From inflammatory pain, stress, and anxiety to tossing and turning in bed due to insomnia, millions of Americans now use CBD gummies to deal with such health issues. Carrying the healing and therapeutic effects of hemp plants, CBD gummies offer a convenient, effective, and delicious way of incorporating CBD into a daily wellness routine.
They come in different flavors, strengths, and sizes, and you can choose from these CBD gummies depending on your personal taste and tolerance preferences. The market for CBD gummies is expected to grow with a CAGR of at least 30% in the next six years, which shows that cannabis-based products have become an inseparable part of life for many of our citizens.
But how long do gummies take to kick in? How long do the effects last? These questions confuse almost all first-time users. Well, there’s more to it, and these numbers can vary from one individual to another based on many physiological factors. Today we’ll take an in-depth look at this topic so that you can easily add CBD gummies to your wellness routine without any hassle.
How long does it take for CBD gummies to kick in?
The straightforward and most common answer is between an hour and two. But this is not a hardcore rule; some individuals report calming and soothing effects just after 30 minutes of eating the gummies.
Then some don’t report anything substantial even after 60 minutes and have to wait for up to 2 hours.
Metabolism plays a key role in this, which can vary from person to person by huge margins. Compared to CBD tinctures and oils, which get directly mixed in our bloodstream to show effects within 15-20 minutes, edibles are quite slow. When we take a gummy, it first passes through our digestive tract; once in the stomach, it gets broken down by enzymes and acids.
Once CBD gets released from gummies, the majority of CBD absorption occurs in the small intestine, where it passes through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. From there, it undergoes first-pass metabolism in the liver, where enzymes like CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 convert some of the CBD into metabolites such as 7-hydroxy-CBD.
The CBD that survives this initial metabolism enters the systemic blood circulation and is distributed throughout the body, where it interacts with both cannabinoid and non-cannabinoid receptors. So, since the whole process is a bit slow and complex, gummies take more time to work than sublingual consumption.
How long does the effect of CBD gummies last?
Generally, the effects of CBD gummies last anywhere between 4 and 6 hours. Again, this will vary from individual to individual depending upon their unique body chemistry. Even though the relaxing effects will last for a few hours, the trace levels of cannabinoids in the body can last much longer than that.
The complete elimination of CBD metabolites may be anywhere between 5 days and a week. That’s why it’s recommended to avoid full-spectrum CBD gummies before upcoming blood tests, where trace amounts of cannabinoid THC can get traced and flagged.
During such situations, it’s best to opt for broad-spectrum CBD gummies, as they have a zero THC formula. To achieve that, brands pass the cannabinoid extract through special further filtration, which results in the complete removal of THC from it.
Factors which affect Onset time and Effect duration of CBD gummies
We have already discussed the role of metabolism in effect duration and onset time, but many other factors can affect it. Let’s take a look at them in detail :
Concentration & Strength
How many gummies you take and their strength levels have a huge impact on onset time and overall duration of effects. Naturally, you’ll feel the effects much faster and more strongly when you can take a 50 mg dose in one go as compared to 10–15 mg.
That’s why some people cut the gummies in two parts and take them at different times for a more balanced and long-lasting experience. As a beginner, you should start with a low dose of 10–15 mg and gradually increase it over time after continually observing the effects.
Body Composition
If you have high body fat and weight, you might need more CBD to feel the same level of effects then a lighter person. Heavy bodies generally have a slow metabolism, so your weight on fat levels plays a huge role in how long it’ll take for CBD gummies to take in and how long the effects will persist.
Method of Consumption
Studies have shown that CBD absorption becomes much faster and better in the body when it’s taken along with food. Especially fatty foods like avocados, nuts, or fish. Hence, gummies might work fast and provide pain relief for a longer time when you take them with lunch, dinner, or breakfast as compared to taking them in a fasted state.
The End Note
To sum it up, it can take up to an hour or two before you feel the calming and soothing effects of CBD gummies, and the effects generally last between four to six hours.
But the actual numbers can vary from person to person depending on their weight, metabolism, tolerance levels, underlying conditions, medication, and method of consumption. Just make sure to start with a low dose, and try to buy the gummies from reputable and trusted brands like Colorado Botanicals only.