Once contaminated, a hemp plant can’t be ‘uncontaminated’. Cleaning or treatment can’t remove toxins from the cells of the plant. Many will inevitably diffuse into CBD oil extracted from the affected plants. Even tiny residual amounts of toxic pesticides ingested can be harmful or a source of allergies. This is particularly the case for people who consume CBD oil regularly. Poisons can accumulate in the body over time, compounding the risks to your health.

Organically farmed hemp doesn’t use any of these harmful synthetic compounds. This is a huge safety advantage. Shopping for organic CBD oil ensures you won’t be poisoning yourself accidentally. Additional lab testing performed on these products verifies this. Such tests sensitively screen for trace toxins, heavy metals or poisonous chemicals. Organic CBD oil producers are generally looking for concentrations of heavy metals. Even for organically farmed hemp, bad soil is sometimes a contamination vector for toxins like arsenic or lead.

Cannabinoid and Terpene Profile

Another advantage of organic CBD oil is its richer flavonoid, terpene, and cannabinoid profile. This also relates to the hemp origins of these organic extracts. Non-GMO hemp has better genetic variation than hemp varieties that are genetically modified and homogenous. Frequently, this modification impacts the breadth of nutrients each plant contains.

Non-organic hemp growers often don’t weigh nutrient variety as necessary. However, this factor significantly influences the overall efficacy of CBD oils made from these plants. Nutrients like flavonoids and terpenes from hemp each offer distinctively helpful health benefits.

Terpenes, for instance, accentuate the profound benefits of cannabinoids like CBD by helping them absorb. Cannflavin flavonoids from hemp offer unique anti-inflammatory properties. Obtaining these valuable phytonutrients in CBD oil adds to its ability to combat inflammation, lower stress, and block pain. They’re found in the highest concentrations in organic CBD extracts. Nutrient variety is a key area in which organic CBD oil excels over non-organic products.

Fewer Allergies

A problem that some encounter when using CBD oil is side effects and allergies. Many of these result from pesticides found in non-organic CBD products. Common pesticides, such as Cyfluthrin, are well-known allergens. Studies have linked them to increasing incidences of allergies in children and a heightened risk of allergic reactions.

Pesticide exposure also contributes to long-term chronic inflammatory conditions like:

• Asthma
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Rhinitis
• Leaky gut and IBS
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Health experts consider pesticide exposure a factor contributing to the growing rates of allergic and inflammatory conditions. Avoiding these chemicals by opting for organic CBD products may be prudent. This particularly applies if you’re sensitive to allergens.

Carrier Oil Contamination

Low-quality carrier oils used with a CBD extract can similarly contain contaminants that pose allergic reaction risks. Cheap, low-grade olive oil, MCT or almond oil can be toxified with heavy metals, pesticides or fillers. Allergies can also be triggered by artificial flavourings or preservatives in non-organic CBD oil. Common preservatives such as nitrates are a source of health problems. These synthetic chemicals can:

• Increase cancer risks
• Disrupt hormone regulation
• Harm the immune system
• Reduce metabolic health

Avoiding preservatives is a vital health precaution.

The good news is that you can easily avoid allergens that you might ingest from a carrier oil. You need to opt for organically certified CBD oil. These products are rigorously audited to ensure that even their carrier oils abide by organic standards, such as no artificial preservatives.

Sustainability

Choosing organic in Australia means supporting more sustainable farming methods that are better for the earth. Organic farms are serious about avoiding harmful, toxic chemicals that can leech into waterways and poison animals. Instead of destroying the environment, organic hemp farming methods improve its well-being.

For example, organic soil management techniques improve topsoil nutrient content and fertility over time. Organic hemp farms also avoid GMO hemp varieties. Only growing wild-sourced hemp promotes biodiversity. GMO hemp crops grown in monocultures reduce genetic diversity and the resilience of the biome.

Although organic CBD oils are a bit more expensive, buying them truly contributes to a healthier mother earth across many environmental facets.

Disadvantages of Organic CBD Oil

There are a couple of notable downsides to purchasing organic CBD oil in Australia.

Higher Price

Organic products are more expensive.

This isn’t a secret. It’s costlier to run a business that uses organic practices. These costs must be passed onto customers in some form.

Higher prices for organic also apply to CBD oils. These products are much more costly and intensive to create. For instance, the organic hemp source of these products has smaller crop yields. Growing it takes much longer because it’s non-GMO and not enriched with chemical fertilisers. Because it can’t be mass-produced, organic hemp supply is constrained. Lower supply and more arduous manufacturing add to the end product’s price.

Ongoing quality control, assurance and testing to maintain organic standards adds further costs to manufacturers. The additional labour and expenses for certified organic are reflected in its prices. Most organic CBD oils cost around 20-50% more than non-organic types.

Whether a higher-cost product is worthwhile depends on what you value. You’re paying for the peace of mind that you aren’t consuming toxins or damaging the earth. But some people prefer to save money instead. 

Lower CBD Concentrations

Organic CBD oil producers are concerned about the purity and sustainability of their products rather than their potency. Prioritising the health of the environment and consumers can come at the cost of lower overall CBD concentrations in organic CBD products. GMO hemp can be grown to generate much higher quantities of the CBD cannabinoid. Extracts from these plants will, in turn, be more potent. The downside is that prioritising CBD means other valuable minor cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpene concentrations are reduced. This isn’t the case for organic extracts. They’re more full-bodied and offer each of hemp’s vitality-boosting phytocompounds.

Where Can I Buy Organic CBD Oil in Australia?

If you want to buy organic CBD oil in Australia, it’s possible to do so now legally. 

