CBD-infused gummies are a great way to enjoy the benefits of cannabidiol or CBD. Gummies can be taken on the go and are easy to take with you anywhere, even in a purse or bag.
This post will give you a list of companies that sell CBD infused gummies online and discuss what it is these types of gummies do for your body and how they can benefit you. Let’s dive right in!
How it works: Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in cannabis plants! When we consume THC due to smoking, vaping, etc., our brain is flooded with these cannabinoids, which causes an intoxicating effect (more commonly known as “the high”). However, CBD has a very different role in the body. Instead of acting as a psychoactive compound, CBD is an antioxidant, meaning it helps combat oxidative stress and damage in the brain and body. CBD also acts as a neuroprotectant, meaning that it protects the health of your brain cells! Not only does it help protect them, but it also aids in their repair if they are already damaged from free radicals.
CBD works by interacting with receptors within your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a large group of neuromodulatory lipids that bind to cannabinoid receptors in your body to regulate physiological processes like pain perception and mood. Specific receptors are better at receiving cannabinoids than others when it comes to the ECS. For example, CB1 receptors are much better at receiving cannabinoids than CB2 receptors (which is why CBD users tend to feel “high” when smoking marijuana products that contain cannabis).
However, when cannabinoids reach the brain from the bloodstream, most of them bind to CB1 receptors. These can be neutralized by non-specific binding proteins called endocannabinoids (e.g., anandamide, Virodhamine), also referred to as endogenous ligands. This process is called endocannabinoid inactivation (ECI). Endocannabinoids, like CBD, bind to CB1 receptors and activate the ECS, but they do not start the CB2 receptor.
What these gummies do: Most of these infused gummies contain hemp-derived CBD (e.g., a 20mg gummy) or a full spectrum CBD-infused oil (e.g., a 10mg hard gummy). The infused oil is usually applied directly into the gummi matrix and then allowed to sit for about 20 minutes at room temperature. This allows for a CBD-rich matrix to form. The infused oil can then be dissolved in water once it has been set and taken as a liquid. Some companies also add other ingredients like liquid nicotine, enough to get you high but not enough to make you sick!
The risks of taking these kinds of gummies fall into three categories: the risks associated with THC, the risk associated with the gummies themselves, and the risks associated with taking a drug that’s not intended to be psychoactive (i.e., CBD).
The risks associated with THC are pretty self-explanatory. Marijuana contains THC, which can cause high and other intoxicating effects. In this way, gummies should ideally avoid any THC at all to be considered CBD-infused or CBD-rich gummies. However, these kinds of gummies are commonly available so it is important to understand the effects of THC on your body if you take them. When you take too much marijuana, too quickly (or if you are sensitive to marijuana), the risk is that you’ll get too high and feel very uncomfortable.