CBD Edibles: Everything You Should Know
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Patients who manage their pain and suffering with medical marijuana usually turn to CBD edibles to get the job done. CBD edibles are made by extracting the active cannabinoids out of a high CBD plant by heating it in oil or butter.
After it’s been extracted from the plant, it’s then cooked into a variety of foodstuffs. CBD edibles are preferred by some patients because cannabidiol (CBD) provides highly therapeutic pain management and, when cannabis is ingested, the effects last 2-4 hours longer than smoking or vaping.
Here in this guide we’ll go over everything you need to know about CBD edibles, where to find them, and what types to look for.
What you'll learn in this post:
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- Where Can I Buy CBD Edibles?
- Cannabis CBD vs. Hemp CBD: Buyer Beware
- What’s the Difference Between THC & CBD Edibles?
- THC to CBD Balance Matters
- How Safe Is Buying CBD Edibles?
- Brand Name CBD Edibles
- Dispensary-Made CBD Edibles
- How Much Are CBD Edibles?
- What Are the Best CBD Edibles?
- Additional Info
- Patient Testimonials
Where Can I Buy CBD Edibles?
If you’re trying to buy CBD edibles in the state of California, you’ll need to have your CA medical marijuana recommendation/card before you can legally purchase. Even though CBD doesn’t have any psychotropic effects and won’t get you “high” (that’s caused by tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)), you’ll still need a doctor’s written approval to purchase CBD infused cannabis products.
But don’t worry, getting your doctor’s recommendation is easy, and NuggMD makes it even easier. Use NuggMD’s online evaluation services to get both your medical marijuana recommendation and ID card online in less than 15 minutes!
In California, the only legal place to get any kind of edibles is directly from a dispensary storefront or delivery service. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to get products shipped to you by mail from dispensaries, only via courier hand-delivery.
Likewise, CBD edible companies can’t legally sell their products directly to patients; instead, these California companies only sell their products wholesale directly to medical marijuana dispensaries.
But you might be wondering, where can I get the best CBD products? You can use search engines like Google and Weedmaps, or save yourself the trouble and order through the world’s largest online cannabis delivery marketplace, Nugg.
Use this simple online delivery service and have CBD chocolates, CBD candy, CBD gummies, and other CBD infused products quickly delivered to your home address. And, if you’ve used NuggMD to become a legal marijuana patient, you’ll instantly get $20 for your first delivery!
Watch out for anyone or any company claiming to send edibles through standard mail, UPS or FedEx. Not only do you risk getting inferior products, it’s illegal and you could risk prosecution.
Cannabis CBD vs. Hemp CBD: Buyer Beware
There are two different types of CBD, but each isn’t created equal. Cannabis CBD is extracted from CBD rich plant material and is used to treat a variety of medical conditions like epilepsy, depression and inflammation. The key is a balance of high CBD and low THC, or a lower, equal ratio of CBD and THC.
On the other hand, hemp CBD is used in the creation of industrial goods like paper, rope and clothing, and contains an extremely small amount of CBD, not enough to be considered medically beneficial.
Beware of sites like healthyhempoil.com, ushempwholesale.com and buycbd.co that sell hemp CBD edibles claiming healing properties. Remember, these online retailers sell hemp oil seed derived CBD edibles “legally and internationally” that serve no recreational or medicinal purposes.
Not only will these CBD products provide you with no medicinal benefits, the distribution of CBD remains illegal, no matter what form it takes. Companies with access to hemp oil have an agricultural license for maintaining and harvesting hemp crops for industrial purposes. In order to do so, they must have permits and abide by strict regulations.
Unfortunately, the DEA considers all extracts of cannabis to be a Schedule I substance, so you’re much better off going through an established medical marijuana dispensary or delivery service for your high CBD edibles.
What’s the Difference Between THC & CBD Edibles?
THC and CBD are two cannabinoids that work together, have different individual effects, and can be used in different ratios to treat different symptoms. Generally, if you’re using cannabis medicinally, you’ll find most products are high in THC and relatively low in CBD; but that’s not to say each product category doesn’t have its fair share of CBD-dominant products.
THC heals your body while giving you that pleasant, psychoactive “high” feeling, and activates both of the internal cannabinoid receptors found in the body, CB1 and CB2. The CB1 receptors are located throughout the brain, central nervous system, and corresponding organs; CB2 receptors are related to a person’s immune system and located in organs like the spleen and tonsils.
Unlike THC, CBD is a potent healer that won’t get you high, and doesn’t have much bonding affinity to either the CB1 or CB2 receptors. Instead it counteracts the psychotropic effects of THC like anxiety and paranoia by blocking THC at the CB1 receptor, nulling its psychoactive effects.
