How Long Do CBD Gummies Last? 7 Factors to Consider

Ever felt like a CBD gummy lasts ages one day, and wears off in no time at all the next? You might not have imagined it. In fact, there are several factors that can affect how long CBD gummies last.

Key Takeaways

• CBD gummies generally take about 45 minutes to kick in and several hours to wear off.
• However, the exact time it takes CBD products to kick in and wear off depends on seven factors, including your body, the type and dosage of CBD, and whether your CBD gummies have expired. 
• Different methods of taking CBD can also influence how quickly you feel the effects and how long they last.
• If you take CBD gummies frequently, your body will generally take longer to eliminate them than if you haven't had CBD in a while.
• Full-spectrum CBD gummies that contain other cannabinoids can cause a longer lasting effect than more pure CBD products.
• However, consuming CBD gummies that contain trace amounts of THC can sometimes cause a positive drug test. 

See Related: What Are the Best Ways to Handle Stress?

How Our Bodies Process CBD

To understand when CBD gummies kick in and how long they last, you need to know how your body processes CBD itself. 

First, CBD is absorbed by the body. How that occurs depends on how you take your CBD product. We'll discuss that more later.

Once CBD is inside your blood, it's distributed throughout your body. It affects you by interacting with the endocannabinoid system. 

But that's not what metabolizes CBD. That's mostly done by the liver.

So, how long does it take for the liver to fully metabolize CBD? Anywhere from a few hours to a month.

Hold on. CBD gummies can last for a month? Well, not quite.

Half-Life of CBD

The half-life of a substance refers to the time it takes for your body to eliminate half of that substance. 

CBD's half-life can vary. It might be as low as an hour. But in some cases, it can be as long as five days.

Usually, your body fully eliminates CBD after about four or five half-lives.

But that's not very precise, is it?

Factors Affecting CBD's Half-Life

Various factors affect CBD's half-life. 

Most important is the method you use to take your CBD. While CBD oil drops can have a half-life of a few hours, while vaping CBD can have a half-life of up to 31 hours.

The dosage and how often you take CBD products can also affect the half-life. These factors also affect how quickly it takes CBD to kick in, and how long it takes for CBD to wear off.

Actually, there's seven factors that affect how long CBD gummies last. These factors can also influence how long it takes CBD edibles to kick in.

When CBD Kicks In

As you might know, there are all kinds of ways to take CBD. 

Methods of Taking CBD

Some popular methods of taking CBD include the following:

• CBD edibles, including CBD gummies
• CBD oil
• Capsules
• Tinctures
• Patches
• Vapes
• Lotions, creams, and balms
• Drinks

That's not a conclusive list. As CBD continues to explode in popularity, new ways of taking it keep popping up.

In general, you can organize all these CBD products into three categories. Each category represents a distinct method of taking CBD.

1. Oral: This includes all CBD edibles. It involves ingesting CBD. Basically, any time you consume CBD products, you are taking it orally.
2. Topical: This is when you apply a CBD product to your skin. It includes lotions, creams, balms, ointments, and patches.
3. Inhalation: This is when you smoke CBD, such as with a vape.

There's one additional method, which is actually one of the most common. It's called sublingual application. 

Sublingual literally means "under the tongue." Technically, it also refers to small saliva glands located beneath your tongue.

To take CBD sublingually, you usually use an oil or a tincture. You lift your tongue and squeeze the CBD oil under your tongue.

Bonus: Does CBD Oil Expire?

Faster Methods of Taking CBD

This can be counterintuitive. By "fast," we don't mean how long it takes you to perform the act of taking your CBD product. It actually refers to the total time for the CBD to become active in your body.

Here's an example. Taking a single CBD gummy doesn't take much time. You grab your CBD gummies, pop one in your mouth, and that's about it. Well, you have to chew and swallow, but you get the idea.

Remember, when you consume CBD, it has to enter your bloodstream before you start feeling the effects. Not all CBD consumption is equal in terms of access to the bloodstream. And not all methods of taking CBD lead to quick CBD absorption.

When you apply CBD sublingually, the CBD oil is absorbed by the skin under your tongue and quickly enters the bloodstream.

The same is true with smoking. The CBD smoke enters your lungs, where it's absorbed into the blood.

When you take a CBD edible, however, it has to pass down the throat, through the stomach, and into the digestive system. Only then, when it reaches the digestive tract, does CBD start to be absorbed into the blood. 

And what if there's already stuff in your digestive system?

Taking CBD On a Full vs. Empty Stomach

You can likely guess the effect of a full stomach on CBD consumption. Don't worry, this one isn't a trick question.

Generally, taking CBD gummies on a full stomach means they'll take longer to kick in. On the other hand, an empty stomach can cause you to feel CBD's effects sooner. 

Interestingly, taking CBD gummies with a full stomach can also cause the CBD to reach a higher peak concentration within your blood than taking them on an empty stomach. 

