CBD Countdown: How Long Does it Stick Around?
Learn how long CBD stays in your system, what affects its duration, and key insights into cannabinoid metabolism and effects.
The Origins of CBD
For millennia, the “Sweet Leaf” has been used medicinally, recreationally, and ritually. Modern technology has allowed us to look into the cannabis plant, find the various natural chemicals, or cannabinoids, and study their properties. CBD or cannabinol was first discovered in 1942 and over the decades, its molecular structure, properties, and medicinal potential were also discovered. CBD has many of the medicinal properties that THC has just without the psychoactivity. It is found in high concentrations in hemp, but can also be found in smaller amounts in its close cousin marijuana. Both hemp and marijuana fall under the genus cannabis sativa L. It is most commonly known for alleviating pain, inflammation, and anxiety but can also help with a plethora of other ailments. CBD, like other cannabinoids, is activated within our bodies by binding to our cannabinoid receptors found in our brains. CBD can be consumed through various delivery methods, such as: oil tinctures, gummies, topical creams as well as smoke-able vapes and hemp flowers. Here, we will break down the various delivery methods of CBD, its benefits, as well as some specific products available in store or online.
How does CBD affect my body?
Effects of Oil Tinctures:
Oil tinctures are the most effective way of taking CBD, especially for long term treatment. For long term benefits, we recommend taking the tincture every day for 4-6 weeks like any other medicine or vitamin so it can build into your system. After that time frame once your fat cells have absorbed the CBD, is when you should see longer term benefits. This does not mean that you will not feel any effects in that time when you are building it into your system; rather the ailment you were originally treating should ideally feel better generally at that 4-6 week point. At some point during that 4-6 week point, we recommend taking a few days off to see the effectiveness of the CBD. For example: You are taking a tincture for general anxiety and sporadic knee pain. As you have been taking the tincture over the weeks you feel relief every time you take your dose. When you take a break at the 5 week mark, you should ideally feel less anxiety and knee pain overall because at that point your body has been absorbing it for quite a long time. Taking a break can also tell you whether you need to up the dosage or try a new product. Another imperative aspect to note on the matter of natural health and wellness, is that everyone’s body is different. Just as if you were out having a few drinks or smoking a marijuana joint with friends, everyone will react a little differently and need differing amounts. With alcohol, one person may be happy and the other angry; with marijuana, one person could have the munchies, the next person have the giggles, and the last person is mute staring at the wall. Hence, it is important to keep an open mind and experiment with it until you find the right product and dosage for you.
Our most popular oil tinctures are our in house brand as well as tinctures from 3chi. Our Nurse Wellness Whole Spectrum CBD tinctures come in 750mg, 1500mg, and 3000mg. The unique thing about these tinctures is that they are made with a new extraction process called nano-ionization. This extraction process uses energy and heat to extract the CBD from hemp. This in turn makes for a much cleaner and purer tincture as well as it being super fast acting! Unlike other tinctures that can take 30-60 minutes to fully metabolize, the Nurse Wellness tinctures are engineered to “hit” within minutes. 3chi brings a creative angle to tinctures by crafting various “cannabinoid blends” in their tinctures. Their Happy, Calm, and Focus CBD tinctures all have unique cannabinoid profiles so they can alleviate more targeted issues. For example, the Happy CBD tincture is primarily CBD with a large portion of CBC. CBC is a cannabinoid known for its antidepressant properties. Hence, this tincture is made to help alleviate high degrees of anxiety and depression.