It also benefits the body’s protective endocannabinoid response by suppressing the enzyme that breaks down one the body’s own cannabinoids, anandamide. The more anandamide, the greater the cannabinoid activation will be.
THC to CBD Balance Matters
Different ratios of the two cannabinoids produce different effective treatments. Charlotte’s Web is a high CBD/low THC strain (20:1 CBD:THC) used for treating seizures; Harlequin (5:2 CBD:THC) is used for chronic pain and anxiety; and ACDC (22:1 CBD:THC) helps treat people suffering from pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, anxiety, and the negative effects of chemotherapy.
How Safe Is Buying CBD Edibles?
Whether you order edibles online or in-person, the process can be simple, safe, and easy. As long as you make your purchase through a storefront or delivery service, the only thing you have to worry about is the quality and accuracy of your order.
High CBD products are ideal if you’re trying to play it safe, as the high amount of CBD will take away any of THC’s unwanted psychoactive effects. The more CBD you take, the less likely you are to get the munchies, have lapses in memory, become drowsy, or experience anything like being “stoned.”
Brand Name CBD Edibles
Although there are many types of California edibles out there, only a few brand name CBD edibles like Kiva, Sensi Chew, Bhang, Cheeba Chew and their offshoot Green Hornet provide detailed information about their products, making sure that all ingredients are safe for consumption. They’re lab tested and thoroughly reviewed by both doctors and patients.
When looking at CBD edible brand names, be sure to look thoroughly for a list of ingredients, THC:CBD ratio, strength, and do some research on the product before you buy a CBD edible that might be lacking in quality or efficacy.
Dispensary-Made CBD Edibles
If you do come across any dispensary-made edibles, they typically don’t come with much product information, much less the CBD dosage. Not knowing what’s in them doesn’t exactly mean that they’re dangerous, but consuming a product you know nothing about isn’t exactly safe either, and we wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
Use personal discretion when making purchases both in-person and online. You should be cautious of products that are personally or carelessly packaged if you’re unfamiliar with the dispensary. If you’re not sure about about the edibles’ quality, don’t make a foolish purchase! You’re better safe than sorry.
How Much Are CBD Edibles?
Just like buying MMJ, the price of CBD chews, lollipops, drops and other CBD candies depends on a slew of individual factors, mostly related to cannabis content ratios and culinary craftsmanship.
For example, Bhang has made a candy-like mint mouth spray and chewing gum for people who want to be discrete, and Venice Cookie Company Brands produces a variety of artisanal vegan edibles, organic, gluten-free, sugar-free, and health-centric CBD edibles alongside their already booming selection, including the sugar-free, vegan CBD Zinger cookie and cane sugar hard candies.
For the most part, you don’t want to spend more than $10 per 100mg of a CBD-infused edible product.
Where can I get CBD edibles? Look into what your local medical marijuana dispensaries offer. You’ll usually find first time patient offers, happy hours, other great deals, and competitive prices for various products. Both dispensary storefronts and delivery services offer all sorts of deals, but placing a delivery order can be a bit more expensive.
What Are the Best CBD Edibles?
The best CBD edibles really depend on what you’re looking for. Some THC:CBD ratios are better for specific medical needs; some might be healthier or more appetizing; and others could simply be out of your price range.
You also might’ve noticed that there isn’t a wide selection of CBD dominant edibles to choose compared to all of those seemingly endless THC dominant goodies. But the good news is their popularity is growing! The most popular brand names on the cannabis market already carry some seriously amazing treats..
The most common CBD edibles are chocolates, cookies, and chewy taffy, but some brands carry specialty products like candies, gums, and even drinks.
