Gummies occupy a unique space in both the candy and supplement world. But what are CBD gummies? While they can be considered a health supplement (if made with clean and nutritious ingredients), they can also be considered a candy (for obvious reasons). And one of the cool things about CBD today is that brands are making all types of interesting products that contain, are infused with, or are coated with CBD — and gummies are definitely amongst them. In fact, once ingestible CBD products like capsules, soft gels, chocolates, and others started making their way onto the market, it wasn’t long before CBD gummies burst onto the scene.
What are CBD Gummies Exactly?
CBD gummies are candies that are chewy, sweet, sometimes soft, and that have been either infused or coated with CBD, or cannabidiol. CBD is one of the main cannabinoids, along with THC, that’s extracted from the hemp plant. Along with phytonutrients and terpenes, it’s also one of over 100 other natural cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. CBD gummies can run the gamut from full-spectrum, to broad spectrum, to CBD isolate.
Full-spectrum gummies that are made from hemp have to legally contain 0.3% or less THC. Therefore, there’s no way that anyone can get high from taking CBD gummies. But, if you have concerns about THC in general, then you may want to opt for broad spectrum or CBD isolate gummies.
Are Hemp Gummies Similar to CBD Gummies?
The truth is, CBD gummies are most likely similar to hemp gummies. If you’re talking about marijuana-based gummies vs hemp-based gummies, however, then they are two different things entirely. As we stated earlier, the 2018 Farm Bill made all hemp-derived CBD products legal to buy and sell across the United States, providing there’s 0.3% or less THC. Conversely, marijuana-based products contain well over that amount and will cause you to experience a euphoric “high” sensation.
Currently, marijuana products are not legal in the eyes of the federal government. However, each state has its own laws regarding recreational and medicinal marijuana. Because the laws are sometimes murky, most brands will not label their gummies explicitly as “CBD.” Instead, they may call them hemp gummies, which is a more accurate name for them.
How Are CBD Gummies Made?
Every brand uses a different recipe to craft its CBD gummies. While some infuse their gummies with CBD, others coat them with it. Likewise, some brands use pectin, which is a natural plant-based thickener, and others use gelatin, which comes from animals. If you have specific dietary concerns or restrictions, then you should carefully read the ingredient label of any products that you’re interested in.
When brands make CBD gummies, they take pectin or gelatin and mix it with sweeteners, oils, and natural flavorings, along with other ingredients. They will then either infuse CBD into the mix or coat the gummy with CBD after it has solidified and set. Lastly, some brands will also coat their gummies with a natural sugar after they’ve been cut into squares or different shapes.
Full Spectrum vs. Isolate Gummies
It's not really about one OR the other. Both are great. Often people go for full spectrum unless they have a specific sensitivity to another cannabinoid, or if they are worried about passing a drug test. Having said that, all drug tests can show false positives no matter what you're consuming. So if you're looking to experience the entourage effect, where multiple cannabinoids work together in synergy, then full spectrum gummies are the way to go. If you're worried about taking even trace amounts of THC, then CBD isolate gummies are perfect for you.
What’s the Best Way to Use CBD Gummies?
If you have a hard time using CBD oil because of the taste, then gummies are an excellent alternative. They’re also a faster, more discreet way to get in your daily dose of CBD. Additionally, dosing CBD gummies is a lot easier than trying to figure out what your best dose of CBD oil will be. Since the amount of CBD in each gummy has been predetermined, you won’t have to deal with dropperfuls of oil. Gummies are also very portable, so you can take them just about anywhere.
The one thing to remember about gummies is that because they have to travel through your digestive tract, it will take longer for you to feel their effects. But the other side to that coin is that those effects will last a bit longer. When taking gummies, you should allow your body up to one hour to digest and absorb them before you’ll fully be able to feel their effects. This is the exact opposite of CBD oil. With oil, the act of holding it under your tongue for about one minute allows the cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytonutrients to quickly enter into your bloodstream. Therefore, you’ll feel the effects a lot quicker than you would when you eat a gummy.
If you’re new to taking CBD, then you may want to start with one gummy once a day, and then slowly increase to one gummy twice a day after about one week if needed.
Also, gummies can be perfect to use in addition to other types of CBD products. So, if you use CBD oil twice a day, gummies may be a nice supplement for you in the afternoon. Or, if you take a CBD oil that’s specifically geared for nighttime, then you can always start your day by taking some CBD gummies. One of the best aspects about CBD products is that you can come up with a combination of products that works best for your own unique goals and needs.
How Much Should I Take?
As with any type of CBD product, when it comes to gummies, you should also start low and go slow. If this is your first time using CBD, then you may want to begin by taking one gummy once or twice a day. Stay with this dose for about one week, regularly checking in with yourself to see how you’re feeling. It’s also helpful to keep a journal at this time so that you can clearly document what’s working and what isn’t, and what’s improving and what’s not. After about one week, you can increase to two gummies twice a day. Stay with this dose again for another week before deciding if you need to increase. If you feel that you do need to increase your dose, try taking your gummies three times a day instead of adding to the number of gummies that you’re taking twice a day.