*** It is absolutely necessary to take the tincture with a meal or a snack high in fats and oils. CBD, along with many other cannabinoids are fat soluble. Meaning, for it to fully metabolize in your system it needs some fats and oils to bind to for it to fully activate. If this is not done while taking the tincture, the effects of the CBD will be minimal to none!***
Effects of CBD Gummies:
After oil tinctures, oil based gummies are the next best method of taking CBD for long term treatment. Similarly to tinctures, gummies too must be taken everyday as well to reap long-term benefits. Gummies can be a great alternative for someone who does not like the taste or texture of an oil tincture. Activation time for a gummy can range from approximately 20 to 90 minutes depending on the gummy. Like the tincture, it is essential to eat something with fats and oils for the gummies to fully metabolize. For example the Nurse Wellness Whole Spectrum Gummies are going to be closer to a 20 minute activation time because they are made with the same nano-ionization process used to make the Nurse Wellness Tinctures discussed in the previous section. Comparatively, the Enjoy CBD gummies will be closer to a 60-90 minute activation time. Though these gummies are not as fast acting, each of the Enjoy gummies are crafted to focus on alleviating specific ailments. Their gummies can primarily be found in the total strengths of 1500mg, 1800mg, and 3300mg. Their CBD line consists of De-Stress, Relief, Sleep, Sex, and THC-Free. The De-Stress and Relief gummies have 50-100mg of CBD with 10mg of CBG. The latter being a cannabinoid like CBD, that is an anti-inflammatory, pain-reliever, digestive aid, as well as providing an uplifting effect. For the Sleep gummies, they contain the same amount of CBD but rather than CBG, it contains 10mg of CBN. This cannabinoid is a phenomenal sleep aid that will help you go to sleep and stay asleep without throwing off your natural melatonin cycle. The THC-Free and Sex gummies are all 50mg of CBD per piece. Another standout component of all the Enjoy Gummies not including the THC-Free Gummies is that they have unique herbal blends for each gummy to create a more targeted effect towards the respective gummy’s name. For example, the Relief gummies have ginseng and turmeric, two herbs with great anti-inflammatory properties to bring a higher degree of pain relief when paired with the CBD & CBG.
Effects of CBD Topicals:
CBD Topicals are great for quick relief with any pain or inflammation. It is most effective with muscle pain and inflammation as well as tendonitis. It can also bring some relief with various joint and bone pains and or ailments such as osteoporosis but more research still needs to be conducted to understand CBD’s full potential when it comes to ailments of bones. Currently we have a wide range of topical creams all at different strengths and prices. For long term treatment, we typically recommend pairing a topical for quicker, as needed relief while taking an oil based ingestible as a daily supplement so the CBD can build up into your system. If you decide to use just the topical, we recommend applying the cream 2-3 times a day. Over the years our best seller has been the Soothe Nano-CBD Rolls which contain 1000mg of CBD in 3 fl oz. Since this cream is water based, it is faster-acting than many of our other topicals and does not require to be rubbed into the skin. After 10 minutes, your skin will fully absorb the cream leaving no remnants or oily residue. Currently this cream is 50% off while supplies last!
In recent weeks we began carrying new topical creams by 3chi. These creams are available in a pump with either 500mg or 2200mg in the container. The creams by 3chi have a consistency closer to a lotion, so these creams must be rubbed into the skin just as any moisturizer. Another newer topical is the Nurse Wellness Whole Spectrum Foam Pump. This is available in a 2000mg pump and like the Soothe Roll On, it is fasting-acting due to your skin absorbing foam very easily. If you are looking for a topical with a high quantity, try the Country Roads 4000mg pump. Along with the CBD, this 6 fl oz pump also contains 200mg of Delta 9 THC, 40mg of CBG, and 40mg of CBC. All of those cannabinoids individually are great for pain and inflammation; the combination brings an elevated degree of pain relief. This cream is oil based, so its activation time may be a few minutes longer than our other topicals.
What happens if I smoke CBD?
Whether you are smoking a joint, vape cartridge and/or a disposable vape; all of the effects will be relatively instantaneous. This is attributed to the fact that when inhaling the CBD, the molecules are received by the cannabinoid receptors immediately. With smoking, you are able to reap all the benefits of the CBD from it alleviating epilepsy to pain, inflammation, or anxiety. The smokables are also a great option for cigarette smokers looking for an alternative. Studies have shown that CBD can help alleviate symptoms of nicotine withdrawal such as the anxiety, headaches, and digestive issues that can come with it. Further, specifically with our Shaman Blend Herbal Cigarettes by Bear Blend, they can also provide a very comparable alternative to the oral fixation as well. Overall, a smokable CBD product is great for quick relief for the ailments listed above but it is essential to remember that smoking generally is not good for the health. Our lungs are only meant to inhale oxygen, hence anything other than oxygen can damage the lungs to a degree.