Ever since the Flintstones vitamins came out in the 1960s, gummies have occupied a strange border zone between health food and candy. Before long, adults who grew up on them decided that they wanted to keep the habit, so they became a standard form of delivery for nutritional supplements.
And so, as CBD edibles started flooding the market in the last few years, CBD gummies inevitably came along. Lots of companies make them, but cbdMD aims to empower consumers with as much information as possible about our products.
In this guide, we answer your most common questions. Read on to learn what CBD gummies are, how CBD gummies are made, and important information to know when buying and using them.
What Are CBD Gummies?
CBD gummies are sweet, chewy candies infused with cannabidiol or CBD.
CBD is an extract of the hemp plant, a non-intoxicating breed of cannabis. It’s one of a multitude of cannabinoids, the naturally occurring compounds in cannabis that interact with the human nervous system, often with beneficial effects.
Currently, cbdMD makes three different types of CBD formulas you can enjoy: broad spectrum, full spectrum, and Delta 9.
A hemp extract that includes many of the active compounds found in the hemp plant without any traces of THC.
A low-potency hemp extract that includes many compounds found in the hemp plant with traces of THC.
A high-potency hemp extract that includes many compounds found in the hemp plant and is infused with Delta 9 THC.
Are CBD Gummies the Same as Hemp Gummies?
It depends on the brand, but probably. The different language usually isn’t due to different ingredients but to CBD’s complicated legal status.
The 2018 Farm Bill made CBD legal at the federal level, so long as it’s from hemp and not marijuana. However, the Food and Drug Administration has expressed its displeasure with CBD edibles, due to restrictions on mixing drugs with food.
Several state and local governments have defied this by passing laws to the contrary, or by merely declining to enforce the FDA’s rule since the FDA has no police force of its own.
But so long as the situation remains murky, many retailers won’t carry ingestible products explicitly labeled “CBD.” Calling CBD-infused gummies “hemp gummies” is still accurate since they are made partly from hemp, but opens them to retail venues that might shrink from the “CBD” label.
How Are CBD Gummies Made?
Once the extraction process is complete, CBD is a crystal that can dissolve in an edible medium. While different companies add their CBD in different ways, cbdMD adds its CBD while the ingredients melt in bulk.
What are those ingredients?
Pectin is the ingredient that gives gummies their distinct texture. Pectin occurs naturally in the cell walls of fruits, and in the traditional process of cooking fruit mash with sugar water, it leads to the gelling process that creates jams and jellies. In modern times, it becomes isolated to create even stiffer products, like jellybeans and gummies.
The rest of the recipe consists of sweeteners, oils, and flavoring, which vary by the manufacturer. cbdMD’s gummies include organic tapioca syrup, cane sugar, fruit juice, and sunflower oil. Currently, each gummy bottle has a mix of natural and artificial flavors: orange, strawberry, mixed berry, and tropical.
For extra zing, there’s citric acid and malic acid, which naturally give the tang to lemons and sour apples, respectively.
Once the CBD goes into the melt, the resulting gelatinous brew is extruded, cut into cubes or other shapes, and coated. The smooth coating on our gummies is wax drawn from the leaves of the Brazilian carnauba palm.
Buying CBD Gummies
When you’re buying CBD gummies, you want to follow the same guidelines we offer on what to look for when buying CBD oil.
- Look for CBD that’s made from hemp rather than marijuana, preferably grown in the USA. It’s the American government that set the 0.3 percent THC limit, as well as standards for farming and processing, so you know what you’re getting.
- Make sure that it has the right amounts of CBD and THC, if any. A good vendor will post the results of a third-party lab’s test of their products, which will show levels of CBD, THC, and other relevant substances.
- Steer clear of providers making claims about CBD having curative powers for pain, anxiety, or other medical conditions. There’s some exciting research on these subjects that may yet bear fruit, but no one can (or is legally allowed to) make definitive statements.
- A note about our packaging: The number of milligrams listed on the bottle covers the entire bottle, so to find out how much there is in each gummy, you divide by 30. Therefore, in the 300 mg bottle, there is 10 mg per gummy, and in the 750 mg, there is 25 mg per gummy.
Using CBD Gummies
CBD gummies are certainly a tastier way to get your CBD than capsules or tinctures and give you a sugar bump to boot. They can also be more graceful to consume in public than either of those, which look more like you’re taking medicine, or vapes, which can annoy your neighbors.
For that reason, many people enjoy taking them along to work, on trips, or anywhere outside the house. Popping a gummy or two before a stressful event can help you keep your cool.
Keep in mind, though, that when you eat your CBD, it takes longer to work its way into your bloodstream than if you used a tincture, patch, or vape. If you want it to hit at a specific time, give yourself at least an hour to absorb it fully.
If you’re just beginning to use CBD, start slow, no matter how delicious they are. We recommend taking a couple of gummies a day for a few weeks to gauge how your body’s reacting to it fully. You can always add more if you need to.
Gummies can also be a great supplement to other CBD products like a twice-daily capsule or a nightly dropper of CBD PM, our CBD oil tincture with melatonin. You can use it for an extra boost if you feel a greater need that day for CBD’s natural benefits.
Which cbdMD Gummy Is Right for You?
The OG broad spectrum infused gummies are a classic way to enjoy your daily CBD. Start your day on the right foot with juicy tropical flavors that will transport you to the rainforest.
Sleep is one of the most crucial pillars of wellness, but it isn’t always the easiest to achieve a good night's rest. Those who need some help in catching Zzz’s should look no further than our CBD Sleep Aid Gummies. They are loaded with soothing herbs, melatonin, L-theanine, GABA, and our Superior Broad Spectrum hemp extracts – making it easy for you to put the “sweet” in sweet dreams.
These multitasking gummies give you a daily dose of CBD while ALSO providing other wellness benefits! Our CBD Immune Boost Gummies are infused with vitamins to support your immune health with Vitamins C, D, E, Zinc, and Selenium. You can also try our CBD Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies to pair your daily CBD with the digestive benefits of apple cider vinegar (without the vulgar taste of an ACV shot). Last but not least, our CBD Calming Gummies are perfect for anyone looking to Zen out by pairing herbs, ashwagandha, and multiple cannabinoids (CBD, CBG, and CBN) so you can enjoy the ultimate feeling of calm.
Use the widest range of cannabinoids available (with just a touch of THC) and get the FULL hemp experience with FULL spectrum gummies. Enjoy the same benefits as our broad spectrum formula but on a higher level. This is CBD+THC done right.
Have you ever heard of the entourage effect? How about experiencing it? Level up your wellness even more with our high-potency full spectrum Delta 9 THC gummies. Each gummy gives you 10 mg of Delta 9 THC and 50 mg of CBD that work together like PB&J to give you the ultimate feel-good experience.
Have You Tried CBD Edibles?
CBD gummies can be a discreet and delicious way to get your CBD intake. As always, consult your doctor before using hemp gummies or any CBD product.
Do you have a favorite CBD edible? Have you tried CBD gummies? We’d love to hear about it. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook and let us know! Maybe your post will be featured next!
Originally written by: Amy Reeves