CBD oil and CBD gummies are both edible forms of CBD, or cannabidiol, which is the main non-psychoactive compound in weed used primarily for its therapeutic effects.
As the key medicinal compound of cannabis, CBD is well-known for its analgesic and anxiolytic properties. As such, it is widely used for treating pain, inflammation, stress, and anxiety.
By helping you manage and overcome many of these day-to-day problems, regular use of CBD eventually leads to better relaxation and sleep at night and a clear-headed focus during the day.
As beneficial as it sounds, CBD can be consumed in many convenient ways that are both mouth-friendly and discreet, as opposed to smoking.
Two of the most common are edible oils and gummies.
Table of Contents
ToggleWhat is CBD oil?
CBD oil is one of the most common types of cannabis concentrates that you can find.
Derived from raw plant material, it is the juicy bit of cannabis, specifically the CBD part, that is meticulously extracted and used in a variety of forms and strengths.
These include CBD tinctures and capsules that are meant for medicinal use, oils that are made for direct oral use (but can also be infused into snacks and other food items, including CBD gummies), and vape juices that are formulated for vaping.
Non-consumable CBD oils, on the other hand, are mainly used in topicals that are designed to be applied directly over the skin or the affected area for quick and potent relief.
What are CBD gummies?
CBD gummies are chews and gummies that are infused with some sort of CBD oil.
Available in all kinds of fruity and mouth-watering flavors, these gummies are perhaps the most popular form of edibles to have ever been surfaced.
Packed in perfectly dosed-out pieces of colorful gems, these CBD gummies have everything that weed has to offer in a much tastier and more discreet manner. So you can enjoy them on the go without worrying about the high.
Moreover, they came in several strengths or potency rates to meet your ideal requirements.
Should you want to add a bit of ‘high’ to your CBD chewing experience, you can always go for non-isolate gummies that come with a balanced ratio of CBD and THC, better known as full-spectrum products.
Comparing CBD Oil and Gummies: Key Differences
The major difference between CBD oil and CBD gummies lies in their taste and convenience.
As versatile as it is, CBD oil does not only lack the flavor profiles of CBD gummies but is also hard to carry. Whereas CBD gummies are completely portable and can be easily consumed on the go.
CBD oil is often considered a basic ingredient that is used to make a vast array of CBD products such as tinctures, edibles, vape oils, and topicals.
CBD gummies, on the other hand, are just one of the many end products that are made using CBD oil.
As a result, CBD gummies are limited in their use and consumption and cannot be used as an ingredient in other cannabis products.
Speaking of which, they have a slower onset of effects, albeit the longest-lasting. Whereas CBD oils usually have a faster onset of effects that can start taking place in as little as 15 minutes or even less when consumed sublingually.
Pros and Cons of CBD Oil
Used across a wide range of products due to its potential therapeutic effects, CBD oil has its pros and cons too.
• Pros of CBD Oil
• When taken sublingually or by putting under the tongue, CBD tinctures can lead to faster absorption of the content and thus a faster onset of effects.
• Sublingual consumption not only gives you a faster onset of effects but also a higher availability of the CBD content, better known as bioavailability.
• Packaged in perfect droppers or vile bottles, CBD oils and tinctures also allow for more personalized dosing depending on how hard or long you squeeze out the solution.
• CBD oils can be used in many versatile ways, such as infusion into food and drinks, oral consumption, and direct application, as in topicals.
Cons of CBD Oil
• Lack of taste is the main disadvantage of CBD oils, as even artificial flavors cannot properly mask the organic taste of marijuana, which could be sometimes harsh for users. Besides, flavored oils are rare and limited.
• While it is possible to squeeze out the perfect dose of CBD oils, it is a delicate job and requires utmost manual precision.
• CBD oils have shorter durations of effects compared to edibles due to their negligible ratio of intake when compared to body fat.
• Chances of leaks and spills during storage and travelling is yet another challenge with CBD oils.
