CBD gummy bears are a great jumping-off point for folks new to cannabidiol; they taste good, they’re colorful, and they cut the hemp flavor that’s common with CBD oils.
Are CBD gummy bears right for you? In this quick introduction, we’ll talk about
- What CBD is
- What CBD gummy bears are
- Some edible CBD nuances to be aware of
- And, where to buy your own CBD gummy bears
What Is CBD?
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a naturally occurring phytocannabinoid found in cannabis plants. Unlike THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid found in marijuana plants, CBD does not get the user “high.”
While not backed by any FDA-approved research, many users claim that CBD provides them with a great number of benefits, including:
- Better sleep management
- Greater sociability
- Improved mood
- Reduced stress
- And more…
Are CBD Gummy Bears Legal?
CBD Gummy Bears (and CBD more broadly) are legal as far as the federal government is concerned. In the 2018 Farm Bill, “Hemp” is technically defined as “cannabis that contains less than 0.3% of THC” by dry weight.
Hemp that tests under that THC limit is considered to be an agricultural commodity, legal throughout the U.S. provided that the vendor has the correct paperwork, and can be shipped anywhere in the country via the United States Postal Service. Pretty neat, huh?
CBD Gummy Bears Are Edible CBD
For some readers that may seem like a “duh” statement, but let’s unpack it. CBD can be consumed in a number of ways.
- Smoking/Inhalation – The fastest acting, but usually the smelliest and shortest-lived
- Sublingual – Usually oil is placed under the tongue
- Topically – For targeted use on muscles and sore areas
- Edible – slower to take effect, but considerably more potent and longer-lasting. (CBD gummy bears fall into this category)
In edible form, CBD needs to pass through your stomach and digestive system before the user feels any effect; a process that takes longer than any other ingestion method. The upside is that the effects of edible CBD last longer than any other method.
What’s The Difference Between CBD Gummy Bears Vs. Hemp Gummy Bears?
Buyer beware!
“Hemp” and “CBD” are not interchangeable terms. CBD gummy bears advertised as containing CBD, (should and) will contain cannabidiol. Products advertised as containing hemp more broadly may in fact just contain hemp seed oil and nothing else. You may be paying a premium for a product containing absolutely no CBD.
Because the FDA and USDA are still writing rules for cannabis-infused products, some vendors are taking advantage of new CBD buyers and passing their hemp-seed oil products off as CBD products with creative packaging and industry-specific terminology.
Broad Spectrum Vs. CBD Isolate Gummy Bears
CBD gummy bears are such a great first product for many new CBD users because many of them are manufactured to contain no THC.
Most CBD gummy bears you’ll find will be advertised as ‘made with broad-spectrum CBD’ or ‘CBD Isolate’ and will contain no THC. There are some differences between broad-spectrum and CBD isolate that all buyers should be aware of.
CBD gummy bears made with CBD isolate will only contain CBD and no other cannabinoids.
CBD gummy bears made with broad-spectrum CBD will contain more cannabinoids than isolate and still exclude the THC. As a newer innovation in the CBD space, broad-spectrum CBD gummy bears are likely going to be more expensive than your more common isolate bears and may still have a bit of a hempy flavor.
Sunset Lake’s CBD gummy bears are made with CBD isolate that we derived from hemp plants that we grew up in northern Vermont.
“How Many CBD Gummy Bears Should I Take?”
One of the most common questions new CBD users always have is: “how much should I take?” Because CBD gummy bears are pre-dosed, users can easily control how much CBD they’re taking compared to a hemp-flower smoker.
At Sunset Lake, we always recommend new users start with 25mg of CBD, which is also conveniently reflected in our serving size; one of our sour CBD gummy bears contains 25mg.
“When Should I Take My CBD Gummy Bears?”
While more research is needed, some studies have concluded that eating CBD with a meal, especially one with high-fat content— like a salad dressing made with avocado oil— will help your body absorb the CBD more effectively.
“Where Can I Buy CBD Gummy Bears?”
There are countless sites that offer CBD gummy bears and other edibles— all the options can be dizzying. Before you go ahead and shell out cash, you’ll want to do a little bit of research and ensure two things:
- The quality and dosage of the CBD gummy bears
- The reputability of the farmers/vendor/drop shipping service
Every vendor of CBD gummy bears should be very upfront with compliance documentation and certificates of analysis. A certificate of analysis is a document from a third party that certifies the dosage and purity of the CBD product in question.
See our CBD gummy bear certificate of analysis here.
Your CBD vendor should also be transparent. Before you buy your CBD gummy bears, make sure you do a quick internet search on the company, read reviews, look at their social media presence, and don’t be afraid to reach out with any questions!
Updated 8/23/2021
