How Long Does it Take for CBD Oil to Work?

The research of CBD, although limited, gives some evidence about the effects of CBD and its potential benefits. The frequently asked question about the usage of CBD products is “How long does it take for CBD oil to work?”

Well, it’s understandable that this might concern you. Many people want to feel the quick effect and know how long it will last, because of various reasons.

I must say that there is no simple answer to that question. The thing is that CBD can kick in somewhat between 5 minutes and 6 hours.

How long will take for CBD to work mainly depends on a few factors:

• Method of use
• Quality and potency of the product
• Your body

Let us first consider some starting points about CBD Oil.

Hemp and CBD

CBD comes from hemp, which is in the Cannabis plant family. What makes hemp different from her sister – marijuana is the fact that hemp is not intoxicating.

Hemp contains less than 0.3% of THC, which is not enough for a psychedelic effect. In other words, hemp will not make you high. Besides in the food and textile industry, hemp is used for the extraction of CBD.

What is CBD?

CBD or Cannabidiol is one of the many cannabinoids in the Cannabis plant. The researchers discovered the potential beneficial effects of CBD oil on the human body, which led to a rapidly growing market.

CBD is legal in many countries around the world, as well as hemp. Hemp has a very low THC level and no intoxicating effect. CBD products usually contain some percent of THC. THC is illegal in most countries, but a certain amount of it in the CBD product is tolerated, usually up to 0.3% per product.

How does CBD interact with the body?

We have an endocannabinoid system in our body, which is responsible for balancing various processes in our body through the nerve system, including sleep and relaxation.

CBD interacts with this system, causing some of the effects that might be beneficial for us, such as:

• pain relief
• better sleep
• reduced anxiety
• muscles and nerves relaxation

This potential benefit is the reason what most of the users expect from CBD and its popularity as a treatment for different conditions is growing.

The market is expanding every day, and you will find plenty of different brands out there.

How can I use CBD?

CBD markets offer various forms of products. You can smoke the hemp flower bud, consume oil or various edibles, or even use it in a form of cream.

If you are wondering which CBD product is the best for you, consider some factors that might help you choose.

How long does it take for CBD oil to work?

As mentioned before, how long does CBD oil take to work depends on how you take it. In other words, your body will absorb CBD from different types of products at a different pace.

Here is what you can expect from different CBD products, regarding how long it takes to work.

CBD oil tincture

One of the most popular methods of using CBD is oil tincture consumption. It can be used sublingually or consumed with food or drink.

If taken sublingually it will start working faster than if it’s ingested. CBD will be absorbed into the bloodstream directly in the mouth, and you will feel the effect of CBD in about 20-30 minutes.

Because CBD oil effects are usually coming quickly if taken sublingually, it is one of the most popular methods. Fast absorption could be important when the person needs a fast relief of symptoms. That’s why it’s a popular choice for treating conditions like anxiety and pain.

The downside could be the taste since CBD oil can have a strong and not so pleasant aroma. However, the producers solved that problem by adding different flavors into the oil.

Smoking and vaping

CBD can be smoked while it’s still in the flower bud, but also vaped in a liquid form. If you want that CBD works in the fastest way possible then the choice could be smoking or vaping.

It could be good for the people who need an instant solution. With smoking or vaping you will feel the effect after no longer than a few minutes, which can be good for panic attacks or sudden pain.

If inhaled, CBD will be absorbed through the lungs directly into the bloodstream, which is the fastest way.

On the other hand, smoking or vaping CBD is effective for a shorter time. The effect will wear off in 2-3 hours.

Also, it’s not very suitable for use in public places, since it can attract unwanted attention due to its similarity to marijuana.

Edibles

When it comes to various edibles and creams, it takes much longer for CBD to start working, compared to other methods.

CBD oil can be added to different foods.

You will find CBD gummies, chocolate, cookies, capsules, and many other products. Although it’s tasty and convenient, CBD in edibles starts to work slower.

The speed of absorption varies on different factors such as ingredients that are in the product, how fast we digest it, and what is the concentration of CBD in the product. Depending on your metabolism and how recently you ate, it will take from one to a few hours for CBD to start working.

The effect will last 6-8 hours, which is longer than with smoking or vaping. But, if you need immediate relief for acute conditions, edibles might not be the best choice for you.

Topicals

CBD topicals can come in various forms, such as creams, lotions, and massage oils. This method is usually good for muscle and joint pain because we apply it directly to the area.

However, it could take a few hours for CBD to start working and to be absorbed by the skin. Reports say it can take up to 5 hours for effect to kick in.

The effect can last 5-8 hours and it can be a convenient solution for muscle relaxation after sport or chronic pain and arthritis.

Other factors that influence: How long does it take for CBD oil to work?

Besides the type of product and method of use, CBD can come in different concentrations. Even the same type of product can have totally different CBD levels.

With a higher level of CBD, you will feel the effect more quickly, and vice versa.

However, you cannot be sure about the percentage of CBD in your product every time. Many products on the market are mislabeled, and CBD levels could be higher or lower than it’s claimed on the package. That’s why it’s important to choose a reliable brand and product which is reviewed by many people.

Another important factor is the body. Not everybody will absorb CBD or any other substance in the same way.

How long does CBD take to work depends on how much you eat, your diet generally, and the speed of digestion. For a quicker effect you should consume CBD on an empty stomach, so you can absorb it more efficiently.

Also, your body mass is the factor too. A bigger body will absorb CBD slower than a smaller one.

And finally, the frequency of use is a factor too. After a while, we can get used to it and gain a certain tolerance to CBD. Therefore, we would need a bigger amount of CBD to reach the effect.

Conclusion

The answer to the question “How long does CBD take to work?” depends on the types of products, how we use them, their compounds and our body.

Different methods will be suitable for different goals, so we should choose according to our needs. For the fastest effect, we would need to inhale it or take it sublingually. It can be a good method for treating conditions that require immediate solutions. But if we want it to last longer, we can choose to eat it or use it topically.

The quality and ingredients of the product will influence how long it takes for CBD to work. With a higher level of CBD, we will feel the effect more quickly.

Finally, our body is one of the main factors which determines the absorption speed. Our body structure, metabolism, weight, and diet will strongly influence how long does CBD take to work.