Remember those times when you had to struggle with measuring out your dose of CBD? Or the oily taste that made you cringe?
These days are long gone.
As the CBD market evolves, innovations have given rise to a plethora of different CBD products.
CBD gummies are currently one of the fastest-growing media through which users enjoy CBD — and there’s a good reason for this.
They’re easy to carry around (no dropper bottles or vape cartridges), discreet, and they come in a range of mouthwatering flavors.
But, as with any CBD product, buying CBD gummies must be a well-informed decision. This guide will help you separate the good quality CBD gummies from the poor-quality stuff sold by fly-by-night companies.
Top 5 Brands for CBD Gummies in 2020
There’s a great abundance of CBD products available for sale. With so many brands on the market, it may be overwhelming to choose the right product, especially if you’re just getting started with hemp extracts.
To make things easier for you, I’ve tested the most popular names in the industry and came up with a list of top brands offering CBD gummies based on the hemp source, extraction methods, cannabinoid spectrum, flavor, and lab reports.
1. Royal CBD
Pros:
- Extract made with locally grown, organic hemp
- Made with supercritical CO2 extraction
- Contains 99% pure CBD isolate
- Each gummy carries a convenient dose of 10 mg CBD
- 30 gummies per container
- Delicious fruity flavor
- 0% THC
Cons:
- Only one potency option available
- Comes in just one flavor
My thoughts on Royal CBD:
Royal CBD is a relatively new company. It was launched in 2018 by a team of hemp advocates, researchers, and health freaks with a mission to set new standards for brands entering the market.
Staying true to its mission statement, Royal CBD makes premium products using high-quality ingredients, such as organically grown hemp from local farmers.
Their extracts — both full-spectrum and isolate — are obtained through CO2 extraction, yielding clean and potent products.
CBD gummies are one of the three formats offered by the company (you can also buy oil drops and capsules). These gummy bears are made with CBD isolate, meaning they’re THC-free and don’t leave a botanical aftertaste on the tongue after consumption.
Speaking of which, Royal CBD uses natural sweeteners and flavorings in their gummies. This not-so-guilty pleasure offers 10 mg of pure CBD per gummy, with 30 pieces in a jar.
10 mg is a very convenient dose. For example, if you take 30 mg of CBD daily, need to eat 3 gummies. On the other hand, if you benefit from a 5 mg dose, cut the gummy in half. The 10 mg increments make calculating this super simple.
Each batch of Royal CBD gummies is sent to a certified 3rd-party lab for content analysis. Reading a lab report from the analysis allows you to learn the actual potency of your product and verify whether it’s safe for use — laboratories check for over 200 common contaminants.
2. Hemp Bombs
Pros:
- Made from organic hemp
- Extracted with CO2
- Contains 99% pure CBD
- THC-free
- Lab tested for potency and purity
- Delicious taste
- Available in 5 potency options
- Up to 25 mg CBD per gummy
- Sold in 60-count bottles
Cons:
- Not as high quality as Royal CBD
- A little bit expensive for CBD gummies
My thoughts on Hemp Bombs CBD gummies:
Hemp Bombs is a US-based company with expertise in making isolate-based CBD products. This was one of the first brands I bought gummies from.
Unlike the majority of gummies I tried when preparing this guide, these were one of my favorites in terms of flavor.
Hemp Bombs uses organic CBD to make its gummies. The plants go through CO2 extraction before being further distilled to remove the other compounds in the extract — leaving behind pure CBD isolate (distillate).
The company’s gummies are available in five different potencies from 300 mg to 1500 mg of total CBD. They usually come in 60-count jars, but you can also buy them in sample packets if the larger option is too much for you to handle on the go.
Moreover, Hemp Bombs offers CBD gummies with added melatonin for improved sleep aid. The company also sells a “max strength” option for those struggling with serious pain and anxiety.
3. CBDistillery
Pros:
- Sourced from non-GMO, pesticide-free hemp
- Extracted using supercritical CO2
- Tested for potency and purity in a 3rd-party lab
- Enjoyable taste
- Vegan
- Contains 30 mg of CBD per gummy
- THC-free
- Available in daytime and nighttime variants
Cons:
- More expensive than the competition
- The high potency can make them difficult to dose
My thoughts on CBDistillery CBD gummies
CBDistillery is one of the industry’s pioneers — the company has been selling CBD products for over 6 years now.