Remember, you can also use gummies in combination with other products like CBD oil or CBD soft gels. So if you currently use oil or soft gels in the morning, you can try using a dedicated nighttime gummy before bed. Or if you’re used to using oil or soft gels twice a day, you can add in CBD gummies in the middle of your day if you feel like you need more CBD to get you through to your nighttime dose. When you add gummies into your routine, the combinations are seemingly endless.
Why Do CBD Gummies Work So Well?
CBD gummies tend to work well for a good number of people because they’re an easy, fast, and convenient way to get in your daily allotment of CBD. Not only that, but the dosage of gummies is predetermined, so you don’t have to go to great lengths to find your best dose like you do with CBD oil. Most people find that CBD gummies are a perfect fit for their busy lifestyles, So, if they’re out and about, they can simply pop what looks like an ordinary gummy candy into their mouth and move along with their day without drawing any unwanted attention to themselves.
Additionally, CBD gummies come in different varieties. Along with gummies that can be taken during any time of the day, there’s also gummies that have been specially formulated to help you achieve a restful and restorative sleep at night. One of the main issues to be mindful of with sleep gummies, however, is that you should take them at least an hour before bedtime. Unlike CBD oil, it takes gummies a little bit of time to pass through your digestive tract to be absorbed into your bloodstream before you’ll feel their effects.
How Did CBD Gummies Gain Popularity?
CBD gummies gained popularity because they became the perfect option for people who felt that other types of CBD products had too strong of a plant taste. Gummies can come in a variety of different shapes and flavors, so taking them will feel like you’re eating your favorite gummy candy each day. Not only that, but the flavors — which range from citrus, to berry, fruity, and more — do an excellent job of masking the sometimes earthy and hempy taste of the CBD extract.
CBD gummies are quickly becoming popular because:
- They are delicious
- They’re easy to use
- Discreet
- Their dosage is predetermined
- They’re the best product for CBD beginners
These reasons, and more, are why people have been choosing CBD gummies over other types of CBD products. Moreover, in recent years, brands started crafting gummies that helped to target certain issues like sleep, which made CBD gummies even more desirable to consumers. CBD Sleep gummies are made using a special formulation that incorporates ingredients like Melatonin, L-Theanine, Ashwagandha, 5-HTP, GABA, and others that help lull you to sleep so that you can wake up feeling rested, rejuvenated, and restored.
Do CBD Gummies Have Side Effects?
The great news is that the side effects of CBD in general are both mild and few. Therefore, some common side effects that people can experience when taking CBD gummies are:
- Sleepiness
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Changes in Appetite
- Changes in Weight
- Dry Mouth
- Fatigue
If, however, you’re taking prescription medication, then you should consult with your primary care doctor or prescribing physician before starting a CBD regimen, as it could negatively impact the way your body metabolizes the medicine.
What’s the Legal Status of CBD Gummies?
Is CBD legal? If the CBD gummies are derived from hemp and contain 0.3% or less THC, then they’re federally legal to buy and sell throughout the United States. The federal government considers marijuana-derived CBD products to be Schedule I drugs, and are therefore illegal in its eyes. However, each state has its own laws in effect regarding the use of medicinal and/or recreational marijuana-based CBD products. So, when you buy hemp-based CBD gummies, you’ll be able to purchase them just about anywhere including online, at brick and mortar locations, vape shops, pharmacies, and more.
Buying CBD Gummies: It’s Time to Give it a Try
When you’re buying CBD gummies, you’ll want to follow the same guidelines as you would when buying any CBD products online. Some important things to look for in a gummy are:
- Where the brand sources its hemp.
- The type of extraction process that’s used. (Currently the CO2 extraction process is the cleanest and industry preferred.)
- If the brand uses an independent lab to routinely test its products for potency and purity.
- Does the brand publish those reports on its website and make them easy for customers to find?
- Is the product packaging easy to read and understand?
- Are the ingredients clean and natural?
- Does the brand make any wild or outlandish claims about its products?
- Is the brand’s customer service department knowledgeable and helpful?
- Is the brand’s website easy to navigate and does it contain a wealth of information?
- Read any and all verified customer reviews (both positive and negative ones should be posted by the brand).
Our Final Thoughts on CBD Gummies
Gummies are a fun, delicious, easy, and inconspicuous way to get in your daily dose of CBD. Not only do they come in a wealth of fun shapes, but they’re also made into a nice variety of palate-pleasing flavors. So, if you’re new to the world of CBD and have been worried about what it will take to find your best dose of oil, gummies take all of the guesswork out of that. The dosage of gummies — whether coated or infused with CBD — has been predetermined. When looking for gummies, you should still do as much research as possible because you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the cleanest and highest-quality product possible.
As always, because we all are different and experience CBD in our own unique way, the best way to find a gummy dose that works best for you is to be patient and consistent. Make sure you take your gummies around the same time each and every day so that you can get the very most out of your CBD. And just like the saying goes, “all good things come to those who wait,” patience is huge with any type of CBD product that has to be eaten. So you should give your body at least an hour or so to fully break down and absorb the CBD before expecting to feel any of its effects.
One final word of caution: even though CBD gummies are candy-like and taste sweet, don’t be tempted to take too many of them. Instead, take what you need and savor them in your mouth before swallowing them. The act of eating gummies should be a fun, enjoyable, and stress-free experience.
