Available in multiple formats, including CBD oils which you take orally, gummies, CBD e-liquids for vaping and even CBD creams to rub into the skin, CBD enters the bodies system in different ways and therefore can stay in the system for varied durations of time, from a couple of hours to a few days.
Several key factors impact the impact CBD has on the body and mind, which we will explain in this guide below, so you’ll know roughly how long CBD stays in the system.
What Impacts the Time CBD Remains in Your System
We all have different bodies which work in weird and wonderful ways. And when taking CBD, whether first thing in the morning or before bed, the impact it can have ranges depending on the individual and the method used.
Because CBD is now readily available online and in stores everywhere you go in the UK, it's natural to believe it’s safe to use and can only impact the body in a positive way.
But factors like CBD strength and frequency taken; or personal weight, height, diet, general health and whether you have a full or empty stomach can define whether it’s a beneficial product to take.
When you take CBD and how you take CBD as well as the type of person you are all contribute to the experience. Let’s look at the different ways CBD is applied to our daily routines with the various methods:
Top Methods of CBD
CBD Oil
The impact of CBD oil is longer-lasting but pretty quick to work within your system. Orally taken by placing under the tongue or absorbed into the cheeks of your mouth, CBD Oils work between 20-30 minutes after ingestion. However, because it is a slower releasing product, it can sometimes take more than four hours up to eight hours to fully absorb into the system.
What also matters is how much CBD you take. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) that currently regulates Cannabidiol products in the UK and classes CBD as a food supplement states that you should take no more than 10mg of CBD per day.
And the strengths of CBD Oil can vary wildly from 300mg up to 5000mg in some bottles, so it’s always advised to start low, see how you get on and work your way over time to the required strength that feels relaxing and not too overbearing to the bodies system.
CBD Vape E-Liquids
Vaping CBD is a more recent rapidly rising way to take CBD (obviously aimed at those who vape nicotine products also). Because it diffuses into the lungs and enters the bloodstream directly, it can be one of the fastest ways to absorb CBD into the system. Early reports suggest it can be as fast as 15 minutes for the body to react to CBD vape juice when used with CBD vape kits.
CBD Gummies
CBD gummies are a more user-friendly way to try CBD products and are available in a variety of flavours. The strengths can vary with CBD gummies and absorb directly into the bloodstream, so they act faster than CBD Oils. It can take a couple of hours however to feel the effects. Therefore, some people who try CBD gummies prefer to take them before bed.
CBD Creams
This is a less effective method with mixed results depending on the individual. It’s grown in popularity in recent times but early studies are still evaluating whether it can indeed impact the body in a positive way.
It’s recognised by additional medical research that there is still much long-term research to be done but early signs are promising that it could have a positive effect to help skin conditions.
Why Do People Care How Long CBD Takes to Stay in the System?
CBD is still in its infancy in terms of research, but it is a fast-growing market. The reported benefits of CBD can help to tackle body and mind issues including insomnia, pain relief or even anxiety.
Factors such as the brand you pick, ingredients included or excluded, and extraction method all matter. If you have a CBD that works faster and it does help with sleep patterns, stress relief or pain management, it can be life changing.
If a product is high quality made with the best ingredients, it can work faster and make a difference. It’s a more natural method with less side effects than prescription medicines, as it’s extracted from a cannabis plant, without the psychoactive effects of THC.
How Does the Strength Impact the Duration in Your System
As we stated earlier, there are several factors which can impact how long CBD stays in your system and how quickly it can work. CBD varies in strength when purchased as a product, with strengths as low as 10mg up to 1000s of milligrams per bottle, gummie or cbd vape juice.
The method used, and the strength of your chosen product paired with your personal body type and time it is taking will create mixed results.
All you can do is try different types at different times, experimentally testing at a lower strength to begin with and finding something that can have a positive effect on your mindset, body and daily routine.
Final Thoughts
As a disclaimer and conclusion to what we hope is a helpful starter guide to ‘how long CBD stays in your system’, we can only advise to look at the products you’re thinking of purchasing, to understand what ingredients they use or take out of the CBD extraction process, the different flavours available and the strength of the product.
Then from that you can recognise whether it has a chance to stay in your system and help with your day-to-day process as a food supplement, which it is categorised under.
Even medical studies which are still in the early days show that it’s very difficult to give a definitive answer whether it will work fast or slow for your body and mind. All you can do is use the trial-and-error method, starting with a low strength and giving it time to see how it works for your body. At Vsavi, we are here to help where we can or point you in the right direction if you have any questions.