What are the pros and cons of using CBD gummies?
Here are the pros and cons of taking CBD gummies:
Pros: CBD may offer a wide scope of therapeutic promise for numerous conditions without the risk of overdose, dependency, or adverse side effects. CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system and nudges all biological functions towards homeostasis. CBD gummies are a more approachable option for individuals interested in trying CBD. Gummies offer a clear dosage, convenience, and a better user experience.
Cons: CBD can pose potential drug interactions, making it crucial to speak to your doctor before trying. Rare cases of side effects have been reported when using CBD, including dry mouth, changes in appetite, fatigue, and diarrhea. Side effects can be caused by taking too large of a dose, incompatible product (full-spectrum vs. isolate), etc. Cannabinoid therapy requires self-experimentation in order to find the right dosage and frequency for you.
In terms of gummies and any other ingestible CBD product, they have the lowest bioavailability when compared to other administration methods. Since gummies have to work their way through your digestive tract before reaching the bloodstream, some of the CBD is lost along the way and also takes a considerable amount of time before the effects are achieved. Gummies can also be formulated with artificial colors, flavors, and other unhealthy ingredients, making it important to read through the formulation to ensure it’s the right product for you.
Pros would be that CBD gummies are easy to take rather than CBD oil. They are of course, delicious and tasty since it has sugar in it to make them taste better.
Cons would be that it will take a while before that take effect. They sit in your digestive system and rely on the enzymes in the body digesting them. Also, the bioavailability is another con. You won’t get the same amount of CBD in your body when you take CBD gummies as compared to CBD oil which gets you more CBD into your system. CBD gummies tend to be more expensive as well.
If the CBD gummy product that you are using actually contains CBD, the chances of you getting high are zero. You can take that to the bank. Why? CBD by definition does not contain THC.
Now you may be thinking that CBD and THC both come from the marijuana plant. Don’t both compounds get you high? Well, the reason why CBD is so popular is that you get the benefits of marijuana without getting high.
You don’t have to flunk your drug test. You don’t have to worry about drug residues getting stuck in your hair follicles for a very long time. You don’t have to worry about all that unnecessary drama.
The best is whether you are dealing with anxiety, aches, and pains, inflammation, depression or a long list of other health issues, you may be able to treat or possibly even make those symptoms go away with CBD.
Now, the good news is that CBD can now come in gummy form. A lot of people have a problem with putting CBD oil or extract under their tongue. Fair enough. That’s why CBD gummies, along with other edibles are all the rage.
But just like any other product containing CBD, you have to be very discriminating. Pay close attention to the actual CBD concentration. Research where the company providing the gummy product sourced the CBD.
Is it made from industrial hemp? Are they using all-natural extraction processes? These are the details that you need to pay close attention to so you can rest assure that you are picking the very best CBD gummies you can afford.
The benchmark is the CBD gummy at the very least should not get you high.
When taken by mouth: Cannabidiol is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth or sprayed under the tongue appropriately. Cannabidiol in doses of up to 300 mg daily have been taken by mouth safely for up to 6 months. Higher doses of 1200-1500 mg daily have been taken by mouth safely for up to 4 weeks. A prescription cannabidiol product (Epidiolex) is approved to be taken by mouth in doses of up to 10-20 mg/kg daily. Cannabidiol sprays that are applied under the tongue have been used in doses of 2.5 mg for up to 2 weeks.
Some reported side effects of cannabidiol include dry mouth, low blood pressure, light headedness, and drowsiness. Signs of liver injury have also been reported in some patients, but this is less common.
When applied to the skin: There isn’t enough reliable information to know if cannabidiol is safe or what the side effects might be.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Cannabidiol is POSSIBLY UNSAFE to use if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Cannabidiol products can be contaminated with other ingredients that may be harmful to the fetus or infant. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Children: A prescription cannabidiol product (Epidiolex) is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth daily. The most common dose used is 10 mg/kg daily. Higher doses of 15-20 mg/kg daily may be used in some children, but these higher doses are more likely to cause side effects. This product is approved for use in certain children 2 years of age and older, but has been used in children as young as 1 year of age.
Liver disease: People with liver disease may need to use lower doses of cannabidiol compared to healthy patients.
Parkinson disease: Some early research suggests that taking high doses of cannabidiol might make muscle movement and tremors worse in people with Parkinson disease.
The first things I look for when purchasing any CBD product is if the product has been tested by a 3rd party laboratory. If it has been tested, then lab reports for that product should be readily available somewhere on the company’s website.
Without a lab report, we really have no way of confirming what’s in that product or if it’s safe to use. This is why it is extremely important to always look for a valid Certificate of Analysis (lab report) before you purchase any CBD product especially online.
Consider this when you do have access to a lab report to know if your gummies have CBD:
The primary component of a product’s analysis report is to summarize the cannabinoid profile and concentration within the sample. In simpler terms, it means listing each cannabinoid detected in the sample, along with its concentration within that sample.
When assessing a product’s analysis report, one thing you want to make to sure to do is confirm that the cannabinoid content listing on the product’s label is consistent with what is listed in the product’s lab report.
For example, if a product’s label lists that it contains 1,000 mg of CBD, then that content should be confirmed on the product’s lab report.
While it’s normal for the cannabinoid content to deviate slightly, a big difference is definitely something you should be concerned with.
Hope this helps.
Are Hemp gummies and CBD gummies the same thing?