• And then there is the lack of regulatory compliance despite all the stringent laws concerning the sourcing and manufacturing of CBD products, which ultimately leads to a lack of quality.
Therefore, when buying CBD oils, make sure to get it from an authorized cannabis dealer.
Pros and Cons of CBD Gummies
CBD gummies, as tasty as they are, also have a fair share of their pros and cons.
• Pros of CBD gummies
• CBD gummies are one of the most convenient options of weed products out there that you can carry along and enjoy whenever you want.
• They come in pre-measured doses with a fixed amount of CBD in each gummy (mentioned on the product label) so you can easily divide it further into tinier portions depending on your needs.
• There are plenty of juicy flavors of CBD gummies ranging from sweet and spicy to floral and fruity.
• Edible gummies have the longest-lasting effects of CBD that are possible.
• CBD gummies are way too gentle on the throat with no risks of irritation as may be the case with certain oils.
• Cons of CBD gummies
• Albeit, the longest-lasting effects, CBD gummies, like other edibles, have the slower onset of effects.
• Since CBD gummies have to pass through the entire digestive system to metabolize and enter the bloodstream, they eventually have lower bioavailability compared to CBD oils.
• They may also have added substances and preservatives such as artificial sugars, flavors, and additives.
• The dosage can be hard to customize since CBD gummies come in pre-measured doses; adjusting them could be all about breaking them and losing the potency of the rest of the gummy.
• As yummy as they are, CBD gummies pose a special risk of overconsumption, especially if you like chewing gums.
So make sure to not be tempted by it.
Besides, taste isn’t the only factor that plays a role here, is it?
When to Choose CBD Oil Over Gummies (and Vice Versa)
If, at any point in time, you feel like you are developing a dependency on gummies or other edibles, it may be time to switch to less addictive forms of cannabis or CBD oil, such as medicinal tinctures.
Apart from offering you instant relief, CBD oils, especially tinctures, can give you a higher bioavailability with no extra sugar and calories.
At the same time, it doesn’t take any time in consuming the content as is the case with other products, be it edibles, vapes, or smokeables.
CBD gummies, on the other hand, can be the right option for you if you are looking for a palatable and joyful chewing experience of chewing gum and the medical effects of weed without having to smoke it.
Although a bit slower, once they appear, cannabis edibles, including edible gummies, have the longest-lasting effects, which makes them perfect for people with chronic conditions such as pain and inflammation.
Conclusion
As you might well see, CBD gummies and CBD oils are pretty unique in how they are consumed and react in our system.
While CBD oils such as tinctures are meant to be taken sublingually, CBD gummies are a CBD-infused version of fruit chews and gummies that everybody likes at some point or another.
While CBD oils can be used to prepare other food items, including gummies, CBD gummies are the products that contain CBD oil in them in different concentrations.
The latter certainly have more diverse flavors and color profiles than CBD oils, albeit limited in their use and method of consumption.
The usage of CBD oils goes far beyond being an ingredient in cooking and brewing, as they often come in the form of vapes and topicals, which ultimately broaden your window of choice.
FAQs
Yes, medicinal oils such as CBD tinctures can deliver the effects almost immediately or within minutes, especially when consumed sublingually by placing them under the tongue.
Yes, you can use CBD oil and gummies together, but you have to be careful enough about the right dosage. FYI, the recommended dosage levels of CBD, regardless of the medium, are said to be anywhere between 5-10 mg per serving. So be mindful of that.
Depending on the potency levels, the effects of CBD gummies can last for up to 8 hours or more. Despite the slower onset, eaten cannabis has the longest-lasting duration of the desired effects.
CBD gummies and CBD oil are both quite effective in providing you the therapeutic effects of weed. Especially when taken through non-smokeable methods such as edibles like oils and gummies.
No, the ideal dosage of CBD is somewhere between 5-10 mg per serving regardless of the method of consumption, which you can adjust or titrate depending on your lifestyle and tolerance level.