Written by Michael Wright
If you’re thinking about trying CBD for the first time, you’re bound to have a number of questions, from how much CBD you should take to what kind of CBD products to buy. It’s natural to wonder exactly how a supplement, like cannabidiol, will affect you the first time you take it. So, we thought we’d take some of the guesswork out of it, so that you can enter into your CBD journey armed with all the knowledge you need to make the most of your CBD experience.
Let’s get started…
Full Spectrum CBD vs. Broad Spectrum CBD vs. CBD Isolate
Whenever you’re looking into a CBD product, check to see if it’s made using a full spectrum CBD oil, broad spectrum CBD oil, or CBD isolate. Also, make sure that whatever CBD they’re using is made from hemp. That last bit should be easy, since marijuana-derived CBD is only available in dispensaries.
Why Does the Type of CBD Matter?
Let’s start with the question of hemp-derived CBD vs. marijuana-derived CBD. The hemp plant contains (by law) less than 0.3% THC, the cannabinoid compound that gets you “high.” Marijuana-derived CBD can have significantly more THC. Now, while you can’t get high from hemp-derived CBD, if your oil has a high enough THC concentration, it can potentially show up as a false-positive on a drug test. This concentrated CBD oil is called full spectrum CBD.
Full spectrum CBD oil is the uncut oil, harvested directly from the hemp plant’s buds, leaves and stalks in a single extraction pass. It’s got all the cannabinoids (including CBD, THC, and more), terpenes, and flavonoids that hemp naturally produces. The benefit of full spectrum CBD is that it allows you to experience the full benefits of the hemp plant, via the Entourage Effect.** This term refers to the phenomenon wherein the various cannabinoids and terpenes don’t merely work alongside one another in parallel, but instead bolster each other, producing a much deeper CBD experience.** If you want to take your full spectrum experience to the (legal) limit, try one of our delta-9 THC full spectrum products. Products like our Magic Melon Sativa Delta-9 THC Gummies and Ultimate Chill Delta-9 THC Tincture deliver the maximum amount of THC allowed by law under the 2018 US Farm Bill.
Some, however, don’t like to see any THC — even in small amounts — in their CBD product. So, additional filtering takes place to remove all detectable amounts of THC. When this happens, some of the other cannabinoids are removed, as well. Still, there are enough cannabinoids present in this newly filtered oil — known as broad spectrum CBD — to experience at least some of the Entourage Effect. This is the most widely used form of CBD, and the key to our CBD gummy line of products, which is a favorite among first time CBD users and veterans alike. Some examples of popular CBD gummies include our CBD Multivitamin Gummies, CBD Gummies for Focus and Energy, and CBD Gummies with Turmeric and Spirulina, among others.
CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD you can find, coming in at 99.9% cannabidiol, and taking the form of a fine, flavorless, and odorless powder. You’ll often find CBD isolate in CBD vape juice and CBD bath bombs.
What Should You Feel When Taking CBD?
Most people would describe the feeling of taking CBD as calming, both for the body and the mind. CBD settles your thoughts and allows you to focus, but also gently relaxes your body. In short, it chills you out.
Where your CBD experience goes from there kinda depends on what other ingredients are in your CBD product. There are CBD products for energy and focus, such as our CBD + CBG Morning Capsules, that combine the calm-mindedness of CBD with other ingredients, like CBG, focus terpenes, and caffeine.** On the other end of the spectrum (pun intended), there are CBD sleep aids, like our CBD + CBN Night Capsules and our CBD Gummies with Melatonin for Sleep, that take calming CBD and add to it restful ingredients like CBN, the “ultimate relaxation cannabinoid,” and sleepytime fave, melatonin.** And there are other types of CBD products, like our CBD Muscle & Joint Cream, with ingredient profiles targeting minor pain relief. Other products target relaxation, general wellness, and other uses.**
So, it really does depend on what CBD product you’d like to take. For first-time CBD users, many choose to have a CBD-only product, so that they can figure out how CBD interacts with their bodies on its own, free from other ingredients. Our Original Mixed Berry Gummies are the perfect choice for this kind of experimentation. These CBD gummies offer 50mg of broad spectrum CBD, and are a tasty chew to boot! If you want to try a full spectrum option, go with our CBD Soft Gels, which contain 25 or 50mg of full spectrum CBD per serving.
