So, you have been researching CBD or maybe you have bought your first CBD product and now you are ready to try it. You are probably wondering how long does CBD take to work?

Well the answer to this question is not the same for everyone. CBD like other medications can take daily use for several days for some people to feel its full effects. This is because the CBD often needs time to work on the pain or inflammation in your body to help provide relief. Let us first look at what CBD is and how it works so we can better answer how long does CBD take to work.

What is CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol as it is technically called, is a part of the hemp plant. It is one of over 100 cannabinoids found in the plant. Cannabinoids are naturally occurring chemical compounds that are found in the hemp plant. They are like endocannabinoids which are produced by the human body and used to promote homeostasis, which regulates internal health and immune system functions.

CBD has many effects on the body, but the primary ways it can help are with pain, inflammation, and anxiety relief. It does this by interacting with our body’s endocannabinoid system.

What Is The Endocannabinoid System?

When we consume CBD, it’s fed to our body’s endocannabinoid system, which sends it to cannabinoid receptors throughout the body. The endocannabinoid system is a complex system of receptors located throughout the body. The receptors are found in areas such as the brain, skin, bones, nervous system, digestive system, and more. The endocannabinoid system is responsible for helping regulate a number of things in the body including mood, pain, inflammation, and more.

The endocannabinoid system consists of CB1 receptors predominantly located in the nervous system, connective tissues, glands, and organs; and CB2 receptors, primarily found in the immune system and also present in the spleen, liver, heart, kidneys, bones, blood vessels, lymph cells, endocrine glands, and reproductive organs. These receptors can be stimulated by the endocannabinoids that are produced naturally in the body, like anandamide which is often associated with a positive mood.

The receptors of the endocannabinoid system can also be stimulated by introducing cannabinoids to them such as CBD. After binding to receptors in the body that fit them like a lock fits a key, these cannabinoids produce a wide range of physiological effects, altering everything from blood pressure to pain response to memory to appetite to consciousness depending upon which cannabinoid is consumed.

How CBD Works Is Different For Everyone

This may sound cliché but everyone experiences CBD differently. There are a number of different factors that impact how CBD will work for you and how long CBD takes to work. The endocannabinoid system plays a big role here. Every person’s endocannabinoid system works slightly differently. Some may process CBD more effectively and intensely than others. In addition, you may have different needs and different deficiencies in your body at different times.

Each person can have different needs based upon their body’s existing cannabinoid levels. The lower your cannabinoid level, the longer it will take before you finally have enough cannabinoids in your system for the endocannabinoid system to use them to your fullest advantage.

This doesn’t mean that there will be no effect from taking CBD even if you do not yet have sufficient levels of cannabinoids in your body. It simply means that you will have stronger and more comprehensive effects once the CBD has had more time to take effect.

CBD Determining Factors

There are additional factors that can impact how long CBD takes to work for you. Let us look at several other factors that can impact when you will feel the peak effects of CBD in your body. These include product type, milligram strength, quality, and your body.

CBD Delivery Method

There are several different ways that you can take CBD. This includes in an oil form which is taken sublingually by placing the oil under your tongue and allowing it to absorb there. CBD can also be ingested in an edible form such as a gummy. It is also possible to have smokable products such as CBD hemp flower. CBD can also be used topically by applying a cream or balm to a particular area of skin.

Each delivery method determines the tissue of the body that the CBD absorbs through, and some take more time to complete this process than others. There is also breakdown that occurs with some delivery methods which can have a limiting effect on the CBD

The fastest method, which can activate within minutes, is inhalation, either via smoking or vaping.  Topicals, too, can work in under 15 minutes of application, but only have a localized effect not one on the entire body. Tinctures or CBD oil are next, typically requiring 30 to 45 minutes before peaking in the body. Finally, there are edibles such as gummies which can take an hour or more for it to enter your system as it must work through your digestive tract.

Milligram Strength

CBD products come in different milligram strengths. The amount of milligrams you are taking can have an effect in two ways on how long it will take the CBD to work. The first way it can impact CBD’s effect is by allowing your body to have more cannabinoids in your body faster. If you have lower cannabinoid levels a stronger milligram strength could help bring those levels up more quickly.

In addition to bringing cannabinoid levels up a stronger product is more potent. This could mean that it can help reduce inflammation more quickly. It also means that it could help with some of the degradation issues CBD has in certain forms. When you ingest CBD in a gummy or edible form your stomach and liver will break some down. If the product is a stronger milligram strength it can help compensate for some of that breakdown that is occurring.

CBD Quality

The quality of the product can play a bigger role than you may think. That’s because CBD products can be made using any variety of manufacturing techniques, and some preserve bioavailability better than others. The more bioavailable the product, the faster it will absorb into the system. It’s important to only buy your hemp products from trusted companies that make accessible third-party lab reports and use the CO2 method for extracting the compounds from the plant material.

Your Body

Finally, your body plays a major role. Some of us utilize cannabinoids more quickly than others because everyone’s body is unique. One thing that does seem to be the case is that those who weigh more than average will likely need more CBD per dose to experience effectiveness.

Ways To Increase Effectiveness Of How CBD Works

One way to increase the effectiveness is by choosing the proper form to take it for you. While smoking hemp is the fastest and most effective way to get CBD in your body it may not be for everyone. CBD oil is another highly effective way to take CBD as it processes in the glands in your mouth and doesn’t rely on the digestive process for it to enter your body.

If you feel that you want to take CBD in an edible form make sure you are taking it after you have eaten some food. This increases the bioavailability of the product, which means more CBD is absorbed this way.

It is also more beneficial to take CBD every day. If you make it a part of your daily routine, it will have a greater effect. Finally, always make sure that you are using the highest-quality CBD product that you can find. Low-quality CBD tends to be less effective due to various inferior manufacturing methods.

Takeaways On How Long It Takes CBD To Work

While there is no way to pinpoint an exact amount of time that CBD will take to have its maximum effect there are ways to increase its effectiveness. The best way is by taking it daily and by using a form that has a higher absorption rate. Consider the factors above if you are trying to ensure that your cannabidiol dose is working best for you.