In turn, if CBD is absorbed quicker, it should disappear from your body sooner. So if you're wondering how long your CBD gummies are going to last, think back to when you ate them. 

Had you just eaten? Or did you eat your CBD gummies with an empty stomach?

That brings us to the first factor affecting how much time it takes for CBD gummies to wear off.

#1. Your Body

Everyone's different. And every time you take CBD edibles, your body might be slightly different.

How much you've eaten is just the beginning. 

Your size, for example, can affect how long CBD gummies stay active in your system. 

So can your body weight. Or, specifically, your body fat percentage.

That's because CBD is stored in fat cells. If your body contains more fat tissue, more CBD can accumulate. That stored CBD can then be released over time.

On the other hand, people with a lower body fat percentage will generally experience shorter lasting effects. 

How much water is in your body can also play a role.

#2. Metabolism 

If you have a faster metabolism, chances are you'll feel the effects of CBD sooner. But your body will also likely eliminate CBD faster than people with a slower metabolism.

This also links to the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Of course, having a healthy metabolism is important in its own right. But it can also influence how long it takes CBD gummies to wear off.

#3. Dosage

This one might seem obvious. And it is. A higher dose of CBD will last longer. 

Remember, the dosage of CBD is relative. What counts as a "high" dose for one person might be a low dose for someone else.

That's why we've published a guide to how much CBD you should generally take, and why our products have specific dosage instructions.

#4. Frequency of Use

Over time, CBD collects in your body. 

For example, if you start taking CBD gummies every day, the total concentration of CBD in your body will gradually increase. By the end of the week, your body will have more CBD than it did at the start, even if you don't take any more CBD gummies over the weekend. 

What does this mean? Well, if you don't have any CBD in your body, and you take a CBD gummy, it will clear from your body quicker than if you've spent the last month taking CBD gummies regularly.

#5. Type of CBD

When figuring out how long it takes CBD gummies to kick in and how long they'll last, you need to know exactly what type of CBD you're taking.

In other words, do your CBD gummies contain pure CBD or a mix of CBD and other compounds? Are they full-spectrum CBD products or edibles with only CBD isolate?

It's common for CBD gummies to also contain trace amounts of other cannabinoids, including THC. The mix of compounds can cause something called the entourage effect. The entourage effect often leads to you feeling the effects of your CBD gummies for longer.

The drawback is the presence of THC. We'll discuss that more below.

#6. What Else You're Taking

This might also seem obvious, but CBD is still a drug. Therefore, it can react with other drugs, including prescription medications.

CBD's potential interactions with other compounds in your body can affect how long you feel its effects. Perhaps more importantly, it can also cause or exacerbate unintended side effects.

If you're not careful, you could end up not getting the desired benefits of your CBD or other medications.

Make sure to research whether any medications you're taking can interact with CBD. If you're not sure, consult your doctor. 

#7. Whether Your CBD Gummies Are Still Good

CBD oil degrades over time. We discuss that in more detail here.

In short, CBD gummies can last over a year if stored properly. Expired CBD gummies will generally have a weaker effect, if any at all. 

So it's best to take your CBD gummies while they're still fresh! Or at least while they're still good. 

That's also why it's generally not recommended to stock up on CBD gummies. Instead, try buying only the amount you actually need and refilling your supply when needed.

We offer subscriptions for that exact reason. You can select your desired product, choose how often you want to receive it, and we take care of the rest. Plus, you get a hefty discount and some extra goodies. 

Will CBD Appear on a Drug Test?

Typically not. That's because drug tests generally aren't looking for CBD.

However, there's a big caveat. Many CBD products also contain THC. That's because both CBD and THC are derived from the hemp plant. 

CBD gummies generally don't contain enough THC for you to feel any effect, but even trace amounts can cause you to have a positive drug test. 

What can you do about this? First, look for high-quality CBD. High-quality CBD gummies generally won't have any THC in them. 

One of the ways you can check for this is by looking at the type of CBD used. There are three types:

1. Full-Spectrum CBD: This type of CBD contains other compounds from the hemp plant. That includes THC.
2. Broad-Spectrum CBD: This type of CBD contains other compounds from the hemp plant, but without THC. Manufacturers specifically remove the THC.
3. CBD Isolate: This contains CBD and nothing else.

Conclusion

So... how long do CBD gummies last? As you can see, the answer isn't so simple. 

But by following the advice above, you should be able to get an idea of how long your CBD gummies will take to kick in and wear off. 

Keep Reading: Is 6 Hours of Sleep Enough? Here's What Science Says

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Clean Remedies is a woman-owned, independent family business that uses clean and natural hemp extract to create products that are free from harmful chemicals, cruelty-free, and made in the USA, meant to benefit your well-being and meet our own high standards of efficacy. For CBD facts, product discounts, and more, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.