No, hemp gummies are relatively useless, whereas CBD gummies have some pretty significant medicinal value. CBD can come from hemp, which is where the confusion comes from, but hemp oil is not the same as CBD oil.Is CBD good for anxiety?
CBD was found to have anxiety-relieving effects, and early animal studies showed its anxiolytic properties to help calm the nervous system and ameliorate fear. A 2009 study examining volunteers who experienced anxiety from THC administration found many of these symptoms decrease or vanish altogether following the administration of CBD. A 2011 study also found that very high doses of CBD, around 600 mg, drastically eased public speaking anxiety in those diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. A 2017 study found CBD to be just as effective as prescription antianxiety medications, but without the side effects or potential for addiction.My sources are in the comments below.
The majority of marijuana-focused drug tests are measuring the level of THC in a person’s system.
The majority of CBD products on the market today are hemp-derived which is what is legally allowed via the 2018 Farm Bill. To qualify as hemp, the plant needs to contain 0.03% THC or less vs. marijuana which has a much higher percentage.
Taking that into consideration, if your gummy bears are from full-spectrum hemp (meaning all compounds and terpenes, including the .03% THC) you might test positive. If the gummy bears are broad spectrum (all compounds and terpenes with THC extracted) or isolate (straight CBD with no other compounds or terpenes) you should not test positive.
They’re gummy (gel) candies infused with CBD. If, and only if, they come from a reputable manufacturer which third-party tests their products (not just their source hemp), they contain a specific amt. of CBD.
Benefits:
- Anti-inflammatory (especially pain relief), anti-seizure, natural sleep-promoting, mental focus (this last one is controversial). Every other claim (such as killing tumor cells) is dubious: cites questionable research from non-credible sources (despite a lot of biochemical gobbledygook) and is largely wishful thinking.
2. Non-psychogenic: no euphoric “high,” hallucinations, nor sedating effect when not taken at bedtime (but I notice CBD—other than topical—during the daytime does make me slightly sleepier).
3. And for the gummies (or other infused edibles), palatability (taste) and lack of irritation of throat from vaping & smoking or possible lung damage from smoking.
Drawbacks:
- Onset is delayed compared to vaping, smoking, sublingual (under the tongue) or transdermal (as opposed to topical); and duration & intensity of effects is longer and unpredictable—even dose-to-dose.
2. Texture: might get stuck in bridgework or braces, and pull out fillings and crowns.
3. SUGAR!!!! (If you know of any gummies sweetened with Xylitol, erythritol, or Stevia, please post). Primary drawback of that is promotion of tooth decay. And, of course, besides its empty calories, sugar sabotages metabolism—especially for obese people, Type 2 diabetics and those with metabolic syndrome (prediabetes) or on the cusp of it. It causes your pancreas to release insulin, which is likely to promote fat storage and the excess sugar gets converted to glucose which then enters the bloodstream—making your blood more viscous (“thicker”) which can be dangerous for those prone to A-Fib or clotting disorders. And artificial sweeteners (other than Stevia, xylitol or erythritol), while they don’t raise blood sugar, do cause the same insulin spike as does sugar and therefore promote fat storage rather than burning. Sugar also increases release of inflammatory cytokines & cortisol, which can significantly offset CBD’s anti-inflammatory effect.
4. Additives (dyes, softeners, preservatives), which might be bad for metabolism or even possibly carcinogenic.
I take from 5–15 milligrams of CBD tincture every 4–6 or so hours, more often if required. I’ve found the diminished pain sometimes brings considerable muscle relaxation, which means I’ve been having muscle tension from the pain. When I’ve relaxed, my body can work more easily and my mind thinks this just. might. be. a. good. time. for. a. nap… However, that generally only happens with 15 or more milligrams and is readily overcome by physical activity, I’ve discovered. It means my pain has lessened and now’s the time to get busy. But, every now and then, what I need is a good, refreshing nap, and I take one.
Read the ingredients and see if there are any other herbs or additives that could be making you drowsy. If you read them and see anything other than the food items needed to make the gummy to hold the CBD oil, I recommend trying another CBD product.
You do not have to refrigerate them, just keep them out of direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. However, CBD gummies, along with any other ingestible CBD product is a huge waste and a borderline gimmick. The bioavailability of ingested CBD is around 5%, maybe a little bit higher if ingested with fatty acids. That basically means you’d have to eat around 6X the number of gummies to get the same results as a high-quality CBD oil sublingual tincture or vaping. I’d advise you to explore other options of using CBD as your either severely limiting benefits from CBD or overpaying to waste more than 90% of the product.
How do CBD gummies work?
Sublingual CBD products such as gummies, tinctures, hard candies, and drinks provide a more efficient means of absorption because they can bypass the whole digestive tract and enter directly into your bloodstream through your mouth.
Different areas of the mouth have varying levels of absorption (under the tongue being the most absorbent followed by the cheek then the roof of the mouth) which means that cannabinoids coming into contact with these different areas will have different rates of absorption.
Not everyone gets symptomatic relief if gummies do not contain THC. They may be expensive, but those with THC and any oral preparation is only 20% as effective as cannabis which is smoked or vaped.
They may not be well regulated. They may not contain the mg.s of CBD that they state that they contain. Some people do not wait long enough after taking this product before they take more and then they end up with THC side effects which will not kill them but are very unpleasant.
If adults do not keep them under lock and key as they should with other meds, kids may take them which may result in a bad outcome.
