CBD (cannabidiol) is quickly becoming the go-to medication for those dealing with a wide variety of ailments. People who have never taken a cannabis-related product before are turning to CBD for relief. That has left many wondering how to take CBD for maximum effect.
The cannabis experts at Honest Marijuana have put together this complete guide on how to take CBD so you don’t have to wonder if you’re “doing it right” or not.
Before You Take A CBD Product
Set A Goal
You can use CBD to treat both physical and mental (i.e., body and brain) disorders, but the best method for each issue is dramatically different.
For example, you wouldn’t want to try to treat seizures (a problem in the brain) with a pain relief cream. That’s not what the cream is designed for.
So it’s essential to set a goal for your CBD treatment before you start. The specific ailment you want to treat — acne, asthma, digestive distress, depression, ADD — will help you determine how to take CBD for complete relief.
Think About Where You Want The CBD To Go
It helps clarify the process if you think about where you want the CBD to go.
If the issue you’re dealing with is close to your skin (including your muscles), a topical solution might be your best bet. If the issue you’re dealing with is in your brain, immune system, organs, or other “deep” location within your body, an ingested or inhaled option is better.
Once you’ve set your goal and figured out where you want the CBD to go, check out the How To Take CBD section below for plenty of ways to get CBD into your system.
Buy From A Reputable Source
This goes for all cannabis products, not just CBD. You want to know exactly what’s in the product you’re about to take. Read the label and always buy from a reputable source, like a licensed dispensary.
You can also make several CBD products on your own. You will still need to buy a high-CBD strain along with the other ingredients. Because while you can dry, cure, and decarboxylate the bud yourself, you’ll want to purchase the plant matter from a reputable source.
Start With A Low Dose
Always begin your CBD treatment with a low dose and increase slowly from there. The least amount of medicine you can take and still feel results, the better you (and your wallet) will feel.
For more details on how to take CBD, check out our article Honest Marijuana CBD Dosage Calculator.
How To Take CBD
The answer to the question, “How do you take CBD?” is different for everyone. Some people like the simplicity and discretion of ingestion, while others enjoy the old-school feel of inhalation.
To help you in that regard, we’ve divided the methods of how to take CBD into three categories:
- Ingestion
- Inhalation
- Topical
You’re sure to find a method that’s right for you amongst these options.
Ingestion
Ingestion, at its most basic, is just a fancy word for putting something in your mouth. It doesn’t matter whether you swallow or let that something dissolve under your tongue (sublingual) or along your cheek (buccal) — it’s still ingestion.
This is also the largest category of how to take CBD because the methods are well suited for medical treatment.
1) CBD Tinctures
A tincture is a cannabis concentrate (or extract) that you can make at home with little more than your favorite strain and a bottle of high-proof alcohol.
Tinctures are one of the easiest ways to take CBD because all you have to do is place a few drops under your tongue and let them dissolve into your bloodstream.
2) CBD Gummies
CBD gummies are exactly what they sound like: gummy “candies” filled with CBD. Think gummy bears with an added medicinal kick.
CBD gummies are discreet and easy to take. Just pop one in your mouth, chew, and swallow. Easy-peasy. Add one to your daily morning multivitamin routine for a wake-me-up like no other.
3) CBD Strips
If you’ve ever seen or tried one of those dissolvable breath strips, then you’re familiar with the idea behind a CBD strip. But instead of breath-freshening ingredients, CBD strips contain — wait for it — CBD.
Place a CBD strip on your tongue, let it dissolve, and you’re good to go.
4) CBD Pills
If you’re used to taking your medication in pill form, a CBD pill is an easy transition. The medicine inside has a variety of beneficial effects, including:
- Reduced pain and inflammation
- Protection for your body and brain
- Suppressed nausea
- Stimulated appetite
- Less anxiety and depression
- Treatment for psychotic disorders
- And much more…
The CBD in CBD pills is non-addictive, won’t get you high, and offers more powerful and longer-lasting effects than other options on this list.
5) CBD Isolate
CBD isolate is one of the newer methods of taking CBD, but it’s by no means any less effective.
To make isolate, manufacturers take the cannabis plant, remove everything but the cannabinoid CBD, and then let the result dry into a crystal or powder form.
Crystal CBD isolate is the less refined of the two, but you can only use the crystals in one way (dabbing). Powder CBD isolate is pulverized and processed crystals that can be ingested in a variety of ways.
6) CBD Edibles
Edibles are a very diverse method of taking CBD. They include:
You can pretty much transform any type of food into a CBD edible just by mixing a bit of CBD oil into the recipe. For an in-depth look at making CBD honey and insight on making other edibles, check out this article.
Inhalation
The inhalation category of how to take CBD encompasses any method that requires taking a smoke or a vapor into your lungs.
These are the more traditional methods of “smoking” that you associate with stoners of yore.
1) Joint, Blunt, Spliff
Joints, blunts, and spliffs are just raw cannabis rolled in tobacco paper or rice paper. Set the thing alight and you’re off to the races.
Joints, blunts, and spliffs are usually reserved for the more THC-heavy strains like Blue Dream or Fruity Pebbles, but there’s nothing stopping you from rolling a doobie with a CBD-heavy strain instead.
2) Dab Rig
Dabbing is one of the newer methods of getting cannabis into your system. That newness aside, it delivers the CBD or THC you need very quickly.
There is a bit of a learning curve with using a dab rig and you will have to get your hands on some CBD wax or shatter (find out how to make your own here), but once you’ve experienced the effects, you may never go back.
3) Bong
Like dab rigs, bongs take a bit of getting used to. The nice thing about the bong is that you can make one at home with little more than a plastic water bottle.
Once you’ve got your bong in hand, you just pack the bowl with your favorite high-CBD strain, add some fire, and smoke the pain away.
4) Vape Pen
Vape pens are like joints, blunts, and spliffs — only without the telltale smell.
Vape pens use a self-contained cartridge filled with a CBD or THC oil (a.k.a. vape juice) and low heat to vaporize the cannabinoids inside. The low heat of the vape pen means that more of the cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes make it into your body.
Topical
1) CBD Patches
CBD patches are a cousin to the nicotine patches that tobacco smokers use to quit.
When you apply a CBD patch, the CBD absorbs slowly through your skin and into your bloodstream thanks to some complicated science that we won’t get into here.
CBD patches last longer than most of the other methods on this list because of the interaction between your skin and the patch. They’re also much more discreet because you don’t have to put anything in your mouth or set anything on fire to get the CBD you need.
2) CBD Cream
CBD cream is one of the most targeted methods on this list.
If you have a sore muscle or a skin condition, rubbing a CBD cream onto the area gives you fast and effective relief without the wait or the labor-intensive activity of inhaling your medicine.
Find The One That’s Right For You
One of the many wonderful things about CBD is that it delivers the medical results you need without the trippy, reality-warping psychedelic effects of THC.
Another awesome thing about CBD is that it’s almost impossible to take too much. It would take an extremely large dose of concentrated CBD for you to feel any adverse effects.
Because there’s almost zero risk to taking CBD, feel free to try different delivery methods until you find the one that’s just right for you.
Perhaps a CBD cream will give you the targeted pain relief you’re looking for. Or maybe you need the more widespread effects of a CBD pill or edible. It all depends on your particular situation.
We suggest talking to your doctor about whether a CBD product is right for you and then visiting a reputable local dispensary to see what they have to offer. The budtenders there will be happy to show you how to take CBD.
For more information on all things marijuana, and to check out our 100-percent-all-natural cannabis products, visit HonestMarijuana.com today.
