CBD gummies are one of the most popular ways to consume CBD. They’re easy to carry around, don’t require any additional equipment, and the variety of flavors available can make them more appealing than other forms of the supplement.
However, while convenience and taste are nice to have, they’re not the reason why people take CBD. The product has to actually work. But if you’re new to CBD gummies, it can be difficult to know whether you should be feeling the effects by now or not.
So, we’ve taken a look at how long CBD gummies take to work, what factors influence this process, and how long the effects can last.
In This Article
How long do CBD gummies take to work?
CBD gummies generally take around 30 minutes to an hour to work. After the gummy is eaten, it has to travel through the digestive system before entering the bloodstream. This process takes a while and involves passing through the liver, where metabolizing enzymes can reduce the CBD’s concentration somewhat.
Because traveling through the liver can reduce CBD’s potency before it even hits the bloodstream, it’s important to use CBD gummies with a high absorption rate. Choosing a water-soluble product is one way of doing this.
Water-soluble formulas turn oil-based cannabidiol into a form that’s more compatible with our water-based bodies. By working with the body instead of against it, water-soluble CBD can be absorbed quicker, easier, and in higher quantities.
NextEvo’s SmartSorb technology improves the bioavailability of CBD and is used in all our products. It offers 4x better absorption than oil-based formulas and gets into your system in as little as ten minutes.
Factors influencing how soon CBD gummies work
The time it takes for CBD gummies to kick in depends on a few different factors. The individual’s body type, whether or not they take any medication, and the gummy manufacturer’s recipe can all play a big part.
Here are some of the most common factors that influence how long CBD gummies take to work.
Empty or full stomach
CBD has to work its way through the digestive system before it can take effect. This means that the gummy must wait for the existing food in your digestive tract to pass through before it can be broken down.
If you’ve recently eaten, this could mean that it takes a while for the CBD to be fully digested and absorbed. Taking the gummy on an empty stomach has the opposite effect – you’ll likely notice the effects kicking in a lot quicker (but may increase the risk of gastrointestinal side effects).
Metabolism
Metabolism is the collective term for the body’s innate set of chemical reactions and processes that sustain life. Your metabolism is responsible for the breakdown and synthesis of various molecules, which in turn facilitate the proper functioning of cells and tissues.
One of the body’s metabolic functions is the conversion of food into energy. In people with fast metabolisms, food tends to be processed and absorbed quicker than in people with relatively slow ones.
Just like with food, CBD metabolization varies from person to person. If you suspect that you have a high metabolism, you might notice the effects of CBD gummies within half an hour. But if your metabolism is on the lower side, it could take upwards of 90 minutes for the CBD to kick in.
Body composition
How CBD interacts with your body is largely dependent on your body composition. Your height, weight, muscle mass, water content, and even bone density can impact how much CBD you should take and how long before it starts to work.
For example, heavier people might require more than one CBD gummy to feel the same effects as a lighter person. The flip side is that more CBD means more for your body to digest, which can slow the process down.
Medications
The presence of other medicines or prescription drugs in the body can impact how CBD gummies are absorbed and distributed. When three parties are involved – your body, the medication, and the CBD – the interaction of different substances is complex and highly variable.
Some medications can disturb the effective metabolization of CBD gummies in the liver, and vice versa. There are other ways in which the process can be disrupted but because of the quantity of medications available and their different mechanisms of action, it’s impossible to list them all here.
That’s why it’s imperative that you speak to your healthcare provider before adding CBD gummies to your routine. This is also the case if you have a health condition that you’re not taking medication for.
Digestive enzymes
Digestive enzymes live in your gut and are responsible for breaking down the food you ingest so that your body can absorb the nutrients. When CBD is consumed in gummy form, it passes through your digestive tract as food does, and is processed by the same enzymes.
In some people, there are deficiencies in certain enzymes. This can lead to digestive disorders or food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance, as well as influencing how effectively CBD is digested.
The proper functioning of digestive enzymes can also fluctuate as a result of external factors. In people who are stressed, for example, the stimulation of digestive enzymes can slow down. This might lead to a noticeable slowing of the digestive system and a longer wait to feel the effects of your CBD gummies.
Factors that affect how long CBD gummies last
The length of time that CBD gummies work for is just as, if not more, important as how long they take to kick in. Here are just some of the factors that can affect how long CBD gummies last:
- Metabolism – a faster metabolism may cause CBD to get into the bloodstream quickly, but it can also cause CBD to be eliminated from the body just as fast.
- Weight – individuals with a higher BMI might have to take a bigger dose of CBD to feel the benefits, which can then lead to longer-lasting effects.
- Age – aging bodies undergo many changes, including to their liver function and receptor sensitivity, which can impact how long CBD lasts.
- Health – conditions affecting the parts of the body that CBD comes into contact with, such as the digestive tract, can slow down or speed up its effects wearing off.
- Medication – some medications can enhance or inhibit the effects of CBD, leading to variations in their duration.
- Dosage – the potency and number of CBD gummies taken has one of the biggest impacts on how long they last, with stronger gummies generally taking longer to wear off.
- Frequency of use – regular users of CBD might have traces remaining in their body, which helps to boost the duration of any additional gummies’ effects.
How long do CBD gummies stay in your system?
As we’ve already established, there are a lot of different factors affecting the length of time it takes for CBD gummies to kick in, as well as how long the benefits last. They also affect the final stage of the process: the elimination of CBD from the body.
When CBD is consumed orally, such as in gummy form, the half-life is around 2-5 days. This means that it takes 2-5 days for the amount of CBD in your body to reduce by half.
The remaining CBD is then steadily eliminated. Generally, it takes 3.3 half-lives for the body to eliminate 90% of a substance – around 7-16 days in the case of CBD.
When is the best time to take CBD gummies?
There’s no best time to take CBD gummies, other than the time that works for you. Some people prefer to follow an ad hoc approach, taking a gummy only when they feel they need it.
Others would rather take theirs in the morning to set them up for the day. If you’re using CBD gummies for sleep, it makes the most sense to take them in the evening, a few hours before bed.
Regardless of the time of day, it’s generally recommended to take your gummies with food, as this can contribute to a smoother digestive process with minimal risk of unpleasant side effects.
FAQs
What do CBD gummies make you feel like?
CBD isn’t psychoactive, so it won’t make you ‘high’ or bring on any dangerous changes to your state of mind. The effects are much more subtle than that, with most users reporting a state of gentle relaxation and calm.
Studies have also shown that eating CBD gummies has a significant impact on brain activity, leaving users feeling more focused and better able to process emotions.
Will CBD gummies make me sleepy?
You won’t necessarily feel sleepy after taking CBD gummies, also this is the case for some people. CBD can, however, help to support better sleep.
