Are CBD Gummies Safe to Take Every Day?

CBD gummies are growing in popularity, and for good reason – they offer a convenient and tasty way to take advantage of CBD’s benefits. But if you’re new to CBD gummies, or CBD in general, you might have questions about the benefits and safety of CBD gummies and whether it’s safe to take CBD gummies daily. Luckily, we have answers.

Understanding What’s in CBD Gummies

Key Ingredients

Let’s start with what’s in CBD gummies. The active ingredient in CBD gummies is CBD, or cannabidiol. This non-intoxicating, naturally-occurring compound can be extracted from hemp and marijuana plants (which are both members of the cannabis plant family). CBD interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system, or ECS, the network of receptors and messengers that regulate many bodily processes. CBD works by mimicking those messengers and influencing the receptors of the endocannabinoid system, helping regulate your body into homeostasis, or balance.

The CBD used in gummies can be made from full spectrum hemp extract, broad spectrum hemp extract, or CBD isolate. Full spectrum hemp extract is a full-plant extract containing naturally occurring CBD, as well as other minor cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and less than 0.3% THC. Full spectrum CBD extract allows you to fully experience the Entourage Effect, the synergistic way that the different plant components in hemp have a greater effect when working together than they do individually. Broad spectrum hemp extract undergoes some processing that maintains the hemp plant’s CBD, minor cannabinoids and terpenes, but removes THC (though trace amounts less than 0.01% may remain). CBD Isolate undergoes additional processing to remove all other molecules, resulting in pure CBD that is THC-free.

Serving Size Ranges

The recommended serving of CBD is 30 to 60mg per day, though individual results vary. To find your perfect CBD serving size, we recommend starting low and going slow – starting with a small amount and gradually increasing as needed until you achieve your desired effects.

Don’t forget to check the cannabinoid information listed on your product packaging! While many of our gummies have 30mg of CBD in each gummy, some have less or more. If your gummy has more CBD than you want to take, you can cut it in half for a smaller serving.

Source & Quality Considerations

There’s a lot more in CBD gummies than just CBD, and these ingredients are worth paying attention to as well. Some gummies contain high fructose corn syrup, artificial food dyes or artificial food flavorings. And while some companies perform quality testing to ensure their gummies meet quality standards and have consistent amounts of CBD, many perform quality testing sporadically or not at all. A 2021 report that reviewed available lab analysis data for 2,946 products from 136 brands found that 35% of the brands reviewed published test results for 10% or less of their product offerings, and 25% of the brands did not do any purity testing! Only 13% of the brands reviewed carried out quality testing for at least 90% of their products.¹

When you choose CBD gummies from CBDistillery, you can feel confident about what you’re getting. All CBDistillery products are made from non-GMO, US-grown industrial hemp. Our gummies are vegan and contain all natural flavors and colors, organic tapioca syrup and organic cane sugar instead of corn syrup, and no artificial preservatives. Plus, EVERY batch of our gummies is third-party lab-tested to ensure the highest quality and consistent serving sizes, with lab results for each batch easily accessible online.

Health and Safety Overview

That’s what goes into CBD gummies. But how safe are CBD gummies, especially if you take them every day?

General Safety of Daily CBD Use

In 2018, the World Health Organization published an extensive report on CBD. Among other findings, the report stated, “CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.”² The same WHO report also found that CBD did not appear to be addictive. These findings were backed up by a 2017 review of existing literature and clinical studies,³ which confirmed the established safety profile of CBD while advocating for additional clinical research, and by a 2022 systemic literature review of 51 studies which found that CBD is “well tolerated and associated with few serious adverse effects.”⁴

The production and sale of CBD products was made legal at the federal level with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill (though some states have additional regulations or restrictions in place). However, for the most part, the FDA does not regulate CBD products as medicines or supplements. (The one exception is Epidiolex, a CBD-based prescription medicine used to treat some types of epilepsy.) That means that the FDA does not set or enforce any ingredient or testing requirements – another reason to make sure you purchase CBD gummies from a company, like CBDistillery, that conducts independent lab testing on every batch of products!

Potential Side Effects

While CBD has been found to be generally safe and well-tolerated, some people do report side effects. In several studies on the topic, the most commonly-reported side effects of CBD were found to be sedation, drowsiness, diarrhea, and changes in appetite.^5,6 This is one of the reasons we suggest starting low and going slow; finding the lowest efficacious serving size reduces your chances of experiencing side effects. Luckily, most people who take CBD report no side effects at all – in a December 2019 customer survey of almost 2,000 respondents, 93% of CBD users reported they had never experienced a negative side effect!

Drug Interactions

However, it is possible for CBD to interact with or affect other medications. Research on the subject is limited, and much of the research that exists has looked at cannabis in general, without differentiating between the role played by THC or other cannabinoids and that played by CBD. But we do know that the CYP3A4 enzyme, a liver enzyme which helps metabolize CBD, is inhibited or induced by certain prescription drugs. When taken together, this can change the way your body metabolizes CBD and how you feel the effects.⁶ Some of the drugs that can interact with CBD in this way include certain antibiotics and seizure medications. CBD can also inhibit the CYP2D6 and CYP2C9 enzymes, which can affect the way some medications – including omeprazole (Prilosec), warfarin (Coumadin) and the NSAID diclofenac (Voltaren) – are metabolized in your body.⁶ If you are considering starting CBD, it’s important to discuss it with a healthcare provider who knows your specific medical situation, and any prescriptions or supplements you might be taking, to make sure any concerns or potential interactions can be identified and addressed.

