How Long Do CBD Gummies Last?

Updated April 1, 2022
Published April 1, 2022
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CBD gummies are some of the most popular CBD products sold today with global sales projected to reach $13.9 billion by the year 2028.

Anyone currently consuming CBD gummies or thinking about trying them naturally has two questions. The first question is, “How long for CBD gummies to start working in the system?” The second question is, “How long do CBD gummies last in the system.” CBD goes through the first-pass metabolic process, so the length of time it takes to begin working and to eliminate from the body depends on many factors, like metabolism and weight.

TLDR: CBD goes through a process in which it is broken down through enzyme action during the first-pass metabolism process. Based on research to date, CBD gummies begin working within two hours, and the effects last approximately 6-12 hours in your system. Many people feel the effects within 30-90 minutes. There are numerous factors influencing when the CBD effects are felt and how long the CBD lasts in the system. They include metabolism, weight and CBD potency.

Understanding the Half-Life of CBD

Any discussion on CBD duration in the system will mention the half-life of the compound. This is the starting point for understanding how CBD breaks down in the body after eating CBD gummies.

The half-life of a compound refers to how long it takes half of the substance to decay into a different substance. Another way of saying it is that the half-life of CBD is the time it takes for the concentration of CBD in the body to be reduced to one-half. The importance of half-life is that it determines how long concentrations of CBD remain in a steady-state and how long it takes to eliminate the cannabinoid.

Since CBD gummies are eaten like food, the CBD is subjected to the first-pass metabolism where it is broken down by enzymes in the digestive system. It takes longer for the CBD to reach the bloodstream when consumed as food compared to taking a few drops of a CBD tincture. A review of multiple research studies found CBD’s first half-life is approximately one to two days when consumed orally. Multiple half-life processes take place with each one reducing the CBD concentration and thus the effects.

What Affects the Half-Life of CBD?

CBD will go through several half-life processes before it becomes undetectable. The point of the elimination half-life is approximately 2-5 days. Why is there such a range of days? Several factors influence how CBD is managed by the body.

Dosage amount, i.e., 10 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, etc.
Metabolism
Weight
Adiposity (fatty tissue content in the body)
Genetics
How much food is in the stomach when the CBD gummy is eaten
Medical conditions
Current medications or supplements also taken

Each person is different, so it is only possible to give approximations as to how long CBD gummies last in the system. There is a lot more research needed to better understand how CBD is processed in the body.

For example, during the first-pass metabolism, the CBD in the CBD gummies travels through the gastrointestinal tract to the liver. In the liver, enzymes transform the CBD into metabolites. The remaining original compound and the metabolites then enter the bloodstream for distribution throughout the body. Many of the factors just listed have a direct influence on the first-pass metabolic process, but what still remains unclear is the effects of CBD metabolites.

What Do CBD Gummies Do?

CBD gummies deliver CBD to the body in a flavorful way. They taste like candy but are most are made with natural flavorings and sugars to retain their healthy quality. CBD works differently than THC, and research to date has indicated CBD may have antioxidant effects. These effects are currently undergoing intense research, and each year clinicians learn more about how CBD works in the system.

To date, researchers do know that CBD works by interacting with the endocannabinoid system but in a different way compared to the psychoactive THC in marijuana. The endocannabinoid system manages internal functions and has two main types of receptors: CB1 and CB2. The CB1 receptors are mostly in the Central Nervous System and help manage things like movement, mood and coordination. The CB2 receptors are found mostly in the Peripheral Nervous System.

CBD mostly interacts but does not bind with the CB2 receptors after the enzymes break down the cannabinoids. CBD does not attach itself but rather influences them. The activation of the receptors leads to any effects experienced. The research hypothesizes CBD may have soothing effects because of the particular receptors the compound interacts with. However, research has also found that CBD affects more than receptors in the endocannabinoid system. It also possibly interacts with other receptors outside the endocannabinoid system, like the adenosine receptors, which can impact sleep.

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that users have provided about CBD gummy effects. The CBD gummies are well-tolerated, one reason the sales are growing rapidly. Consumers have said the CBD gummies have helped them relax, and experience reduced relief. Clinical researchers are conducting more and more studies to understand better how the body processes CBD and its effects.