Below are some of the most popular brands, along with their current CBD edible selection and estimated dispensary prices:
Bhang
Chocolate
- CBD 50/50 Caramel Chocolate Bar (50mg CBD 50mg THC, $16)
Mint Spray
- Bhang CBD Mint Spray (150mg in bottle/1.25mg per spray, $40)
Chewing Gum
- Bhang CBD Rich Fresh Mint Gum (8 pieces, 10mg cannabis CBD/17mg Hemp oil each, $20-$30)
Cheeba Chews
Taffy
- Pure 80mg CBD Chocolate Taffy (80mg CBD, $20)
- 10mg CBD Chocolate Taffy (10mg CBD, $15)
Day Dreamers
Chocolate
- High CBD Chocolate (90mg CBD:90mg THC, $12)
- Mint High CBD Chocolate (90mg CBD:90mg THC, $12)
Kiva
Chocolate
- Ginger Dark Chocolate Bar (120mg CBD:120mg THC, $34)
- Espresso Dark Chocolate (60mg CBD:60mg THC, $20)
Venice Cookie Company
Teas
- 1:1 CBD Lemon Ginger with Turmeric (25mg CBD:25mg THC, $8)
- CBD Dreamtime PM with Valerian (25mg CBD:25mg THC, $8)
Drinks
- Cannabis Quencher CBD Mango (40mg CBD:40mg THC, $15)
Candy
- Cannabis Quencher Hard Candy (Strawberry and Mango, 5mg CBD:5mg THC, $5)
Cookies
- CBD Churro (50mg CBD:50mg THC, $12)
- CBD Zinger (100mg CBD:15mg THC, $13)
Chocolate
- CBD Dark Chocolate 4.20Bar (120mg CBD:60mg THC, $22)
Whoopi & Maya
Chocolate
- Raw Cacao Spread / Drink Mix (two sizes: 40mg CBD:2mg THC & 80mg CBD:4mg THC, $20-$30)
Additional Info
Bhang is well known for their award winning edibles, with their CBD Mint Spray even taking the #1 spot in SoCal’s 2015 Cannabis Cup.
Day Dreamers and Kiva also make highly acknowledged artisan CBD chocolates, with both of these companies taking home the first place prize for best edibles at the Cannabis Cup at some point or another.
Cheeba Chews pure CBD has been praised by patients suffering from seizures and other chronic conditions.
If you’re looking for a wider variety of products other than chocolates and cookies, Venice Cookie Company Brands has included CBD candies, teas, and drinks to their menu. Browse their site and you’ll notice they also provide several health-centric options, including vegan, sugar-free, and dairy-free edibles.
Whoopi & Maya focus on women’s health, and their Raw Cacao is aimed at soothing everything from migraines to mood swings.
Patient Testimonials
“I smoke the strongest CBD oil I can find, at 60mg, but lately I’ve decided I prefer CBD capsule pills and CBD edibles. The effects are stronger and they last longer than eliquid CBD oil.” –Vivix
“Today I use the edibles available in our dispensaries which are on pretty much any street corner in this state. Each chocolate bar has a dozen pieces I believe and one piece of a high CBD bar gives me many hours of relief and does not make me drowsy or feel stoned.” –Mike
“My mother uses a high percentage CBD strain for her illnesses, she intakes it orally through edibles and tinctures. There is no buzz to it, but the pain relief is incredible. She takes her medicine before going to bed and she wakes up feeling great.” –O.J.P.
THC vs CBD: Their Effects, Health Benefits, & Medical Benefits
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THC versus CBD. What’s the difference, and what does it mean for your marijuana consumption?
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“This Is a Miracle Drug”
Poolside in Covina, California, “Sylvia”* daintily purses her lips and takes a quick rip of her joint, deceptively potent despite its modest roll.
“I purchase only top shelf stuff. I learned from my kids…quality over quantity,” she smiles through the tendrils of Bubble Gum scents as they waft through the air.
“I have a little bit of everything. Some glaucoma. Nausea from my heart medicine. Arthritis in my hands. And trouble sleeping and anxiety, most of which started when my husband passed away five years ago.” She issues a wry grin and says “Now I don’t have to go out much, so I’ve become quite the bud-tender.”
She says this all in an unflinching, matter-of-fact manner, as if describing a medical procedure. “When someone recommended medical marijuana years back for all my ailments, I laughed. I hadn’t used the stuff since high school, and even then I was not even a recreational user.”
But she got a prescription, and now expertly names of her favorite strains with the energetic vigor of a Napa Valley sommelier. She fingers a particularly purplish offering and notes “We just got this in. See the hairs on this one? How many crystals? This is super THC-loaded!”
Cannabis & the Cannabinoid Connection
Marijuana’s strains can be as colorful and varied as wildflowers themselves, yet all the plants have a remarkably popular way of discussing and measuring potency: THC.
All marijuana plants contain dozens of cannabinoids. Some are very well-known. And the undisputed king of all cannabinoids is tetrahydrocannabinol. Name-checked in music videos and a familiar acronym to even the most conservative critics, THC sits atop the mountain of infamous marijuana chemical compounds.
When enough is consumed, THC is believed to be primarily responsible for the head rush associated with marijuana, the euphoric “high” feeling that users crave. When discussed by critics as weed’s role as a gateway drug, this “buzzed” feeling tops the list as the most worrisome element, leading users down the route to addiction and harder substance abuse.
But amidst the sticky leaves of the bud plant lies a plethora of other compounds and cannabinoids besides THC.
