How Long Does It Take for CBD Oil to Work?
Long story short: it typically takes about 10 to 30 minutes for CBD oil to start doing its thing. Long story long: that range exists because we’re dealing with a whole slew of variables, from how the CBD oil is consumed to the physical characteristics of the person using it. You probably won’t have to wait around all day for CBD oil to start working, but get a handle on those variables and you’ll learn to time your doses in a way that works perfectly for your needs.
CBD Oil and Absorption
Everybody’s endocannabinoid system — the central nervous system’s complex collection of cannabinoid receptors and enzymes responsible for the synthesis of cannabis — works in slightly different ways. Everyone’s CBD oil experience is bound to differ at least a little, but the way you absorb that oil also affects your experience significantly, as CBD’s journey to your bloodstream varies quite a bit.
When you take CBD oil orally (like when you mix Vitagenne’s CBD Pure Wellness with a drink or swallow a capsule of Vitagenne’s Pure Sleep Hemp CBD Dietary Supplement), it travels from your salivary glands and through the entire digestive process. Inhaling it takes it right from the lungs into the bloodstream, while applying CBD oil topically (like massaging in a bit of Vitagenne’s Pure Relief CBD Cooling Cream after a workout) requires the cannabinoids to diffuse through lipids, permeating the skin cell-by-cell.
The Timing: Rules of Thumb
Now that you know how your body absorbs CBD oil, the timing of when it begins to take effect will make a little more sense.
CBD oil delivered through a vape pen or inhaler typically works the quickest, taking effect in roughly 10 to 20 minutes. Right in the middle, CBD oil consumed orally usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes to start working as it eases its way through your liver, pancreas, stomach acids and so on. And because of that slow and steady cell-to-cell permeation, CBD oil applied topically can take from about 25 to 45 minutes to set in.
More Variables to Consider
Sometimes, the answer to the question, “How long does it take for CBD oil to work?” is honestly, “It depends.” In addition to your body’s unique endocannabinoid system and the absorption method, your body weight, composition and metabolic rate can all influence how long it takes CBD oil to start working. Dosage, of course, is also paramount, as is the quality of the CBD oil in question (Vitagenne’s CBD is third-party tested for purity and free of harmful chemicals or compounds). Likewise, CBD oil’s effect may be altered if it is expired or damaged, while taking it with alcohol may lead to amplified feelings of sleepiness or sedation. In general, the effects of CBD oil last for about four to six hours depending on how it was administered and the strength of the dose.
Dan has been a freelance writer and small business owner since 2009. In the healthcare realm, he’s fortunate enough to have collaborated with the likes of Civilized Life, Cetaphil, LIVESTRONG, DermStore, Healthfully and JillianMichaels.com. His work has also appeared in publications such as USA Today, The Seattle Times and the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFGate, among others.