Are you considering taking CBD gummies for the first time? You’ve undoubtedly heard the hype about how they can help with pain, anxiety, insomnia, and other ailments. While many people put oil under their tongues or use topical creams, you are intrigued by gummies. They’re probably the best-tasting option, right? But still, you might be a bit nervous to try CBD for the first time. Cannabis products are still stigmatized in the US, so even though you know it won’t get you high, you’re still not sure about how it will affect your body and mind. If you’re starting at the beginning, let’s go over some of the things you can expect as a first-time user:
Overwhelming choices
As you shop, you’ll notice that the market is saturated with CBD companies selling gummies. You’ll see all sorts of shapes, flavors, counts, concentrations, prices, and other options that can make the process overwhelming. Don’t be daunted, though. They all mostly do the same thing; the difference in potency lies in concentration. You’ll know if a flavor sounds good to you. Talk with your doctor beforehand to determine a dosage that will be most effective; you’ll most likely start smaller and then work your way up (factors like body weight, tolerance, and your discomfort level make a difference). If you don’t feel the effects of a gummy with 5mg of CBD in it, then you can try 10mg, 15, 25, etc. CBD gummies from Verma Farms, for example, come in concentrations of 12.5 or 21 mg per candy. What shape you purchase, such as bears, worms, or rings, is a matter of personal preference.
A difficult industry to navigate
You may not notice it while you shop, so it’s vital to note that the CBD industry can be dangerous. Each state is free to make its own rules regarding CBD, though it is legal at the federal level as long as a product contains .3 percent THC or less. The only brand of CBD that the FDA has approved is Epidiolex, which is used for seizures in children. The FDA has sent warning letters to companies making false health claims about CBD before, but it’s not the most militant about monitoring the industry. As such, there is no entity establishing or enforcing healthy standards that companies must comply with. A shady company trying to cut corners could take advantage of your ignorance and sell a product that is mislabeled or doesn’t contain CBD at all. Hemp is also a bioaccumulator, which means that it absorbs toxins from its environment. These toxins, such as pesticides and heavy metals, can end up in resulting CBD products and be harmful to your health. To avoid this, make sure you look for lab results on a business’s website, also known as a Certificate of Analysis. Any company that cares about its customers and quality of its products will have its products tested with third-party labs for purity and potency, and then post the results online (it’s essential to educate yourself on how to read these). They should also be transparent about where their hemp grows, preferably in places like Colorado and Kentucky, and never make any health claims about CBD (such as calling it a “cure” for anything). So, while shopping for CBD gummies, look for the signs of a reputable company. If anything is missing, take your business elsewhere. Forbes and Entrepreneur provide examples of potential CBD gummies to check out.
Relief
When you finally taste your CBD gummies, you should expect them to 1) taste delicious, and 2) hopefully provide you with relief. There is no guarantee that CBD will make you feel the way you want to—most evidence of its effectiveness is anecdotal; very little research has been conducted on humans—but it will hopefully alleviate your pain, reduce your anxiety, minimize inflammation, help you sleep better, or do something else. Do not expect to feel the results right away, though. Because you are ingesting CBD in gummy form, you need to digest the candy part before you notice the cannabidiol’s effects. If you do not feel anything at all, you may need to try a higher dose.
Not feeling high
You should also expect not to feel “high.” THC provides multiple health benefits, too, but it is an intoxicant that affects your state of mind. You might hear online that CBD is not psychoactive, which is misleading because if it weren’t, it would do nothing for anxiety and PTSD—but unlike THC, CBD will not leave you feeling “stoned.” If you buy from a reputable company and find a concentration that works for you, CBD gummies can be remarkable for your body. How do you feel about trying them for the first time, now?