A standard method of obtaining organic CBD products is via a medical prescription in Australia. This involves speaking to your GP about getting CBD prescribed. A few steps are involved in getting approval, and you’ll need a valid condition to get this. Not all doctors are licensed to provide one, either. You must speak to a GP in Australia’s Special Access Scheme for a CBD oil prescription. Doctors in Australia can also help guide you on the most suitable types of CBD products for your health aims.

A significant downside of acquiring a prescription for organic CBD oil is the costs involved. Simply seeing a doctor with cannabis medication licensing is costly. However, obtaining a fully approved prescription is even more complex and requires ongoing check-ins. Medically prescribed CBD oil expenses stack up heavily over time. It’s often not viable for people who are on a budget or who use a lot of CBD oil and buy it frequently. If you don’t want to get medically prescribed, this is understandable. The costs, effort, and time involved may be a burden that is too great.

Shopping in Pharmacies vs Online

An easier route for some people to buy organic CBD oil in Australia is shopping over the counter in a pharmacy. Numerous pharmacies in Australia can now sell CBD oil as a medication in low-dose formulations. You only need to prove you are at least 18 to make a purchase using an ID. 

The drawbacks of buying organic CBD oil in pharmacies include the high prices in these stores and limitations on the strengths of extracts available. Stock can also be problematic. Australia tends to be supply-constrained for CBD oil, contributing to its pervasively high prices in the country. If a pharmacy doesn’t have what you want, you might try a cannabis or CBD dispensary. Dispensaries are found in Australian cities like Sydney or Melbourne. They can sell similar products to pharmacies but are also quite challenging in their prices.

These challenges and drawbacks mean more shoppers in Australia now buy their organic CBD oil online. Purchases from Australian websites offering organic CBD products are generally the best avenue for most people to get quality products at a reasonable price tag.

Look for online CBD stores that openly share their organic certifications, lab test results and hemp sourcing details. These should help authenticate a product’s cannabinoid content, organic status, and absence of toxins. Some good Australian shops to explore include Naturecan and Black Sheep Farms. Both have organically certified CBD oils available in various formulations.

Verifying Organic CBD Products

The main challenge with finding organic CBD products is verifying their authenticity. Many products label themselves as ‘organic’ despite being sourced from GMO hemp or not being certified. It’s common for unscrupulous CBD retailers to mislabel their products this way to improve their sales. You’ll need to check if the product has an actual Australian Certified Organic (ACO) certification or NASAA Certified Organic status. 

These are the main benchmarks or standards for authentic ‘organic’ products that certify a product has been entirely sourced and produced via organic methods without synthetic chemical use. In addition, you should double-check the hemp sources from which a seller has created their CBD oil. Organic CBD oil can only be made from organic hemp. This is a baseline requirement to ensure the product is not exposed to pesticide or herbicide toxins. Don’t get confused or misled by products that are labelled ‘natural’ or use similar language without stating they are authentically certified ‘organic’.

Conclusion

In Australia, people will continue to favour organic CBD oil for its excellent safety, purity and nutrient variety. Organic CBD products are far less likely to cause allergies, trigger inflammation, or cause toxicity in the body. Those particularly sensitive to pesticides or allergens especially favour organically certified CBD oil. In addition, organic CBD oil provides a more complete, natural profile of terpenes, flavonoids and cannabinoids. This can carry added benefits such as inflammation reduction, metabolic health, and anxiety relief. Yet the advantages of buying organic extend beyond its safety and health advantages. 

For many shoppers, the sustainability advantages of organic CBD oil are the main reason for choosing them. Organic hemp farming practices are a simple way for people buying CBD products to support more sustainable, environmentally friendly farming and manufacturing practices. Doing so means cleaner ecosystems, soils, waterways, and air. They also keep the earth in a better state for future generations and allow for longer-term agriculture. You can buy organic CBD oil in Australia today via multiple avenues, including online stores, retail dispensaries, pharmacies or through your doctor (via prescription).

References

1. Cornbread Hemp®. (2020). Organic vs Non-Organic CBD Oil. [online] Available at: https://www.cornbreadhemp.com/blogs/learn/organic-vs-non-organic-cbd-oil#:~:text=In%20order%20for%20any%20product
2. www.cibdol.com. (2023). Organic versus non-organic CBD. The benefits. [online] Available at: https://www.cibdol.com/blog/1930-organic-versus-non-organic-cbd-the-benefits
3. Amendola, G., Bocca, B., Picardo, V., Pelosi, P., Battistini, B., Ruggieri, F., Attard Barbini, D., De Vita, D., Madia, V.N., Messore, A., Di Santo, R. and Costi, R. (2021). Toxicological aspects of cannabinoid, pesticide and metal levels detected in light Cannabis inflorescences grown in Italy. Food and Chemical Toxicology: An International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association, [online] 156, p.112447. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34343597/
4. Buralli, R.J., Dultra, A.F. and Ribeiro, H. (2020). Respiratory and Allergic Effects in Children Exposed to Pesticides—A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(8), p.2740. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32316194/#:~:text=Most%20studies%20(79%25)%20found,phlegm%2C%20and%20lung%20function%20impairments.
5. Anon, (2023a). Is CBD Sustainable? Hemp & The Environment | Purity Hemp. [online] Available at: https://purityhempco.com/is-cbd-sustainable/
6. Australian Certified Organic (2018). Australian Certified organic standards. [online] Aco.net.au. Available at: https://aco.net.au/Pages/Operators/ACOStandards.aspx
7. NuuMe Organics. (n.d.). Organic CBD Oil Vs. Non-Organic CBD Oil: Why Organic Matters. [online] Available at: https://nuume.com/en-au/blogs/making-organic-cbd-blog/organic-cbd-oil-vs-non-organic-cbd-oil-why-organic-matters#:~:text=Yes.