Similar to the other companies in this ranking, CBDistillery infuses their gummies with CBD isolate. These are one of the strongest treats available on the market, with 30 mg of pure CBD per gummy full of grape flavors.
CBDistillery gummies are made with organic ingredients, so you can rest assured you’re taking a safe product. This makes these gummies slightly more expensive than other brands, but the potency and quality of ingredients is well worth it.
4. CBDfx
Pros:
- Sourced from organic hemp plants
- Extracted with supercritical CO2
- Contains the full-spectrum of cannabinoids
- Infused with superfood ingredients such as spirulina or turmeric powder extract
- Lab tested for potency and safety
Cons:
- Very small dosages (5 mg per count)
- You might not like the taste of these gummies at first
My thoughts on CBDfx gummies:
CBDfx is a highly esteemed company among consumers. They started out selling CBD juices, but their success resulted in expanding its product lineup to include CBD gummies.
Unlike the other brands listed above, this one uses full-spectrum CBD in its products. This means you’re getting the much desired “entourage effect.” This term refers to the synergy achieved by cannabinoids and terpenes, which is supposed to give you stronger effects than each compound in isolation. In addition to the CBD, its gummies are infused with turmeric and spirulina — two ingredients known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
One downside of this product is relatively low-potency. Full-spectrum CBD is generally believed to be more effective than isolate but 5 mg per CBD may not be strong enough for people with higher dose requirements. You may need to take several of theses gummies at a time to hit your desired dose.
5. cbdMD
Pros:
- Sourced from organic, non-GMO hemp
- Made with 99% pure CBD isolate
- Contains 10 mg or 25 mg per gummy
- Lab tested for potency and safety
- Available in three flavors
- Very affordable
Cons:
- Not the best taste for isolate-based gummies
My thoughts on cbdMD gummies:
If you’re looking for high-quality CBD gummies at a very reasonable price-point, this is a good option to consider. The CBD isolate used in the gummies is derived from organically-grown, American hemp. The product is also vegan and gluten-free, so there are virtually no restrictions to using it.
cbdMD offers their gummies in 300 mg or 750 mg of total CBD, breaking down to 10 and 25 mg of CBD per gummy. Considering the price per container, cbdMD gummies sell at $0.08 to $0.10 per mg of CBD, which makes them the most affordable option on the list.
First Up, What Are CBD Gummies?
In essence, CBD gummies are just cannabis edibles. Those gummies that are widely advertised online are made from hemp plants, so they contain higher concentrations of CBD, with only trace amounts of THC. Most CBD gummies are made with isolate, which means they are THC-free.
Some CBD gummies are sourced from marijuana, but this product category falls under different regulations due to its high THC content.
Hemp-derived products are legal in all 50 states, so even if your state doesn’t allow the use of cannabis, you can still buy these cannabidiol-infused treats and have them delivered to your home.
Why do so many people love CBD gummies?
In my opinion, that’s because they are more fun and discreet. At the same time, you can reap the benefits from the CBD, just as you would with capsules — it’s the best of both worlds!
How Do CBD Gummies Work?
CBD edibles have a different ‘mechanism’ when compared to oil drops or vapes. In other words, when you consume CBD edibles, your body needs to process the CBD and other active compounds through the digestive system to reach the bloodstream.
Because of that, the effects from CBD gummies need more time to take hold than the above forms, usually between 30–90 minutes.
When consumed orally, the effects are also released gradually, providing the user with longer-lasting symptom relief.
Of course, CBD gummies offer lower bioavailability, say, oils or vapes, but if you don’t like the distinct taste of natural CBD oil or don’t have the time for measuring out your doses, they will be a good fit for your regimen.
What Are the Benefits of CBD Gummies?
Before we touch on this subject, let’s make one thing clear.
CBD gummies aren’t magical pills and won’t cure you of severe conditions. Yet, they still bring many great health benefits and thus help you alleviate a range of symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.