Benefits of Daily CBD Gummy Use

Long-Term Support Potential

Because of the way CBD works with your body’s ECS to help your body find balance, CBD has numerous wellness benefits. In a December 2019 CBDistillery customer survey, the most commonly-reported benefits felt by daily users within 7-14 days included better sleep, more relaxation, less discomfort, less stiffness, and less inflammation from physical activity. Eighty-four percent of CBD users reported that CBD helped with pain after physical activity, while 88% reported that CBD helped with mild or temporary anxiety and 89% reported that CBD helped them get better sleep.

Don’t forget that many of these benefits came after multiple weeks of consistent use! In the same study, daily users reported finding CBD more effective and feeling benefits sooner than people who used CBD only as needed.

Considerations Before Taking CBD Daily

Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

Currently, there is no comprehensive research into the effects on people of taking CBD while pregnant or breastfeeding.⁷ There is an animal study which showed that high doses of CBD during pregnancy were associated with problems in the reproductive system of developing male mice fetuses,⁸ and researchers suspect that when breastfeeding mothers consume CBD, some of that CBD could be transferred to their babies through breast milk. For those reasons, it is generally advised not to consume CBD while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Workplace Drug Testing

We already touched on the differences between full-spectrum hemp, broad spectrum hemp and CBD isolate, but it’s worth repeating here. Since full spectrum hemp can contain up to 0.3% THC, some products made with it can have noticeable amounts of THC, like our popular Very Cherry gummies with 5mg of hemp-derived THC. Other full spectrum products, like our popular CBD Relief & Relaxation gummies, do not contain enough THC for consumers to feel the effects but may still have trace amounts. We also have products made with broad spectrum hemp, which undergoes processing to remove THC (though trace amounts may remain), and products made with CBD Isolate, which undergoes additional processing to remove all other molecules, resulting in pure, THC-free CBD.

While THC derived from industrial hemp (like the kind used in CBDistillery’s CBD gummies) has a different legal status than THC derived from marijuana, drug tests commonly used by employers are not able to differentiate between the two. Because CBD is extracted from a plant that also has naturally-occurring THC, we cannot make any recommendations or guarantees regarding drug tests.

Best Practices for Safe Daily Use

Start Low, Go Slow

We’ll say it again: start low and go slow! When it comes to finding your ideal daily serving size, start with a low amount (we suggest 10mg of CBD) and increase gradually until you reach your desired effects. Doing so helps you lower your chances of experiencing side effects as well as generally being helpful in finding the right formulation and serving size for you.

Track Effects

While you’re finding the right serving size, consider keeping notes on your phone or in a written journal. Make a note of what product and what serving size you took, and how you felt after. Doing so can make it easier to find your ideal serving size, or to explore different formulations and different cannabinoids, like CBN gummies for sleep or CBG gummies for focus and concentration.

When to Re-Evaluate Daily Use

When It’s Time to Take a Break or Adjust

While most people report getting the best benefits from CBD with daily use, there are times you may want to take a break or adjust how much you’re taking. If you receive a new diagnosis or start a new medication, you may want to stop taking CBD until you have time to discuss your situation with your doctor. If you become pregnant, you will want to stop taking CBD until after your baby is born or after you finish breastfeeding. But there are other times you may want to adjust, too. As you get older and your wellness goals change, you may seek out different formulations or strengths to get the most out of your CBD.

If you have questions about the best products for you, we’re here to help! Check out our FAQs, or contact ustoday.

Sources

1 - Herrington, A. (2021, June 30). New Report Finds 25% of CBD Products Are Not Tested for Purity. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ajherrington/2021/06/30/new-report-finds-25-of-cbd-products-are-not-tested-for-purity/

2 - World Health Organization. (2018, June 4). Cannabidiol (CBD) Critical Review Report. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/controlled-substances/whocbdreportmay2018-2.pdf?sfvrsn=f78db177_2

3 - Iffland K, Grotenhermen F. An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol: A Review of Clinical Data and Relevant Animal Studies. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2017 Jun 1;2(1):139-154. doi: 10.1089/can.2016.0034. PMID: 28861514; PMCID: PMC5569602.

4 - Madeo G, Kapoor A, Giorgetti R, Busardò FP, Carlier J. Update on Cannabidiol Clinical Toxicity and Adverse Effects: A Systematic Review. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2023;21(11):2323-2342. doi: 10.2174/1570159X21666230322143401. PMID: 36946485; PMCID: PMC10556379.

5 - Madeo G, Kapoor A, Giorgetti R, Busardò FP, Carlier J. Update on Cannabidiol Clinical Toxicity and Adverse Effects: A Systematic Review. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2023;21(11):2323-2342. doi: 10.2174/1570159X21666230322143401. PMID: 36946485; PMCID: PMC10556379.

6 - Iffland K, Grotenhermen F. An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol: A Review of Clinical Data and Relevant Animal Studies. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2017 Jun 1;2(1):139-154. doi: 10.1089/can.2016.0034. PMID: 28861514; PMCID: PMC5569602.

7 – US Food & Drug Administration. (2019, October 16). What You Should Know About Using Cannabis, Including CBD, When Pregnant or Breastfeeding. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-should-know-about-using-cannabis-including-cbd-when-pregnant-or-breastfeeding

8 - Dalterio SL, deRooij DG. Maternal cannabinoid exposure. Effects on spermatogenesis in male offspring. Int J Androl. 1986 Aug;9(4):250-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.1986.tb00888.x. PMID: 3026968.