CBD gummies are edible candies containing cannabidiol (CBD) oil. They come in a rainbow of flavors, colors, shapes, and CBD concentrations. CBD gummies offer a discreet and easy way to ingest CBD, and effective marketing campaigns by many manufacturers mean that their popularity has long soared among CBD users and non-users alike.
But because most CBD products are not FDA-approved, concentrations and purity can vary between brands and even within brands, meaning there’s no guarantee that you’re getting what you think you’re getting.
How are CBD gummies made?
Once the extraction process is complete, CBD is a crystal that can be dissolved in an edible medium. While different companies add their CBD in different ways, cbdMD adds their pure CBD isolate while the ingredients are melted in bulk.
What are those ingredients?
Pectin is the ingredient that gives the gummies their distinctive texture. Pectin is found naturally in the cell walls of fruits, and in the traditional process of cooking pureed fruit with sugar water, it gives rise to the gelling process that creates jams and jellies. In modern times, it is isolated to create even more rigid products, such as jelly beans and gummies.
The rest of the recipe consists of sweeteners, oils, and flavorings, which vary by manufacturer. The cbdMD gummies include organic tapioca syrup, cane sugar, fruit juice, and sunflower oil. Currently, each jar of jelly beans has a mix of natural and artificial flavors: orange, strawberry, mixed berry, and tropical.
For added flavor, there is citric acid and malic acid, which give the natural flavor of lemons and sour apples, respectively.
Once the CBD is melted, the resulting gelatinous concoction is extruded, cut into cubes or other shapes, and coated. The smooth coating on our jelly beans is wax extracted from the leaves of the Brazilian carnauba palm.
Are there any health benefits of CBD gummies?
Manufacturers of CBD gummies claim that CBD is effective in relieving anxiety, depression, pain, and inflammation and improving sleep. One CBD product (Epidolex) has been approved by the FDA to treat epilepsy.
There is no scientific evidence that CBD mites gummies work, although anecdotally some people report a benefit and there is likely to be a strong placebo effect (the act of taking something to alleviate your condition makes you feel better even if that product contains nothing).
Keep in mind that CBD is a rather bitter substance, and many CBD gummies contain large amounts of added sugar to disguise this taste.
Are CBD products legal?
Hemp-derived CBD products containing less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are federally legal; however, they may still be illegal in some states.
Marijuana-derived CBD products are illegal at the federal level; however, they may be legal in some states. Check your state’s laws regarding CBD products.
Can CBD gummies get you high?
CBD gummies have no psychoactive properties, so they won’t give you a high.
CBD is derived from hemp, which has almost no THC. THC is the chemical in marijuana that gives you a high. By law, the hemp must contain no more than 0.3 percent THC to be considered hemp, otherwise, growers are at risk of prosecution under federal law.
The main active ingredient in hemp is CBD, and CBD has no psychoactive properties. Instead, CBD has been credited with relieving anxiety, inflammation, insomnia, and pain, although “credited” does not mean proven. To view popular topics within the CBD industry, visit their blog at Hemponix.
