CBD is just one of the many cannabinoids produced by the hemp plant. Its popularity increases every year, with more and more people interested in using it or researching about its benefits.
One of the main reasons that people love using CBD oil as a medication is that it does not have serious side effects compared to traditional medicine. Plus, it’s a naturally occurring product so acts as the perfect solution for those that stand by Mother Nature’s work.
There are many uses of CBD oil, such as to relieve stress, anxiety and depression, improve skin conditions and also to help people suffering from chronic illness and disease.
But even so, there are still many people dubious about the effects of CBD oil. They either choose not to understand it or don’t actually know what all the fuss is about.
One important question these people have is how long does it take for CBD oil to work?
This article will answer this question in detail.
Factors That Impact How CBD Is Absorbed
The first thing you must know is that multiple things will impact how long it takes for CBD oil to work. It can typically last for 2-6 hours but this will depend on how you take CBD oil.
The most popular way to take CBD oil is via vaping. When ingested through the lungs, the CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream quicker so the effects of CBD are felt faster.
It is suggested that it can take between 3-4 days for the CBD to exit the body. However, through other ingestion methods, such as edibles and gummies, it is not unreasonable to suggest that the effects can last for longer. This is due to the fact the CBD must be broken down by the digestive system.
CBD is also fat-soluble. People that are fit and healthy will have a lower density of fat cells in their body, so the effects of CBD will wear off quicker compared to those with a higher density of fat cells.
Another thing to consider is the frequency of taking CBD oil and the dosage.
As with traditional medicine, the longer that they are used, the greater the benefits. And with more exposure to the CBD, the longer it will last in the body. In fact, over time and with repeated use, it’s possible for the CBD to remain in the body for weeks after first consuming it.
In terms of dosage, the strength of the CBD will impact on answering how long does it take for CBD oil to work. CBD oils with a higher concentration of CBD will last for a lot longer compared to lower concentrations.
Finally, people that are taking other medications as well as CBD oil can also be affected. It’s best to seek medical advice from a doctor before taking CBD oil with other medication.
How Long Does It Take For CBD Oil Work?
Later on in this article, we will show you the different methods of consuming CBD oil. These all have a role to play on how long CBD oil takes to start taking effect.
For example, vaping CBD vape juice can make you feel the effects in as little as 5 minutes. Vaping is the fastest way to take CBD so don’t be surprised if it’s less than that.
On the other hand, if you take CBD through edibles, you will have to wait until it has been digested, meaning it can take hours until the effects become apparent.
There are environmental factors to consider too, such as your weight, how much exercise you do, if you smoke, etc. These will all either increase or decrease the time it takes for CBD oil to work.
Methods Of Consuming CBD Oil
There is an ever-growing number of methods for taking CBD oil. The CBD industry is projected to be worth $20 billion by the year 2024, meaning that there are bound to be even more coming over the next few years.
Nevertheless, we will show you the best methods of consuming CBD oil to help bring more clarity to answer how long does it take for CBD oil to work.
CBD Tinctures
CBD tinctures are a supplement made from a mixture of water and alcohol. They are used to extract CBD from the hemp plant. Tincture extracts can also be made using another solvent such as vinegar, oil or glycerin.
For those that struggle with alcohol, or just want to avoid it, this can be very beneficial. However, they are not always as potent as their water-alcohol counterparts.
CBD tinctures have similar properties to CBD oil but it’s important to know that they aren’t the same. As they are usually made with an alcohol solvent, CBD tinctures are much stronger than CBD oil.
But with this extra potency comes the fact that it’s not recommended to take more than 2-3 teaspoons a day.
To take CBD tinctures, place them under your tongue until they are dissolved. This process is known as sublingual administration.
How long does it take for CBD oil to work?
Since it’s dissolving into the body under the tongue, the effects of the CBD can be felt quickly. It’s typical to start feeling them under an hour. However, the drawback is because it is so quick to absorb, it won’t take as long to exit the body either.
CBD tinctures are ideal for people that want to get a quick fix of CBD, particularly for those that require it to relieve pain.
CBD Vaping
CBD vaping has grown to become the most popular method of taking CBD.
Since the 2018 Farm Bill was written into law (and the FDA’s slight change of stance over the substance) vaping manufacturers are creating CBD vaping cartridges for vape pens and other devices like the JUUL.
Vape juice displays the ingredients so you can be totally sure about the type of CBD you wish to use.
Most vape bottles are between 10-30ml, with the concentration of CBD provided by the manufacturer so, again, you have all the information you need about the product.
As with every other method, start small with your CBD vaping dosage, especially if you are new and have never tried it before. If you don’t feel the effects within 5-10 minutes, you know you can increase your dosage.
Since it’s entering the lungs, the CBD will be absorbed extremely quickly. You may even experience the relief instantaneously.
But bear in mind though that there are no official standards or recommendations for how much CBD you should be taking every day. What is known though is that if you take too much, your body will remove the excess from your body, but it won’t be a pleasant experience.
And again, due to the sudden relief it provides, it will not last as long as other methods of taking CBD oil.
CBD Drinks
CBD drinks are a relatively new addition to the industry. They are mostly used in alcoholic drinks to make them taste better but they are also being used as a way to test the waters and see how far they can go.
Being a new player in the CBD oil game, CBD drinks face criticism from state officials – even from states that accept the 2018 Farm Bill. They claim that this ruling does not cover CBD drinks.