As marijuana cultivation has become a more accepted past-time, cultivating methods that enhance these other cannabiniods is becoming a serious science for both medical researchers and hobbyists. Chief among them is CBD (we’ll soon uncover the mystery behind THC vs CBD), short for cannabidiol.
Chief difference between THC vs CBD, simply put, is THC gets you stoned and CBD does not. The fact that patients can be treated with CBD without the troublesome side effect of getting stoned has lead to an intense look at CBD’s potential and future uses in both the recreational and medical cannabis industry.
The concept of safer medical marijuana with less side effects opens a world of possibilities of treatments, not just limited to humans.
“I’ve even given [medical marijuana] to my dog. She was thirteen and half blind, and her legs started to go,” Sylvia reveals. “Friends told me to put her down, but I just felt she had more time, and I hadn’t tried everything. I heard that there was cannabis oil you could give your pets, and I did the research.”
Luther, a surprisingly spry 16 year old dachshund mix, lays glued to Sylvia’s thigh on the couch, contently snoozing the day away. “This is a miracle drug. Anyone who says otherwise just doesn’t have a clue.”
“People Won’t Hold It Against You”
“Emily”* sits under the forlorn bleachers of her local high school. Her older boy cousin has had a connect in Berdoo for years. This slummy San Bernardino section of patchworked tract houses and failed commercial ventures projects a declining future through the hazy afternoon sunlight.
An opaque cloud explodes from her mouth as she smoothly slips her vape pen back into her pocket. “Vaping is literally the best thing to happen to weed. I vape everywhere now.”
The very picture of the recreational user, Emily nonetheless carries the picket fence picture of an ideal child to a tee. Boasting a GPA “in the high 3’s” and a veteran of several school organizations, she has already been accepted to three colleges, with no final decisions made. “I’m still waiting on Stanford, but I don’t know. I’m thinking I may stay local.”
“Smoking completely helps me study and keeps me focused. I always figured, rather than some of that nasty chemical stuff, why not use the all-natural stuff I’ve already tried?” she reasons. “I’m not saying we should all self-medicate, but I think smoking weed is much more like drinking coffee or having a cigarette than injecting a needle in your arm.”
Especially when you consider how the THC vs CBD conversation reveals that consuming different types of cannabis does not lead to madness and debauchery. Instead, different people can experience different medical and recreational applications and benefits of marijuana.
Taking a Hit Without Getting Lit
A leading argument against legalization of marijuana is the unpredictable reaction different people have, as well as proper diagnosis/dosage/strain versus recreational usage.
See also: 7 Tips to Control Your Cannabis Dosing
Both THC and CBD are found in marijuana, and both arguably have medicinal qualities. But both can provoke significantly different reactions in people, and this difference has become the central argument in the future of medical marijuana. It truly is: THC vs CBD.
Probably the main difference between the two ingredients is the psychoactive component. THC has been well-documented to cause anxiety or paranoia among new users. However, CBD is particularly non-psychoactive, meaning there is no feeling of euphoria associated with getting high.
In fact, CBD not only counteracts the effects of THC, it can reduce anxiety when administered by itself. Therefore, CBD is favored by the medical community, which prefers treatments with little to no side effects.
There is also the element of antipsychotic properties. THC produces psychosis like effects but CBD can protect marijuana users from this “super high.” CBD is actually being tested as a possible anti-psychotic medication and solution for illnesses that range from bi-polar disorder to schizophrenia.
Recent research published by Neuropharmacology reveals that CBD “induces rapid-acting anti-depressant-like” effects. “Our findings indicate that CBD could represent a novel fast antidepressant drug, via enhancing both serotonergic and glutamate cortical signaling,” explained researchers.
Though she had never before heard of the difference of various marijuana chemicals (THC vs CBD), Emily was sold on CBD’s future benefits.
“I’m a huge fan of CBD research!” exclaims Emily. “If it’s true that you can get the same productive results without the high, the stereotype of the lazy stoner won’t be as relevant anymore. Then maybe people won’t hold it against you when they find out you smoke bud.”
“I Have to Function Safely”
“Big Truck,”* a mountain of a man easily topping out over 250 pounds, heaves his heavy frame out from his compact car, almost comically too small for his considerable girth. The slight sedan groans with relief as the springs bounce back with relief.
“You’d think they (his company) could afford something for the larger man,” he cheerfully observes, noting the irony of his moniker coupling with his designated ride. “I’ve always been a pickup kinda guy, but I can’t do off-road anymore. For a while, the hands couldn’t take the shakes.”
Big Truck settles comfortably into a kitchen chair and begins nursing a Bud Light. Understandably low key about his identity due to his employment as a delivery driver, he nonetheless is a huge proponent for medical marijuana.
