You may have heard of CBD and its amazing therapeutic benefits. But, with so much trending information popping up about it, you may still have questions about what CBD can really offer you.
There is a range of potential benefits to taking CBD gummies, and there are also some disadvantages to think about when considering this type of product.
We are going to walk you through CBD gummy’s pros and cons, so you can make an educated decision when purchasing CBD products. Let’s dive in.
What Is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural compound in cannabis. It is the second most prevalent of the active ingredients in the cannabis plant behind THC.
But, while THC has psychoactive properties that cause intoxication, CBD does not. It does not cause a high.
CBD is highly concentrated in industrial hemp plants. It gets extracted from industrial hemp that has less than .3% THC. As long as it is within this limit, it can be sold throughout the United States.
There are different types of CBD extract.
CBD isolate is pure CBD. Everything else has been filtered out during processing. This leaves behind pure CBD in a powdery form. It can be used to make gummies, mixed with carrier oil, or added to food or drinks for consumption.
Some people prefer CBD isolate because they do not want to consume any other cannabinoids, like THC. It may also appeal to some people because it may be more affordable compared to other CBD extract types that do contain other ingredients and cannabinoids.
Lastly, some people might prefer a CBD isolate product because only products that have no THC are able to be legally sold and consumed where they live.
The next type of CBD extract that is available is broad-spectrum CBD. This is CBD that has been refined during processing to remove all traces of THC. But, other cannabinoids and plant compounds like terpenes and flavinoids are left in the extract.
This is because the other compounds have their own unique benefits and leaving them in the extract may help to create a more powerful effect.
This is known as the entourage effect. Researchers believe that the cannabinoids and compounds that grow together in hemp plants do their best job when they are allowed to work together. THC is removed to eliminate the psychoactive properties that can cause intoxication, but the rest of the ingredients are left behind.
The third option when it comes to CBD extracts is full-spectrum CBD. This is the closest to the natural hemp plant profile that you can get. All of the plant compounds that naturally grow in hemp are included, including THC. This is great because full-spectrum products allow for the strongest entourage effect to take place.
The amount of THC must remain below .3% to be compliant with federal regulations. It is not enough to cause intoxication when taken following the instructions on the label. However, be aware that a person may fail a drug test if they are taking a full-spectrum CBD product because of the presence of trace amounts of THC.
Why Use CBD?
The human body has an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that helps to regulate all sorts of important bodily functions. They include things like appetite, sleep, mood, pain perception, immune system functioning, and more.
The ECS receives and translates signals from the body to keep all of these things working how they should. Its goal is to help maintain homeostasis.
There are receptors located throughout the body, brain, and skin that take messages. And there are receptors that travel through the body to share these messages. Endocannabinoids are naturally made in the human body. They are some of the transmitters that communicate with our receptors.
Plants make phytocannabinoids. CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids that grow in cannabis plants are examples of phytocannabinoids. They can jump in and help send messages in the human endocannabinoid system.
THC binds strongly to receptors in the ECS and causes side effects like intoxication. But CBD does not behave the same way. Instead of binding directly to receptors in the ECS, CBD seems to interact with these receptors and keep the body’s naturally produced endocannabinoids around for as long as possible. It minimizes the effects caused by THC and other cannabinoids in cannabis and helps people to feel less anxious.
What Types of Situations can CBD Help With?
While CBD is growing in popularity and availability as a health supplement, CBD has only been approved as a prescription medication for two forms of epilepsy; Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. It is not approved by the FDA for any other purpose.
But there is substantial anecdotal evidence that CBD can help with a number of issues. Some of the most common reasons people take CBD include:
- Acne
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Anxiety
- Arthritis Pain
- Depression
- Inflammatory Pain
- Muscle-spasticity
- Nausea and vomiting associated with cancer
- Nerve-related pain
- Sleep disorders
There are ongoing studies looking in to proving the benefits of taking CBD. And many of the results to date have been promising.
If you are considering taking CBD for a certain condition, it is recommended that you talk to your doctor. They will be able to guide you in the right direction for developing a safe and effective CBD routine.
Pros of CBD Gummies
One of the main reasons people like to take CBD gummies is for their convenience and great taste. CBD gummies that are made with natural flavors often taste a lot like a gummy candy. So, they can be enjoyable to take.
And they are so convenient. You just pop one in your mouth and go. They are easy to take with you. You can throw them in your bag and take them wherever. Just make sure you don’t leave them in your car in the hot weather or they could melt.
