Cannabidiol extracted from the hemp plant is gaining popularity among people as a therapeutic compound that has no side effects. Many are using CBD health and wellness products for mitigating ailments like muscle and joint pains, headaches, skin issues like rashes and dryness, healing minor wounds, reducing anxiety, stress, etc. Their use became common after the US Farm Act of 2018, which legalized the cultivation of hemp plant strains with less than 0.3% THC. The common doubt among cannabidiol (CBD) users is how long does CBD take to work, and this article will best attempt to answer this question.
An Overview About CBD Usage
The use of cannabidiol health and wellness products is increasing because of their therapeutic health benefits along with the lack of side effects at normal doses. Also, there is no risk of developing an addiction upon prolonged use. Studies have shown that cannabidiol (CBD) is a safer alternative to pharmaceutical drugs like painkillers and steroids that cause side effects if you use them frequently. For example, research has found that it reduces median motor seizures by 70.6% in rare cases of epilepsy.
One of the common questions among cannabidiol users is how long dos CBD effects last? On average, it ranges between 2 to 6 hours. But keep in mind that this depends on various factors and they are discussed in detail below.
The Factors That Affect CBD Absorption
The duration of cannabidiol (CBD) effects depends mainly on its absorption. This varies between different methods of taking CBD products. For instance, vaping has the fastest onset time, while oral consumption in the form of edibles has the longest onset time. That said, the latter method gives longer therapeutic effects because CBD is slowly absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestines. Finally, according to experts, it takes at least 3 to 4 days for your body to completely flush out cannabidiol.
How Long Does CBD Stay In Your System?
The duration of CBD lasting in your system depends on multiple factors. For moderate cannabidiol users, it will be expelled from the body in 10 to 15 days. But this period increases as the frequency of usage increases. Besides, this also depends on the dosage or potency of the CBD health and wellness product. Another major factor that affects the duration of CBD in your system is the method of consumption, and this is discussed in detail below.
CBD Tinctures
CBD tinctures are made by extracting the cannabidiol contained in the hemp flowers and buds into solvents like glycerine, oil, or vinegar. It is a highly potent product and is useful for reducing the severity of chronic pain. Because of this, it is not recommended to take more than 2 to 3 teaspoons of CBD tincture a day.
CBD tincture is administered sublingually by placing drops of it under the tongue and holding for 30 to 60 seconds so that it is absorbed into the bloodstream through the sublingual glands. This method has the second-fastest onset time for cannabidiol (CBD) effects, i.e., 15 to 20 minutes. Because of this, cannabidiol is quickly metabolized by the body and eliminated. Hence, the effects of CBD tinctures do not last long and is suitable for those who want quick relief from discomforts like pain, anxiety, stress, etc.
CBD Vaping
CBD vaping is a method popular among experienced cannabidiol users mainly due to its fast onset time and the quality of its effects. It is done by inhaling CBD vapors that are produced by heating the vape juice. In this method, cannabidiol enters the bloodstream through the lungs, and this gives you quick effects. Because of this, CBD bioavailability is high, making it highly potent and is suitable for experienced users. However, its higher potency also increases the risk of overdosing.
As already stated, CBD vaping gives quick effects, i.e., in 10 to 15 minutes. Because of this, it is quickly metabolized and eliminated from the body. So, it does not give long-lasting effects and is suitable for getting quick relief from discomforts.
CBD Edibles
When you consume CBD health and wellness products orally in the form of edibles and beverages, it enters the bloodstream through the intestines. Because of this, it has a long onset time and offers long-lasting effects. From the intestines, cannabidiol is transported to the liver, where it is metabolized and the metabolites are used by the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The excess CBD metabolites are stored in the fat cells and used when required later. This means that CBD is metabolized faster in those who engage in strenuous activities or exercise regularly. Furthermore, the frequency of usage also affects how long cannabidiol effects last.
Also, the bioavailability of CBD in this method is low because of the first-pass metabolism in the liver. Cannabidiol is metabolized by liver enzymes into useful and unwanted metabolites; the latter ones are excreted out of the body. This is the first pass effect, and it reduces the amount of cannabidiol available for the ECS.
We hope that this article clarified your doubts about the duration of CBD’s effects and how long it stays in your system.