“Listen, okay? These hands, I could hardly grip the wheel. Three straight years, and it was a struggle every minute of every day. I’d drive with while biting my fist, to dull the pain of the soreness. But that’s the struggle…I need something for the pain, but I don’t want to be loopy or sleepy all the time. I have to function safely.”
What’s the Legality of THC & CBD?
Ask around, and you’ll find one of the principal uses for marijuana, whether prescribed as medicine or for recreational usage, is a sleep aid. Most of marijuana’s drowsy effects come from the cannabinoid THC, but on the other hand, CBD actually promotes wakefulness.
This results in CBD strains of marijuana being a poor choice for those who are trying to use it for sleep aid reasons, but an ideal selection for those who need daily routine functionality with their medical management choices.
CBD-based treatments would also be an appealing treatment option for patients suffering from ailments such as anti-inflammatory, anti-spasm effects, without the lethargy or dysphoria.
As with marijuana itself, the status of CBD and its legality in the United States remains unclear. CBD is technically illegal as it is still considered a Schedule 1 drug under federal law.
But significant gains have been opening the market to new CBD-based alternatives. Only recently was a pharmaceutical version called Epidiolex approved for the market. Produced by GWPharma, the latest version of the marijuana-based medication was used by the FDA and cleared to be tested with children who suffer from severe epilepsy.
Epidiolex trials have been so successful that it has raised the possibility of marijuana refugees, or families that split up or migrate to states with more permissive medical marijuana laws, such as Colorado and Washington state.
One such family, the Wakelys of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, is having the hard debate on how to treat son Eli’s aggressive epilepsy, as they search for access to marijuana strains rich in CBD. “We just want him to have a good life without seizures,” adds Lynne Wakely.
In fact, marijuana has been a medical option in human society dating back thousands of years.
As Dr. Sanjay Gupta, neurosurgeon, medical professor and Emmy-award winning chief medical correspondent for CNN, remarked as he harshly criticized marijuana’s Schedule 1 classification.
“The science is there. This isn’t anecdotal,” he remarked in 2013. “We have been terribly and systematically misled for nearly 70 years in the United States. It doesn’t have a high potential for abuse, and there are very legitimate medical applications.”
Waxing on the cloudy legality of weed in America, Big Truck has a pragmatically fatalistic attitude. “I don’t want to do anything illegal, but at a certain point I want to survive pain-free. Not comfortably, but pain-free.”
Big Truck pops the top off a prescription bottle and shovels out two black pills, roughly a third the size of a man’s pinky. “Pretty good size, but I’m a big boy,” Big Truck remarks jovially as he swallows them down sans water. “I know these ones are billed primarily as THC pills. That’s why I only take them when I get off, my closers.”
Asked if he was worried about drug testing at his job, Big Truck shrugs it off. “If it happens, I figure it out. I’m not driving people anyways. Plus I don’t take a lot. I’m safe. In the morning, I’ll have an edible or two, something that wakes you up and evens out the pain. I even try out the creams. But yeah, if I feel buzzed I know it’s time to cut myself off.”
Reading about the developments in the industry, the lumbering driver optimistically continues to believe in the future of marijuana and medicine and what CBD research has done already. “I never knew the chemical differences were the cause, but whatever makes it safer is good by me.”
It’s safe to say many consumers don’t know the difference between THC vs CBD…
Mainstream Acceptance of Cannabis
No matter the varying opinions in the debate of the validity of THC vs CBD, even the most ardent critics admit that marijuana for medical purposes is gaining more and more mainstream acceptance.
The advent of CBD exploration and its stone-less alternative to the buzzed experience that THC-filled strains produce today has the medical community cautiously excited about the possibilities, even as the legal ramifications have yet to be unveiled.
If test results continue to bear positive results and more communities vote to allow the sale of medical marijuana, sufferers of ailments varying from epilepsy to schizophrenia might have a more effective, more socially acceptable medication to turn to in the coming years.
Summary: THC vs CBD
- THC has been well-documented to cause anxiety or paranoia among new users.
- CBD is particularly non-psychoactive, meaning there is no feeling of euphoria associated with getting high.
- THC is believed to be primarily responsible for the head rush associated with marijuana.
- Most of marijuana’s drowsy effects come from the cannabinoid THC, but on the other hand, CBD actually promotes wakefulness.
- CBD-based treatments would also be an appealing treatment option for patients suffering from ailments such as anti-inflammatory, anti-spasm effects, without the lethargy or dysphoria.
- CBD is technically illegal as it is still considered a Schedule 1 drug under federal law, but significant gains have been opening the market to new CBD-based alternatives.