Whatever your choice, take a little time to research and understand what you’re taking and the strength of your CBD product. That way you can have a better sense of how CBD interacts with your body for the next time around.
When Should My CBD Start Working?
The onset time of CBD comes down to what form you choose. Of course, there’s always a bit of deviation from the average, and it may take a little honing to find out which product works well for you.
In general, you can expect to feel the effects:
- Just a few minutes if you’re using a vape
- 15 to 30 minutes if you’re using a sublingual tincture
- Less than an hour for topicals
- 30 minutes to 2 hours if you have an edible
But remember, your physiology has as much to do with the speed of absorption as the method of delivery or the concentration of CBD itself. Every person is different, and factors as diverse as weight, height, body mass, and CBD tolerance can affect how quickly CBD can be absorbed — as well as how profound its effects are.** This is why it’s good to experiment to find the right CBD dosage for you. Which brings us to …
How Much CBD Oil Should I Take the First Time?
Every CBD product we sell has a recommended serving size. That said, we like to advise people taking CBD for the first time to start low and work your way up. Your tolerance could very well be lighter, which isn’t a bad thing. (Heck, your CBD will last longer if you’re taking less at a time!) The point is to find the right serving size for you. So, look for the recommended serving size and cut it in half. If you don’t feel any effects, wait until the next day and try three-quarters of a serving. If that doesn’t work, try the full recommended serving size the next day. Eventually, you will find your Goldilocks serving: the one that’s “just right.”
But please note what we said: bump up your CBD serving the next day. We did not say to bump it up an hour later if you don’t feel anything. If you do this, you’ll have no idea if it was your second CBD serving that did the trick or your first CBD serving finally kicking in. And you might accidentally build up an unnecessary tolerance to CBD. If you do decide to try a higher dose the same day, we recommend waiting at least four hours after your last dose to allow the majority of your previous dose to be eliminated from the body.
Go low and go slow, and soon you’ll find what works for you.
How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System?
The length of time that CBD stays in your system can vary from person to person, but not just for the reason you think. That is to say, it’s not simply a case of “CBD stays in your system for x number of days.” The frequency of your usage also determines how long CBD stays in your body.
Cannabinoids can build up in your body over time if used regularly. This is why it’s recommended you use a CBD product for at least a week to see if it works for you. If you only use CBD occasionally, it’ll clear your system faster.
Determining the amount of time CBD stays in your system can be tricky. Everyone has a different metabolism, so there is no all-encompassing answer. American Family Physician reports that cannabis can be detected, via urine test, three days after a single use and more than 30 days after heavy usage. So, don’t count on anything flushing out of your system right away.
If you work in an environment that requires drug-testing, or if you expect to start a job that’ll want one, don’t assume that CBD (and the THC that the test is actually searching for) will clear out after a couple of days. If this is a concern, steer clear of full spectrum CBD, and don’t go super heavy on broad spectrum CBD either. No one wants a false-positive drug test.
Pro Tips on Taking CBD for the First Time
If you’re reading this, you’re already off to a good start. Do your research, and shop around. This is an incredible time to be venturing into the world of CBD. There are so many choices that you’re bound to find a perfect fit.
Not all companies are made the same, however. Make sure to check a brand’s lab reports. These should always be performed by a third party and made easily accessible on the CBD company’s website.
You’ll be able to confirm that there aren’t any heavy metals or pesticides in your CBD product, and you’ll get an accurate rendering of the cannabinoid content of your CBD product, as well. If you order any of our CBD products, you’ll see a QR code on one of the panels of the box. This code will take you straight to that particular product (down to the batch number), so you can see what’s under the hood. Anything you buy from us is made with organic, US-grown hemp.
Once you find a CBD company you can trust and identify a product or products you’re interested in trying, pull the trigger! There are so many wellness benefits that can come from making CBD a part of your daily life.** Enjoy your CBD experience!
