Cannabidiol, commonly called CBD, is one of many active chemicals (known as cannabinoids) found in hemp and cannabis plants.
Recognized by users for effects like pain relief, CBD also lacks any major psychoactive effects. That means it doesn’t produce a sense of euphoria and an altered mood. In other words, CBD products, like CBD oil and CBD edibles, don’t lead to the high that’s so common with other cannabinoids.
The unique nature of CBD makes it especially popular in preparations like edibles and tinctures. Let’s take a closer look at CBD and edibles in general. Then, we’ll focus on finding the ideal dose of CBD in an edible.
CBD, Edibles, and Other Cannabinoids: What You Need to Know
What is CBD? What Makes it Unique?
CBD is a cannabinoid that naturally occurs in both cannabis and hemp plants. When derived from hemp, CBD is federally legal, thanks to the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill.
As we mentioned, users enjoy CBD because they feel effects like pain relief. CBD is also popular because users get to experience those effects without also feeling high. That can make it easier to work, run errands, and generally live your life without feeling impaired.
Healthline shares a deeply sourced review, full of links to individual peer-reviewed scientific studies, about the effects of CBD. The big-picture takeaway is that CBD, by itself or when paired with Delta 9 THC, may provide a number of health benefits.
Many of these are still being investigated, but the results are generally positive so far. The two most broadly relevant takeaways are:
- CBD has a positive effect on some symptoms related to anxiety disorders
- CBD can be effective for treating certain types of pain
These effects can be accessed through just about any CBD product. You can smoke CBD flower or, more likely, vape CBD oil. However, tinctures and edibles are among the most popular and common options.
What are Edibles?
Edibles are doses of CBD and other cannabinoids that are supposed to be consumed. Eating edibles leads to an overall similar experience as other routes of administration, like vaping or smoking.
However, certain parts of that experience can change when you use edibles. That’s because your body processes edibles in your digestive system.
Our Complete Guide to Edible Dosing, although focused on cannabinoids that lead to a high, explains those major differences. In the context of CBD edibles as compared to vaping and smoking, they are:
- It can take longer to start feeling the effects, with a common timeframe of 30 minutes to 2 hours
- The noticeable effects of CBD will last significantly longer as well
- The overall experience starts gradually and ends the same way
- The effects may feel more pronounced
Can You Use CBD Oil in Edibles?
Yes! A variety of edibles made by leading brands and many homemade CBD edible recipes use CBD oil.
Does CBD Interact with Other Cannabinoids?
There’s no doubt that CBD interacts with other cannabinoids and related chemicals. However, the exact nature of that relationship is less clear. The Entourage Effect is a theory that these chemicals can work together to provide better effects than would a single one on its own.
This theory isn’t proven, although research related to it continues to be conducted. Leafwell offers an in-depth explanation of the concept and the potential benefits it can offer. Adjusting the THC to CBD ratio in edibles, should you choose a product that includes a cannabinoid like Delta 8 THC along with CBD, could produce different effects.
How Much CBD Should Be in Edibles?
The effective dose of CBD varies from person to person. It can take some trial and error to find the right dose for your needs. It’s often more relevant to consider how much CBD you need, as opposed to how much CBD should be in edibles.
Finding the Right CBD Dosage for You
The good news is that feeling overwhelmed or “too high” isn’t usually an issue with CBD gummies and other edibles. You have more room to find a dose that works for you.
Still, the best approach is to start small and work your way up. Beginning with a single edible or half of one is often a good place to start. Healthline points out that CBD dosing varies with the route of administration, desired effects, and more.
There’s another piece of good news to keep in mind. Most commercially produced CBD gummies come in standardized doses. Specifically, 5 mg of CBD is what you’ll normally see for a single dose. In a technical sense, that’s how much CBD should be in a standard edible.
Even if a CBD gummy, chocolate, or other edible has a higher dose, it’s normally a multiple of that 5 mg baseline. That makes it easy to split a large dose into roughly equal smaller ones.
What are the Effects of CBD Edibles?
CBD edibles are mainly valued for effects like stress and anxiety relief, as well as pain relief. Because they don’t lead to a high or substantially altered state of mind, CBD edibles aren’t as popular in a purely recreational sense.
These benefits have not been concretely proven through rigorous scientific studies. However, peer-reviewed research published thus far does show some promising results.
Being a Responsible CBD User
CBD is generally regarded as safe for otherwise healthy users in recommended doses. However, it can potentially interact with certain medications and lead to side effects like fatigue.
We strongly recommend talking to your doctor before beginning to use CBD, especially if you currently take medications or plan to take CBD regularly to help treat a specific issue or ailment.
The Very Best CBD from Delta 8 Resellers
At Delta 8 Resellers, we take quality seriously.
We only partner with the very best brands in the industry, and we offer independent lab reports for all of our products. You don’t have to take our word for it — you can check out the results for all of our CBD edibles before you make a purchase!