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A dropper dispenses a drop of CBD oil back into the brown glass bottle in which it is housed. 

CBD Oil vs. Gummies: What’s The Difference?

TL;DR: CBD Oil vs. Gummies

CBD oil and gummies offer similar benefits but differ in how they work. CBD oil acts faster and can be applied topically, while gummies last longer but take longer to kick in. Choosing between them depends on your needs.

Key Points:

  • CBD Overview: A non-psychoactive cannabinoid used for wellness benefits like anxiety and pain relief.
  • Legality: Hemp-derived CBD is legal federally; cannabis-derived CBD legality varies by state.
  • CBD Oil: Fast-acting, multiple use methods (sublingual, topical, oral).
  • CBD Gummies: Slower onset, longer-lasting effects, more convenient.
  • Choosing Between Them: CBD oil is best for quick relief, while gummies provide longer-lasting benefits.

CBD stands out among many other cannabinoids for a few key reasons. Instead of having psychoactive effects that lend themselves to recreational use, CBD is a more functional cannabinoid.

In other words, people mainly use CBD to address health and wellness issues as opposed to having a good time.

There are plenty of CBD products on the market, from vapes to CBD oil and gummies. So, what sets these two types of CBD products apart?

First, let’s run through what CBD is and how it works. Then, we’ll focus on the key differences between CBD gummies and oil.

CBD Oil vs Gummies: What You Need to Know

CBD oil and gummies are both CBD products, so here’s a quick review of what CBD is and how it works. Whether you prefer CBD oil vs CBD gummies or other CBD products, the following information applies.

CBD is the common name for cannabidiol, a chemical found in cannabis and hemp plants. CBD is a specific type of chemical, known as a cannabinoid, that interacts with the body’s own endocannabinoid system.

There are many cannabinoids that develop naturally in cannabis and hemp plants, as well as many others that can be created in lab settings. These include Delta 9 (the major cannabinoid found in cannabis plants), Delta 8, HHC, and plenty of others.

The effects of CBD set it apart from most other cannabinoids. It isn’t psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t produce effects like an elevated mood or enhanced sense of creativity – it doesn’t cause a “high,” in other words.

Instead, CBD has functional benefits. As Harvard Health Publishing explains, CBD appears to help address a variety of health and wellness issues, such as anxiety, sleeplessness, and chronic pain.

CBD may also work with psychoactive cannabinoids to create stronger or (in a subjective sense for users) better effects when they’re consumed together. This is called the entourage effect. This is not a proven fact, but there is a significant amount of anecdotal evidence from users supporting it.

Legality of CBD

CBD can come from two sources: cannabis and hemp plants.

The federal government legalized the production of hemp plants and products made from them as part of the 2018 Farm Bill, setting that Delta 9 threshold. CBD from hemp is broadly available, including here at Delta 8 Resellers, and legal across much of the US.

CBD from cannabis, meanwhile, is legal on the state level in roughly half of all states. However, it is still illegal federally, although federal authorities rarely, if ever, take action against state-level cannabis businesses.

A pile of bear-shaped CBD gummies seen in front of a white background.

CBD Oil vs Gummies: Key Similarities & Differences

The first thing to know about CBD oil, gummies, and other products is that they don’t directly compare to Delta 8 oil or gummies, or most other cannabinoid products. That’s because CBD products have functional benefits, not recreational ones.

While the effects are the same for all CBD products, the way in which those effects are delivered changes based on the specific type of product. Depending on why you want to use CBD, one option may be better than the other, although both can provide relief for the issues mentioned in the previous section.

Let’s look at what makes CBD gummies and CBD oil unique.

CBD Oil

CBD oil is a liquid product. It contains CBD along with a carrier oil – a substance that the CBD can be contained in. Flavorings and other inactive ingredients may also be added.

Keep in mind that CBD oil is similar to, but not exactly the same as, CBD tincture. CBD tincture uses a safe-to-consume solvent like alcohol as its carrier substance.

Many retailers refer to both of these products as oils. To make sure you get an oil (which can be used topically, unlike tinctures) and not a tincture, check out the product ingredients list to make sure it lists an oil, like MCT oil or coconut oil.

Three key qualities of CBD oil, which help to set it apart from CBD gummies, are:

  • Many options for use. CBD oil can be swallowed or held under the tongue (used sublingually) for general effects or applied topically for local effects.
  • Speed of effects. When used topically, CBD oil starts working in roughly 10-20 minutes. Its sublingual effects start in about the same timeframe. If swallowed, it takes about 30 minutes to 2 hours for the effects to kick in. In all cases, the effects last for several hours.
  • How it’s used. CBD oil is either applied topically or dispensed under the tongue or into the mouth using a dropper and bottle. It’s easy enough to take CBD oil orally or sublingually while on the go, but CBD gummies are somewhat more convenient.

CBD Gummies

CBD gummies are essentially gummy candies that include CBD. They work by consuming them, causing the CBD within them to be processed in the stomach and digestive tract.

That means CBD gummies take a while to work, generally 30 minutes to 2 hours. Their effects persist for several hours, generally lasting longer than taking CBD oil sublingually or by swallowing it.

CBD Oil vs Gummies: Finding the Right Option

So, if you want to use CBD to address a persistent issue, CBD gummies may be a better choice because of their duration, although both are effective. However, CBD oil can take effect more quickly, depending on how you use it.

In the case of CBD oil vs gummies for anxiety or pain, for example, you could choose to swallow or sublingually take CBD oil for faster effects. For help with sleep, you might choose CBD gummies because they have longer-lasting effects.

Our advice is to try both and see if one option or the other works better for you. CBD doesn’t cause impairment and isn’t thought to be habit-forming, so there’s no downside to trying both CBD oil and gummies.

CBD Oil & Gummies You Can Count On

Delta 8 Resellers brings you the very best in CBD oil and gummies from the industry’s top brands! Check out independent lab testing results on our individual product pages to see product purity, quality, and potency for yourself.

Check out our CBD products today!

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