In turn, this makes it difficult to determine how many drinks you should have a day to reap the rewards of CBD. Of course, since they are mostly alcoholic, it goes without saying that you must be careful as too much can cause a host of other problems.
If you plan on having more than one CBD drink a day, it’s important to know how this will affect your body. If you feel any discomfort or any other side effects from the drinks, you should stop drinking them.
The good news though is that the food industry is heavily regulated. This means that the creators will have to display how much CBD is contained so you have full transparency. Plus, if you wanted, you could look up the ingredients and create the drink yourself.
How long does it take for CBD oil to work?
Since drinks must go through the digestive system, you can expect it to take 2-5 hours for the CBD to be absorbed. Since it takes a while until you feel the effects, it will also take longer for the CBD to exit your body, meaning you can still feel the effects of the CBD for a few days after consumption.
If you’re looking for a method that takes longer to be absorbed, providing you with the effects of CBD for longer, this one is perfect as it directly involves the digestive system.
CBD Topicals
Topicals containing CBD are typically found as creams, lotions and balms. This is because they can be applied to the skin directly and so provide almost instant relief to any areas of pain.
Due to its speed, a lot of people like to use CBD topicals for treating muscle and joint pains, as well as other external conditions. They are also used for treating breakouts like acne and other skin treatments. For this reason, many CBD topicals come with added nutrients to improve skin health, such as a moisturizer.
CBD topicals are usually contained in tubs, with the CBD concentration coming in at between 250-1500mg.
You can get your hands on CBD topicals from online marketplaces. While this makes them readily available, more often than not, they are handmade products so the accuracy of the ingredients can sometimes be brought into question.
Nevertheless, this isn’t that big of a deal as humans have a good tolerance to high levels of CBD. Everyone is different so it’s best to pay attention to your own body’s reaction.
How long does it take for CBD oil to work?
CBD topicals last up to 6 hours. You will likely continue to feel the effects a few days after the application too.
CBD Edibles
When most people think about CBD edibles, their minds usually go towards baked goods, with brownies being the most popular. But edibles can go a lot further than just what your local bakery has to offer.
You will likely find most edibles containing 5-100mg of CBD, so you can understand how much you take. However, there is not much regulation in terms of CBD in food so it’s tough to determine how many you should eat per day.
With this in mind, for those of you that wish to experience strong effects, it’s currently suggested to take 31-45mg of CBD per 230 pounds. If it doesn’t work though, you have the ability to increase this. On the other hand, if it’s too much, you can not eat as much the next time you take it.
If you’d prefer not to buy them, you could always just make CBD edibles at home. That way, you have total control over the quantity and concentration of CBD.
Again, it’s always best to start off slow and take the minimal dosage if you have never tried CBD before, building it up as you seek a more satisfactory effect over time.
Similar to the CBD drinks, edibles must be broken down in the digestive system. This means that you will experience the effects of the CBD 6-8 hours after eating them. And since they take a while to break down, the effects will last for a few days until the CBD exits your body. With frequent use, the effects will last for longer periods.
CBD Gummies
This is a variation of CBD edibles. CBD gummies have been available to use for a while, gaining increased popularity with people suffering from stress, anxiety and depression.
Like some of the previous ways to consume CBD oil, the recommended dosage is tough to describe. It all depends on the product you buy and what your body works best with.
If you were to buy them now, most CBD gummies can have between 10-200mg of CBD. The more gummies you eat, the larger the dose.
Different gummies will have different concentrations of CBD. To build up the number of cannabinoids in your system, buy gummies with a high CBD concentration per gummy.
Since they are a food, CBD gummies go through the digestive system, giving you a long-lasting effect. You will first experience the benefits between 6-8 hours after eating them.
How Much CBD Should You Take?
The only sure way to know how much CBD you need to be taking is to experiment. If you are a beginner and have never taken CBD before, you start with a small 10-20mg dose and take it once or twice a day.
Since you’re starting out, this will be more than enough for you to start understanding how your body reacts to the CBD. From here, you can make changes to the routine to meet your needs.
If it helps, you could always seek advice from your doctor to find the ideal solution. This is always recommended if you are on any sort of other medication that could impact the effects of the CBD.
Your condition will also impact how much CBD you should take. For example, if you have stress, you will need less than someone that has chronic pain issues.
Regardless of how much you need though, ensure that you are getting good value for your money. Do some research and look for brands that give you CBD that will last before having to restock.
Storing CBD
CBD must be stored in a cool, dry location. Avoid keeping it anywhere that could be subject to extreme heat, light or moisture. Good examples include a kitchen cupboard or in your bedside table.
For those of you that use CBD gummies or edibles though, it’s a good idea to keep them in your refrigerator. This is because if the food goes bad, you will not be able to eat it, so the CBD goes to waste.
Correctly storing CBD will make it last as much as you need it. Of course, it will also depend on how much you use and how often you use it.
Summary
So, how long does it take for CBD oil to work?
As you will have seen, there are many factors to take into consideration, with many variations of taking CBD showing that it depends on how you take it.
For example, CBD vaping is the fastest way to ingest CBD into the bloodstream, but this also means that the effects do not last very long. On the other hand, edibles and gummies take a while to break down but the effects last for a few days after consumption.
You need to experiment until you find the right dosage for you. Start off small and build it up day by day. That way, you will know what works for you and can adjust your consumption as needed.