Gummies are pre-dosed so you know exactly how much CBD comes in one. Having each gummy pre-measured with the exact amount of CBD makes it easy to develop a consistent CBD routine that has the best effects for you. And you can always cut a gummy in half or take an extra half if you want a little more or less.
For some, gummies also seem to be less of a mess and less of a hassle compared to measuring out the right amount of CBD oil with a dropper.
Also, they are super discreet, too, which is a big deal to some people. Compared to holding a dropper over your tongue, or creating a cloud of vapor, eating a CBD gummy is quiet and smell-free. It doesn’t grab the attention of anyone nearby.
Another great reason people love to take CBD in the form of gummies is because of the long-lasting duration effects. Eating CBD gummies (or any CBD edibles for that matter) come with a slower onset of effects than other methods like vaping CBD or taking it in a tincture. That is because when you eat CBD gummies the CBD has to fully digest and be metabolized by the liver before it can be absorbed into the bloodstream and felt by the body. This process means there is a slower release of CBD into the body.
But just like it takes longer to work its way into the body, it also takes longer for the effects to wear off. This means the benefits of CBD can last much longer than other delivery methods. For some people, they may even last as long as 8 hours.
Another pro that comes with CBD gummies is that they are legal in all 50 states. So people can experience the benefits of CBD throughout the country due to the US Farm Bill of 2018. (However, be aware that some states have different age restrictions for purchasing CBD.) This legislation made CBD extracted from industrial hemp with less than .3% THC legal. Now, CBD can be shipped directly to your door.
Taking CBD on a regular schedule is the best way to maximize its benefits. Results will vary from person to person. We recommend recording notes on your experience for a couple of weeks to best understand how CBD affects you. By tracking its effects, you can better tailor your routine to maximize the benefits you experience.
Cons of CBD Gummies
CBD gummies might be a convenient way to take CBD for some people, but for others, they may not be ideal.
If you have children in the house, you should take extreme caution to always store your gummies in a safe location where children can’t accidentally find them and eat them. Many products come in easy-to-access containers or baggies. And often times, gummies are brightly colored and fruit flavored. This could make them appeal to young children who might not understand what they really are.
For this reason, it is recommended that CBD products be stored in a child-proof container. In addition, keeping them out of sight and out of reach, such as locked in a medicine cabinet, can be a good practice for all health supplements.
Another reason CBD gummies might not be the most convenient form of CBD is that gummies can expire faster than other types of CBD products. That is because there are food ingredients added to gummies to make them edible. Often, this just includes gelatin, oil, cornstarch, colors and flavors, and citric acid. But these ingredients do have a shelf life and will expire in a year or two. If you like to buy your CBD products in bulk, you might end up with some gummies that expire before you have time to use them all.
Also, there are some risks of negative side effects that may come with taking CBD that you should be aware of. CBD gummies are considered generally safe for healthy adults who follow the instructions for consumption. But even still, some people may experience negative side effects like drowsiness, nausea, and diarrhea.
Another serious concern is that CBD can interact with other medications. It is known to cause interactions with certain medications like blood thinners, for example. So, always talk to your doctor before first trying CBD like any health supplement.
As we mentioned above, taking full-spectrum CBD gummies can cause a person to fail a drug test. That is because there are trace amounts of THC in full-spectrum CBD products. It is not enough to cause any psychoactive effects. But because drug tests check for THC and not CBD, it may be enough to trigger a positive result. If your employer requires a drug test, you may not have legal protection even if you have only consumed CBD that is within the regulatory limits of compliance.
Because CBD is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, CBD products that are sold to consumers are not thoroughly regulated, as with all health supplements. The concern here is that some companies create and sell low-quality products that are not what they claim to be. Case-in-point, the FDA has sent out warning letters to companies for putting more or less CBD in their products than what was stated on the labels.
And some companies are selling products that are contaminated. This is a scary reality because this means consumers who trust the wrong CBD brands may unknowingly put things like pesticides, chemicals, and residual solvents in their bodies. That is why it is critical to only try CBD from brands that you can trust and are transparent.
Find the Right CBD Gummies for You
Finding the right CBD gummies that make you feel good can be a big task.
Take the time to research the company you want to buy from. Read their customer reviews and check their product descriptions. Try products that are sourced from high-quality locations and mixed with high-quality ingreidetnts.
And most importantly, only try products that come with a CoA to ensure that they are safe and effective.
Read our helpful CBD buyers guide to get even more information about finding the best CBD gummies available.