CBD gummies are usually infused with hemp extract. But are hemp gummies the same as CBD gummies?
Well, they don’t have to be.
Hemp gummies can refer to various different products, one of them being CBD gummies. But it can also refer to other types of products.
And some ‘hemp gummies’ don’t contain any CBD or other cannabinoids.
For example:
Some hemp gummies only contain hempseed oil.
Hempseed oil doesn’t have any cannabinoids like CBD in meaningful concentrations.
When you want to try cannabinoids like CBD, the last thing you want is buy hempseed gummies.
After reading today’s post you’ll exactly understand what you’re buying when you buy any product with ‘hemp’ or ‘CBD’ inside the name.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
What Are CBD Gummies?
Most CBD gummies are gummy candy infused with hemp extract.
This hemp extract can come in three different types:
- full-spectrum hemp extract,
- broad-spectrum hemp extract, and,
- isolate hemp extract.
Full-spectrum CBD gummies contain a wide variety of cannabinoids like CBD, THC (less than 0.3%), CBC, CBN. They can also contain terpenes from the hemp plant.
Broad-spectrum CBD gummies also contain a variety of cannabinoids, but are always free from THC.
Isolate CBD gummies only contain CBD. No other cannabinoids, and no terpenes.
Like regular gummy candy, CBD gummies come in a variety of flavors.
CBD gummies are also available in different shapes and colors. Some companies provide CBD gummies in the shape of gummy bears. Typically, these gummies are available in cube shapes, and some companies offer multiple flavors in one bottle.
As explained, full-spectrum CBD gummies can contain up to 0.3% THC. And while this seems like a low amount, because CBD gummies are much less concentrated than oil, 0.3% can add up to multiple milligrams.
So to determine whether a particular brand of CBD gummies will make you high or give you a buzz, it’s important to determine how many milligrams THC you’re ingesting.
Example with certificate of analysis:
If the manufacturer didn’t disclose how much THC you ingest per gummy, you have to calculate it yourself.
You can calculate this by determining the CBD-to-THC ratio.
You calculate this by dividing the CBD-percentage with the THC-percentage:
0.76 / 0.03 = 25.
The CBD-to-THC-ratio is 25:1.
So for every 25mg CBD, you ingest 1 mg THC.
The manufacturer always discloses how much CBD you ingest per gummy.
Let’s assume a gummy of this product has 25mg CBD.
This means you ingest 1mg THC per gummy.
If you would take a dose of 100mg CBD, you would need 4 gummies.
4 gummies would equal 4mg THC.
While 4mg THC isn’t enough to experience a full-fledged high, it’s enough for some to experience a buzz. Or even side effects associated with THC, like anxiety or paranoia.
Also keep in mind:
While CBD doesn’t make you high, it can alter how you feel. How? By relieving anxiety and stress. CBD can make you feel more relaxed, but it shouldn’t impair your cognition. If after taking CBD gummies you experience impaired cognition, know that it’s most probably caused by THC.
Benefits of CBD Gummies
CBD gummies may offer various health benefits. Some of them can improve your quality of life.
The benefits of CBD gummies are related to the benefits associated with CBD, and to a lesser extent, the benefits associated with minor cannabinoids like THC, CBC, CBG, and CBN.
May Help Relieve Anxiety and Depression: CBD can help alleviate depression by altering the serotonin levels in your brain (1). The same mechanism is thought to be responsible for CBD ‘s anxiety-reducing effects,.
Just keep in mind that if you have full-spectrum CBD gummies and ingest more than 2 milligrams THC, you risk worsening your anxiety.
Pain Relief: CBD and most other cannabinoids have potent anti-inflammatory effects. Research shows that CBD may relieve inflammatory-related pain conditions. CBD interacts with various receptor systems including the endocannabinoid system, vanilloid receptors, glycerin receptors, and more. For a detailed explanation on the the potential pain-relieving properties of CBD, click here.
Can Help People Quit Nicotine and Other Drugs: Studies show that CBD can interfere with addiction-related neural pathways in the brain (2). This means CBD may help you quit addictive substances like nicotine, and alcohol. CBD itself isn’t physically addictive. But you could get psychologically addicted to the relieving properties of CBD.
CBD has been associated with many more benefits mostly related to symptom relief.
There isn’t much, if any, clinical proof that CBD can cure medical conditions.
Click here if you want to learn more about the benefits of CBD.
What Are Hemp Gummies?
First, it’s important to understand that ‘hemp gummies’ can refer to:
- CBD gummies, or,
- hempseed oil gummies.
The only way to know what type of product you have, is by checking whether the product contains cannabinoids like CBD.
Either it’s clearly stated on the product like:
With these gummies, you can clearly see you get 33mg CBD per gummy.
Or you have a lab analysis report like:
Here you can clearly see you get 12mg CBD per gummy.
Actually, if you don’t have a lab-analysis report, you never exactly know what it is you’re taking.
My recommendations: avoid any ‘hemp’ or ‘CBD’ product if it doesn’t have a lab analysis report.
Hempseed oil gummies don’t contain any cannabinoids.
A lab-analysis report of hempseed oil never shows any cannabinoids like CBD.
So if you don’t clearly see that your product contains CBD, preferably in a lab-analysis report, it’s safe to assume that you DON’T have a CBD product. But a hempseed oil product.
The label ‘hemp gummies’ is used as a synonym for CBD gummies. But more often, the label ‘hemp gummies’ is used for a product that contains hempseed oil.
CBD gummies or ‘hemp gummies’ that refer to gummy candy infused with hemp extract, are infused with an extract that comes from hemp plants. ‘Hemp gummies’ that refer to gummy candy infused with hempseed oil, are produced with an extract that comes from hemp seeds.
Hemp plants and hemp seeds have a totally different chemical profile.
Hempseed oil products like hemp(seed oil) gummies usually don’t come with a certificate of analysis.
But you can usually clearly see on the packaging what compounds they advertise with.
For example these gummies found on Amazon advertise with omega fatty acids and vitamins:
The selling point isn’t CBD or any other cannabinoids.
Also, when you check a certificate of analysis from a hempseed oil product, it will show fatty acid profile, but won’t show any cannabinoids:
The main difference is that cannabinoids like CBD can only be found in hemp plants. Not in hemp seeds.
So, what are the benefits of hemp(seed oil) gummies, if they don’t have THC or CBD?
Hempseed oil contains many essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Most benefits associated with hempseed oil are related to the benefits of essential fatty acids like linolenic acid and alpha-linolenic acid.
Studies show that linolenic acid and alpha-linolenic acid may have benefits for skin and cardiovascular health (3, 4).
But these essential fatty acids can be found in fish oil or olive oil as well, for example.
Cannabinoids are unique, have unique benefits, and can only be found in hemp plants.
So if you want to experience the benefits of CBD, it’s essential you get CBD gummies.
Hempseed oil gummies don’t contain any CBD.
