If you’ve ever been curious about trying CBD or hemp-based products, here is a Green Compass review with an overview of the company’s standards and my favorite Green Compass products.
Disclosures: These are affiliate links. This post is a general overview and should not be used as medical advice.
Have you been curious about hemp products? Seen CBD all over the news? Googled CBD for {insert symptom here}? This up-and-coming industry can feel like the wild west at times. In collaboration with my local friend, Karol, who knows a TON about this subject and has educated me well, let’s dive in to learn more!
I didn’t really get “into” hemp products until my 40s because I wasn’t interested in inhaling anything or trying unregulated products. But once standardized hemp-infused drinks could be purchased legally, I started slowly trying a few different kinds. What I discovered was that not only did they make a good alcohol replacement, but I was sleeping better than ever and experiencing only positive after-effects.
Karol and I started a conversation about alcohol replacements that led to her recommendation that I try Green Compass’s Full Spectrum Daily Nano Jellies for 30 days to see how I feel, along with Green Compass’s Unwind Jellies, which are more for recreational use (Spoiler alert: These are the two products I like the most!).
I knew at quick glance I’d like the company: Green Compass is a female-founded USDA certified organic CBD company that grows and produces their products “from seed to seal” in North Carolina, my hometown state! Here’s an overview of the company plus the products I’ve been using and my thoughts on each.
Green Compass Review
Green Compass History & Founders
Meredith Cook, a North Carolina mom of two, was not feeling like herself mentally or physically after the birth of her second son. Her brother suggested that she try CBD, which she found “lifted the fog.” After trying hemp CBD and experiencing the life-changing benefits firsthand, Meredith became passionate about sharing it with others.
Meredith wanted to find a CBD brand that was consistent, transparent, and clean. However, as she continued to research hemp products on the market and try different brands herself, she discovered inconsistencies in quality. It turns out that the hemp industry is not highly regulated in the U.S. A recent study showed that most CBD products are mislabeled and could contain junk you don’t want in your wellness products.
When she didn’t find one, she decided to create one. Meredith and her husband Sterling joined forces with sixth-generation North Carolinian farmers, Adam and George Wooten, to create a USDA certified organic hemp wellness brand that consumers can rely on.
Green Compass Standards – what sets them apart
First and foremost, like skincare and beauty, the word “organic” doesn’t carry a lot of weight unless it is “USDA certified organic.” This certification means that the product meets specific standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture. When it comes to hemp, this involves a multi-step process that certifies the growing, processing, and testing.
You guessed it: Green Compass is USDA certified organic. This is the very first thing to look for when you are trying a hemp product – whether it is a drink, gummy, or tincture.
In addition, Green Compass does not use herbicides or pesticides and they test for heavy metals and other toxins. Why is this important? Hemp is a “mop crop” due to its natural filtering properties. Hemp absorbs much of the soil’s elements, meaning any pesticides, heavy metals, or other contaminants found in planting soil (i.e. things you don’t want in your wellness products).
Green Compass uses small batch CO2 extraction to separate the beneficial compounds from the plant. This is a non-toxic way to extract the oil from the hemp flower. They also use nano-technology in their “Jellies,” which makes the CBD more bioavailable and effective than other gummies on the market.
They use independent third-party lab testing to ensure efficacy and safety per batch (if you look online, you’ll see many companies post a “COA” or Certificate of Analysis for a lot of product that was sold months or years ago, but Green Compass tests per batch). Just scan the QR code on the bottom (or look on the website) for the COA.
Green Compass is also cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) certified, which means they are manufactured under strict quality control measures to ensure safety, purity, and efficacy.
I love that Green Compass goes above and beyond what’s required! They take a “trust, but verify” approach. You don’t have to simply believe what they claim, you can scan the QR code on any product to verify what’s in the bottle.
Plus, they offer a 30-day money back guarantee and even cover return shipping if you aren’t finding benefit from your products.
You know through my work with Beautycounter that I love a company advocating for health-protective laws and Green Compass is no different – their founders were invited to sit on the Hemp Advisory Board, taking their gold standard practices to guide at the federal level.
How is hemp different than “MJ”
Let’s tackle this topic because it’s one that creates so much stigma and keeps people from giving CBD a try.
Hemp and “MJ” (you know what I’m talking about) are from the same plant family, but they are different plants. Hemp has been federally legal since 2018.
While “MJ” is high in a cannabinoid known as THC (see what I did there?) and low in a cannabinoid known as CBD, hemp is the opposite.
Hemp is often grown for its fiber (used in textiles and paper), seeds (which are a great source of protein), and CBD (which has many therapeutic uses). MJ is primarily cultivated for its THC content for recreational and medicinal purposes.
You may have heard “hemp is for healing, MJ is for feeling.”
While cannabinoids are therapeutic and interact with our body to provide overall balance (more on that below), most aren’t psychoactive (aka won’t make you feel funny). I’ll dive into that next.
What are cannabinoids? How is CBD different from THC?
Cannabinoids are a group of chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant, including THC (which can be psychoactive in certain doses), CBD (which won’t make you feel weird and is helpful for a variety of issues), CBN (which is great for sleep, but won’t knock you out), and CBG (which has powerful anti-inflammatory properties).
I recently learned there are over 100 cannabinoids in the hemp plant! But, why would we want to take something like this? This is wild: your body actually makes cannabinoids.
Our bodies have a network of receptors called the “endocannabinoid system” (aka the “ECS”) all over our body (from our nervous, endocrine, digestive, musculoskeletal, reproductive, cardiovascular, immune systems – even our skin!). Our ECS can help regulate appetite, memory, sleep cycle, and stress. When these receptors are functioning well, we are in homeostasis (a fancy word for balance).
