Every product you see in our articles goes through an intense vetting process. We choose them based on their indicators of safety, quality, transparency, and adherence to industry standards.
Our vetting process for this article swayed toward CBD products that met the following criteria:
- transparency surrounding how the CBD gummies are made, including ingredients, composition, and overall quality
- applicable third-party certifications to ensure products are screened for toxins
- good business and company reputation and business practices
- lab test results (COAs) that confirm the CBD type and purity should be readily available
- no over-the-top marketing, health, or therapeutic claims
CBD and THC gummies should not be anyone’s first-choice treatment for any health condition. Speak with a healthcare professional before trying CBD products to ensure there are no adverse reactions to any medications or any health conditions.
Whenever you’re taking CBD or THC, keep these factors in mind.
How they work
There are three different types of CBD: isolates, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum. Full spectrum CBD products contain THC which can trigger an entourage effect in some people.
However, it’s important to note that CBD and THC can work one way in one person, but works a different way in the next person.
The effects THC has can vary greatly from one person to another, even if it’s a smaller dose. Lower doses generally may help you relax while higher doses may make you feel anxious or paranoid.
Safety and side effects
CBD will not get you “high”, unlike it’s cousin THC. Experts generally recognize CBD as safe, though there are some side effects that may occur, like fatigue, diarrhea, appetite changes, and weight changes.
There is some research that suggests CBD may interact with the liver, potentially interfering with the metabolism of other medications. If you take any medications or supplements, talk with a healthcare professional before taking any CBD or THC products.
Research notes that THC can induce symptoms of psychosis in people who do not already have the condition, and THC at high doses can increase anxiety. Other research also cautions against THC use if you have cardiovascular or respiratory conditions.
Stricter legislation is coming in, and it may affect access to CBD and THC products. The federal government is changing how they define “hemp” at the federal level. The new definition seeks to ban hemp-derived THC, the cannabis compound that causes a “high.”
The current law states that hemp is any part of the cannabis sativa plant that contains up to 0.3% of THC by dry weight. The change will restrict any hemp-derived products to a total of 0.4 milligrams (mg) of THC per container. This is much stricter than the current law and will impact access to products with a higher THC content.
The new law also bans synthetic cannabinoids, affecting CBD manufacturing. Cannabinoids, like CBD or THC, occur naturally in the hemp plant. However, chemical synthesis is often necessary to make CBD available on a commercial level, and this is where we may see further restrictions.
States with established recreational and medical cannabis regulations may be less affected by the ban. Meanwhile, those without existing regulations, such as Texas and Kentucky, may see a bigger impact.
Full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products are most likely to be affected as they contain trace amounts of THC.
The ban is currently due to take effect by mid-December. It’s unclear exactly how these changes will affect the industry, but until then, people can still purchase CBD THC gummies and other CBD products, like oils and topicals.