Have you ever taken CBD, and not noticed any effects? If you’ve taken CBD products before, but haven’t had immediate results, don’t give up! There are a few reasons you’re CBD might not be working right.
Here’s how to make sure you’re getting the most out of your CBD.
What Is CBD?
CBD stands for cannabidiol — a compound found in the cannabis plant. For some people, the mention of cannabis brings to mind images of potato chip munching stoners, but it’s important to note that CBD is non-intoxicating. That means it won’t get you high.
However, preliminary research suggests that CBD does have several potential therapeutic applications, including:- Pain management
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Seizure prevention and reduction
- Stress reduction and anti-anxiety effects
- Insomnia relief
While we still need more clinical trials to confirm CBD’s efficacy as a therapeutic agent, the studies we do currently have are incredibly promising, and hundreds of thousands of people are already using CBD to help in their daily lives.
Can CBD Not Work?
Cannabinoids, like CBD, work by interacting with a complex cell signaling system inside our bodies known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system helps us maintain homeostasis and keeps us balanced by regulating several key life functions such as memory, reproduction, appetite, mood, and sleep patterns. When we consume CBD, these functions become affected.
However, every person has a unique experience with cannabinoids. Things like weight, gender, and even your headspace can impact how CBD will ultimately affect your mind and body.
If you’ve taken CBD before and not noticed any effects whatsoever, it’s likely one of three scenarios. Either it hasn’t kicked in yet, you need a different dose, or you’ve bought a low-quality CBD product that might not actually contain any of the compound.
How Long Does It Take For CBD To Kick In?
When taking CBD, it’s important to understand how long it can take for the compound to start working. Otherwise, you may unintentionally take too large of a dose.
Onset times largely depend on the intake method. Oral administration methods like gummies or other edibles have the slowest rate of biodelivery and lowest rate of bioavailability. In laymen’s terms, that means they take the longest time to kick in and are the least effective. Depending on factors like metabolism, edible CBD may take up to 2 hours to start working.
In contrast, using an inhalation method like the Elon will not only bring on effects in just a matter of minutes, but it will also provide more potent effects at lower doses.
How To Find Proper CBD Dosage
Since everyone’s CBD experience will be slightly different, it’s important to find a dosage that works for your unique needs.
It’s always a good idea to start with a lower dosage, then gradually titrate up over time. Start with around 10 - 20 mg daily, and see how it affects you over the course of a week. If you’re not noticing any benefits, gradually increase the dosage until you find one that works for you.
How To Find High-Quality CBD
Because CBD is largely unregulated by the FDA, it's up to consumers to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Firstly, it’s important to know what you're buying. Make sure your product explicitly mentions CBD on the label. Note that “hemp extract” doesn’t necessarily contain any cannabinoids.
Next, you’ll want to make sure of the CBD quality by checking the third-party lab results. Good CBD companies will test their products for potency and potential contaminants and then typically display the testing results on their website. We keep ours on a QR code located on the back of every pack of Stems. You can also search by batch number here.
If you can’t find testing results for a specific company's product, it may mean that they simply haven’t tested it. You can try reaching out to the company directly, but if they had spent the time and money to adequately test their products, they’d likely display that information somewhere that’s easy to find.
Choosing only to use lab-tested CBD will ensure that you get a product that’s both safe and effective.
