This title may seem like a silly question, but every question is valid in our book. How do you use cannabidiol (CBD) gummies? How is the CBD put into the gummy? Are these gummies even good for you? All great questions! There are many questions surrounding CBD and what it is and what it is not. We are here to answer these questions so that you can move on and begin your CBD journey. We hope that the information you are given in the article convinces you that CBD could enhance your life. Let’s start from the top.
CBD: before it becomes a gummy
What is CBD? CBD/cannabidiol is one of the 113 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plants. A Cannabis sativa plant is found naturally and is full of different compounds called cannabinoids. These different cannabinoids have different effects. Cannabis sativa comes in a variety of different types, one of these types is the marijuana plant. You have likely heard of the type of Cannabis sativa as it has been all over the news for years. Marijuana contains a cannabinoid called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in high percentages. Because of the high percentage marijuana and the use of THC is not legalized throughout the states. Some states, however, have legalized the use of it for recreational and medicinal purposes.
The hemp plant is another Cannabis sativa family member. This particular family member has been federally legal as of 2018 because of the Farm Bill. This bill allows farmers throughout the states to grow and sell the hemp plant. The CBD that comes from a hemp plant must have at or lower than 0.3% of THC to be sold legally. Although hemp and CBD are federally legal, it does not mean that all states have legalized the use and possession of it. Be sure to understand your state’s laws. One of the most common questions regarding CBD is, will it get me high like THC? The answer is no, CBD cannot get a user ‘high’ because the amount of THC allowed in a CBD product is too low. So, no worries about that! What about those gummies?
CBD Gummy
CBD gummies are just one of many products that contain CBD and it may possibly be the most fun. CBD gummies are made like any other gummy candy, but with added CBD in it. A CBD gummy is what we call an edible. An edible is something that you eat, obviously. There are many different types of edibles like hard candy, baked goods, and even chocolate. The way that the CBD gets into your system from an edible is the same. After you enjoy your CBD treat, it makes its way into your digestive system. Once landed in the stomach, the edible is broken down and the CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream from the lining in the stomach. A lot of people choose gummies because it masks the earthy taste that CBD can give off in different products. It is also said that edibles tend to last a bit longer because of the process it is broken down in. Those who are vegan know that most gummy candy is not vegan friendly, but many CBD companies have adjusted their formulas to ensure that everyone can use CBD gummies. Another great thing about CBD gummies is that they come in a specific amount of CBD so that you know that you are taking the same amount of CBD each time. Perhaps gummies are not your thing, what other products are available?
Other CBD Products
Like we stated before, there are lots of CBD products available for you to choose from. There are more and more coming out each day. Here is a list of staple products that we have found.
Tablets: This type of CBD is quite easy to use. You just place the tablet in your mouth, let it dissolve and you are good to go! After being dissolved CBD reaches the bloodstream through the pores in the mouth. This is a very fast way to get CBD into your bloodstream.
Tinctures/oils: The way that a tincture gets into the bloodstream is similar to the way the tablet does. But, instead of a dissolvable tablet, a tincture is oil like. With the dropper tool, place the wanted amount of CBD into the mouth, under the tongue and let it sit there until dissolved. This also gets in the bloodstream quickly.
Softgels: Softgels full of CBD is a great way to get CBD into your daily routine. Our soft capsules are taken like a type of pill. The capsule is full of CBD. Once it reaches the stomach through the digestive system it breaks down and is absorbed into the bloodstream from the stomach, much like an edible.
Vapes: After the CBD vape is inhaled it is absorbed through the lungs and then on into the bloodstream. This works quickly but can have negative effects on the lungs as inhaling anything does.
There are so many different ways to get CBD into your bloodstream. But the most important thing to remember is that getting CBD from a reputable source is what makes for a quality CBD experience. How do you ensure that you are getting quality CBD? Well, the way that your CBD is extracted from the hemp plant is a good indicator of a nice CBD product. Here are some ways to look out for to see if your CBD is high quality.
Carbon Dioxide Extraction: Carbon dioxide is used to extract CBD from the hemp plant by using “supercritical” which, in simple terms means, using carbon dioxide liquid as well as gas properties to extract. This is why carbon dioxide extraction is often known as supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). In the start of the extraction, 2 different pressurized chambers are used. One, with the carbon dioxide, the other contains the hemp. Then the chamber filled with carbon dioxide is pumped into the second chamber containing the plant, where it breaks down the hemp and separates it from the CBD extraction. The mixture is then put into a third chamber where the carbon dioxide is evaporated/taken out, leaving the CBD oil alone.
Steam Distillation: In this process of extraction, the steam separates the CBD from the plant itself. The hemp is put into a separate container while a boiler full of water is beneath the hemp. Once boiling, the steam from the water boiling travels up to extract the CBD vapors from the hemp. The vapor from the hemp plant is then trapped in a tube-like structure and added to an oil or water. After this is collected, the CBD is extracted from the water to make an oil.
Solvent Extraction: This process is similar to the steam distillation method. But, in this process a company would use a type of solvent rather than water to extract. The solvent and CBD are combined and then the solvent is taken out leaving the CBD oil behind. There are 2 types of solvents generally used: hydrocarbons and natural solvents. This is the less preferred type of extraction because it has been found to leave unwanted chemicals after the solvents have been taken out. These elements could be including naphtha, petroleum, butane, or propane for hydrocarbon extraction.
Once you’ve identified which extraction process sounds the best to you, look for that as you browse different CBD companies. If the company, you are browsing doesn’t show their extraction process? We suggest looking elsewhere. Choosing a CBD product may be daunting, but we hope that with this information we have given, you’ll be good to go!