How Long Does CBD Last?

Call us crazy. But we get this question a lot.

And over time, we've come to realize something pretty interesting. "How long does CBD last" is like the adult equivalent of the kid question, "Are we there yet?"

You remember sitting in the back of the car, waiting for your family to get to the vacation destination of your dreams. The anticipation was overwhelming.

And it took every fiber of your being not to shout out that question every five minutes! But being an adult is different.

Or is it really just the same? We seem to always be worried about time and how long things will take.

Like CBD. So rather than answering with the quip, "Soon!" like every understandably aggravated parent, we'll do you a solid and give you the whole answer.

Because you're an adult. You can handle it. Right?

Different factors that affect how long CBD effects last

Ah, don't you love it when a question doesn't have a straightforward answer? Well, you're the one who asked!

(Keep in mind that these also apply to CBD oil for pets too!)

#1. How much CBD oil you take

You know how the more you eat, the fuller you feel for longer? Well, CBD oil is exactly the same.

The more CBD oil or other CBD product you take, the longer the effects of CBD last. This is typically why it's suggested that if you're new to the cannabis plant, you start small.

Then, gradually increase how much CBD you're consuming. But for seasoned pros, well, you know your digestive system better than we do!

#2. What kind of CBD oil you're taking

CBD oil products vary, surprise surprise. And you'll generally see these three different types of CBD oil in the products you peruse.

Full spectrum CBD

CBD products with full spectrum CBD oil will contain more than just CBD. There are other cannabinoids found in cannabis plants.

And full spectrum CBD oil retains those other properties, including less than 0.3% of THC. Some say that these additional compounds may lead to the entourage effect.

Broad spectrum CBD

You can think of broad spectrum CBD oil as just a step down. It still retains the additional cannabinoids found in the hemp plant. But it contains no THC.

CBD isolate

CBD isolate is, you guessed it, just CBD. No additional compounds or cannabinoids in your CBD concentration.

#3. How frequently you're taking CBD oils

Let's say you take CBD oil every day. Well, the way CBD affects your body will differ drastically from someone who has taken CBD oil only once in their life.

Over time, consistent CBD users can start to build a tolerance to the effects of CBD. But this also means that they may have higher concentrations of CBD already in their body's fat cells.

All of this is to say that the more you use CBD oil, the longer it stays in your system. And for those whose CBD oil tinctures hardly see the light of day, CBD will tend to clear out of their system faster.

#4. Your unique body functions

Everybody is different. And that means that everybody's body is different too.

As CBD works to access the body's endocannabinoid system, it gets stored in your fatty tissue. So your weight actually plays a great deal in determining how long does CBD last in your system.

So if you have a higher body fat percentage, you may experience CBD effects for longer than those with a lower body fat percentage. And that's simply because it will take your body more time to process the CBD oil products you're using.

#5. Your lifestyle

Additionally, having an active lifestyle affects how long CBD will stay in your system. And this is all related to your metabolism.

If you are a fairly active person on a day-to-day basis, then your metabolism will likely be higher. And that means CBD will pass through you faster as well.

Now, we're not saying you could chug a bottle of CBD oil and go for a run, expecting its effects to burn off as you go. (In fact, we definitely don't recommend that you do that.)

But your CBD use will be greatly affected by the lifestyle you lead. So it's just another factor to keep an eye on!

#6. Whether you're taking it on an empty stomach

When it comes to CBD absorption, food plays a big role. If you consume CBD products on a full stomach, your body's ability to process CBD will take longer.

You know, cause there's food in the way! But this also means that CBD takes longer to travel through your digestive system which can make the effects of CBD last longer.

#7. Your consumption methods

One CBD product is not like another. And that means that CBD oil will enter your system differently, causing different timings for onset.

So, what are the different ways that you can consume CBD? (Can you even imagine if your parents turned around with an explanation as long as this to your question, "Are we there yet?")

Bonus: How Long Do Edibles Last In Your System?

Types of CBD products

Hemp derived CBD products come in all shapes, forms, sizes, concentrations, and more. So for those of you who were surprised that there were in fact other methods of taking CBD, welcome to our world.

CBD tinctures

CBD tinctures are typically a mix of alcohol and water or other carrier oils. And they come in a glass bottle with a little dropper that makes for easy application.

When you take a CBD tincture under your tongue, the CBD enters your bloodstream quicker. And you can start to feel its effects as soon as 15-30 minutes after application.

Because the CBD enters your bloodstream directly through this method, its effects can also last longer. Some say even between 4-6 hours.