When our ECS is depleted, we may feel stressed, sleepless, and “off.” Good news – we can supplement with cannabinoids, like CBD, from the hemp plant to bring our bodies back to balance.
If you Google “endocannabinoid system,” you’ll find dozens of articles from the NIH, Harvard Health, and more. The NIH has stated that the ECS “may have therapeutic potential in almost all conditions affecting humans.”
It makes you wonder why there is such a stigma attached?
What are the Benefits of CBD?
While Green Compass can’t make medical claims, there are so many studies out there that talk about the wide array of benefits from CBD and more research is being done every day.
The top three reasons why people reach for CBD?
- Better sleep (think: falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking up feeling rested).
- Calmer mind (think: better focus, a deeper well of patience, no racing thoughts).
- Less inflammation (think: better recovery from a workout, fewer aches and pains).
More and more, people are reaching for CBD and THC products to replace alcohol (makes you feel chill without losing control. No hangover, no problem).
I’ve personally found both the drinks and Jellies I’ve tried make me feel like I’m “partying” without any of the negative effects of alcohol: dehydration, headache, terrible sleep. In fact, the nights that I have Green Compass products, I sleep AMAZINGLY deep. Plus, there is zero hangover. While I still like to enjoy a cocktail or wine with dinner, being able to use these products half of the time has really helped me live a healthier life.
If you are looking for a clinician’s perspective, check out Dr. Jack’s YouTube Channel. He is a board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management physician. He also happens to be Green Compass’ medical advisor. I also have this book written by a nurse, which is a good reference.
My favorite Green Compass products
The two areas that I can confidently say have been amazing results are deep sleep and feeling “unwound” after taking the Unwinds. When I want really, really good sleep, I take either an Unwind or tincture plus a Sleep Better Nano-Jellie (I don’t take them every night to save cost!). It’s hard for me to pinpoint if taking the Daily Jellies has influenced my anxiety or added calm to my life because life is not a laboratory! But I can say that those two things are not going up, so that is at least good anecdotal data.
Unwind THC Jellies
These are Green Compass’ strongest product, containing 2.5mg of THC and 25mg of CBD. These taste SO good, kind of like a ginger mojito. Think “alcohol replacement.” You’ll want to try these on a night that you need the “ultimate chill” followed by deep sleep. If you are new to THC, take ½.
Full Spectrum Tincture
This is a great way to provide overall balance to a busy day. You can also take before bed to support sleep which is what I do if I ever have insomnia and want faster results and no sugar on my teeth (from a Jellie). Shake the bottle, draw up a dropper of oil, dispense under your tongue, hold for a minute (just count to 60) and swallow the rest. This allows maximum absorption in your sublingual glands. I really like the natural mint flavor because that’s often what I have in my mouth around bedtime teeth brushing, too.
Sleep Better Nano-Jellies
These Blackberry flavored Jellies contain CBN, the cannabinoid known for its sedative properties, along with Ashwagandha, Lemon Balm Oil, and Passionflower to promote calm. Take 30 minutes before bed. Don’t worry, they won’t knock you out. I take them on nights when I really need good sleep, like if I slept poorly the night prior because of a sick child or other interruption.
Broad Spectrum Daily Nano-Jellies
These are perfect for anyone who wants the benefits of CBD, but can’t use THC because of a sensitivity or drug screening. You can choose Raspberry Citrus, Mint, or Limoncello. I’ve been taking one daily for almost two months now.
Reduce Topical Pain Cream
For those who prefer a topical to target a specific area, this is a great option. You can choose from a Cream (great for joints) or a Roll-on Gel (better for larger areas like your back!). Green Compass uses CBG instead of CBD in this topical, given recent research for its anti-inflammatory benefits.
Bath Soaks
I love taking a long hot bath after a soccer game and these soaks contain hemp flower extract to soothe my sore muscles. They smell divine!
Other products to try:
- Full Daily Nano-Jellies: for anyone looking for daily balance and can take a trace amount of THC (won’t make you feel funny, so yes you can take in the AM!).
- Mind Bloom: I didn’t tackle functional mushrooms in this post (that’s for another day), but Green Compass introduced a line and I’m intrigued. These capsules include Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, and Sage for short-term and long-term cognitive support. Think: “I am on a deadline and I need to finish this project” level focus without the jitters or crash.
- Immune Bloom: Another functional mushroom product, this blend of Elderberry, Rieshi, Chaga, and Turkey Tail boost short-term immune response and long-term immune function. Good for any age! (And no, they don’t taste mushroom-y).
- Collagen: I just did a deep dive into the benefits of collagen for your hair, skin, nails, digestion, joint/muscle support)! Green Compass uses 3 forms of collagen (derived from eggshell, marine from wild-caught fish, and bovine peptides from grass-fed/pasture raised bovine). This is the only collagen on the market with anti-inflammatory CBG and you know Green Compass is testing for heavy metals and contaminants.
How to buy Green Compass
Best way to shop my favorites: If you are new to Green Compass, you can use my link to save 20% + an extra $10 off any one product.
Don’t be scared by the replenishment option. This isn’t my favorite either, but if the products work for you, you will want them to hit your doorstep without having to think about it and add one extra item to your “to do” list. Green Compass made this flexible, easy to edit, and easy to cancel without penalty.
Bundle and Save: Green Compass created a number of curated bundles to target specific issues (like “help me sleep!”) that are basically “buy one, get one free” with your first purchase. If you love a REALLY good deal, start here.
Join as an advocate: I opted for this option because I knew I’d be ordering monthly and I was already sharing with friends. I can show you how to maximize this option (and no, you aren’t required to order anything ever – otherwise I wouldn’t be here!).