CBD topicals

CBD topicals are products that you apply directly to your skin. So now you know exactly how to use that CBD rub you've had your eye on for a while!

Because you're applying the CBD to a specific area, you'll likely feel the effects of CBD within that localized region. Like tinctures, topicals can start to take effect between 15-20 minutes after application.

And the effects of CBD can last for up to 6 hours. So yeah, topical CBD is still very powerful stuff!

CBD edibles

Edibles, CBD capsules, delta 9 gummies, and other CBD-infused snacks are a different story. They have to travel through your digestive system first.

So their effects can take longer to feel. Sometimes up to an hour or more after consumption.

But their effects still tend to last between 4-6 hours. So it doesn't necessarily offer longer CBD effects than tinctures or topicals.

That being said, remember when we talked about how food can affect the effects CBD produces? Well, some prefer to take CBD edibles before eating on an empty stomach.

This method allows the body to break down the CBD quicker rather than waiting in line for food to get its turn. So this will also affect how quickly you feel the effects of CBD.

CBD oil transdermal patches

These transdermal patches definitely fall under the umbrella term of CBD topicals. But they're a bit different from a CBD rub.

These patches are meant to be worn for long-lasting effects, ranging from 24-96 hours. Because they're meant to last for so long, their effects can take some time to settle in.

CBD flower

Maybe you're old school and more into smoking CBD. Or you're new age and into vaping CBD.

Gosh, kids these days. Either way, both of these consumption methods will allow CBD to enter your bloodstream directly through your lungs.

So the effects of CBD will definitely be felt faster. But this also means that it will leave your body more quickly too.

CBD boosters

Bet you've never heard of CBD boosters before, huh? Well, CBD boosters include a wide range of CBD products from vape juice to vape oils, tablets to chewing gum.

And its effects are actually quite similar to when you vape CBD. They are meant to take effect quickly and leave your body quickly as well.

But even still, effects may last between 2-4 hours. So consider it as little as the first half of Gone With The Wind and as long as the full 4-hour shebang.

FAQs about CBD oil

We think we offered a pretty thorough answer to your original question. But we get it.

You've still got that curious kid inside of you! (Okay, maybe the kid who asks, "Are we there yet?" is more impatient than curious...)

How long does CBD stay in your system?

How long the effects of CBD lasts is one thing. It's an entirely different question as to how long CBD stays in your system.

Typically, you can refer to the various factors we listed above to get an answer. But know that CBD will stay in your system longer than you feel its effects.

Will CBD show up on drug tests?

Nope! CBD won't show up on a drug test.

But if your CBD product contains THC, even trace amounts, it will. If you're at all worried about this, then you might want to consider using broad spectrum CBD or CBD isolate instead of full spectrum CBD.

These will guarantee no THC in your product. And you can rest assured about that upcoming drug test!

How long does CBD last on the shelf?

There's not really a "best before" or "sell by" date listed on CBD products like a carton of milk in the grocery store. But some companies will recommend when the product is at its peak freshness.

Ultimately, its shelf life will depend on how you store it. Well, that and the quality of the ingredients used in the product.

How do I store my CBD products?

How did we guess you'd ask this question next? It's almost like we set it up this way!

Anyway, CBD products are best kept when stored at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. Additional heat can cause the oils or other ingredients to degrade over time.

And that just leaves you with a CBD product you wish you had used before it went all icky. If your product comes in a lid that's firmly tightened around the seal, be sure to keep it that way too.

You don't want to allow for any additional oxygenation. Because, again, that could expedite the degradation process.

Final thoughts

"Okay! We made it!" The parents said as they turned to see the children quietly sleeping in the back of the car. Just don't make us carry you in.

All joking aside though, we hope this helped to answer some of the questions you may have had about CBD oil. We know it can be frustrating not to get a simple answer like, "We're here!"

But we want to arm you with all of the facts first. Because there is no simple answer.

And that's why it's so important for you to be as informed as possible before you embark on your own CBD journey. Trust us, if we had a certificate of completion to give you, we'd send you off with it right away.

But all we can offer is, "Great job, kiddo!" as you've reached the end of this post. We don't know about you but we suddenly feel the urge to go call our parents and apologize for being impatient children in the car growing up.

Don't know where that feeling is coming from... Oh well. Tata for now!

Keep Reading: How Long Does It Take For CBD To Work On Dogs?

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Clean Remedies is a woman-owned, independent family business that uses USDA Certified Organic 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.