According to the current research on the therapeutic potential of cannabidiol, it may mitigate the following problems:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Inflammation
- Insomnia
- Pain
- Psychosis
- Seizures
There are many ongoing studies investigating the benefits of CBD. For example, pre-clinical studies point to CBD as a potential neuroprotectant and antioxidant, which could turn out to be helpful for people suffering from symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Even severe mental ailments such as PTSD can be made more manageable with CBD and other cannabinoids.
Don’t get me wrong, you don’t need to suffer from a chronic condition in order to benefit from CBD. Whether you experience temporary mood swings, have a demanding job, or need to unwind after a stressful event, CBD gummies may come in handy.
Are CBD Gummies Safe for Kids?
CBD is generally considered a safe compound with a relatively short list of side effects. Most of them are mild, to be honest — including dry mouth, lowered blood pressure, dizziness, and sedation.
Even doses as high as 1,500 mg of CBD daily are well tolerated in humans.
I always recommend consulting a qualified physician before taking any CBD product. Cannabidiol is known to interact with certain medications, so it’s best to err on the side of caution especially if your child uses a medicine that appears on this list.
But other than that, CBD gummies are safe for kids. And if you can get some sugar-free gummies, it’s all the better. Read this article for more details about the best CBD gummies for kids.
How to Tell the Difference Between Low and High-Quality CBD Gummies
Finding high-quality CBD gummies is actually easier said than done, especially if you’re not aware of the quality standards. Some companies like to take advantage of that, selling low quality, untested CBD products.
Fortunately, more companies are now transparent about lab test results, speaking openly about the source of its CBD extracts as well as its manufacturing practices.
With that being said, I’d like you to learn the features of good-quality CBD gummies so you don’t become another victim of greedy businesses.
High-Quality CBD Gummies Aren’t Cheap
Trusted manufacturers aren’t afraid of placing a higher price tag on their products — and that’s the approach I admire.
After all, the process of making CBD gummies is extremely expensive if a company wants to achieve the desired quality.
In order to ensure that its products are 100% pure and safe, manufacturers use CO2 extraction, which is an advanced — and not the cheapest — technology.
Not to mention that making CBD gummies is about more than just the extraction.
Before CBD is infused into the end product, it must be refined so that it doesn’t transfer any impurities or THC, which is then tested in independent labs — and those labs don’t work for charity either.
By that logic, it seems counterintuitive to believe that a company will sell their products at a loss. Whenever you get tempted to buy cheap CBD oil, keep in mind that there’s no shortage of companies selling inferior products that often show up dangerous solvents or redundant plant matter in a lab analysis.
High-Quality CBD Gummies Are Potent
Potency is one of the driving factors when it comes to buying CBD gummies. They should be potent enough to provide relief from your symptoms.
The most common reasons why people eat CBD gummies include relief from pain, stress, anxiety, inflammation, and sleep disorders. That’s why potency is so important.
And since the potency affects the price of CBD gummies, keep in mind not to fall into the trap of “the deals of your life.”
High-Quality CBD Gummies Contain Only Natural Flavorings
Reputable manufacturers usually use natural flavorings in their products. CBD gummies aren’t the most potent products out there — they were invented for the sake of combining the benefits of CBD with a pleasurable form of consumption.
Just as if you were chewing your childhood memories.
CBD gummies are available in an outstanding range of different flavors, from classic fruits to exotic options. But to my mind, it’s the quality, not quantity that matters. It’s better if a brand offers a selection of specific flavors they’ve perfected over the years. This way, you’re more likely to get the best experience tailored to your preferences.
Some companies use artificial flavorings that are obviously less expensive than their natural counterparts. However, there’s a price to pay for that when it comes to quality. CBD gummies sweetened with synthetic ingredients leave a long-lasting unpleasant aftertaste on the tongue, which is a far cry from sweeteners like stevia, agave, or xylitol.
Final Thoughts
CBD can be infused into many different products, but gummies are without a doubt one of the trending products in the industry.
People have gone crazy about CBD gummies due to their ability to combine the benefits of cannabidiol with an appealing form of consumption. They are used to provide relief from symptoms of anxiety, chronic stress, pain, insomnia, and depression.
CBD gummies are also a great way to administer cannabidiol to children. If your kids turn their noses up at the oil, there’s no chance they will be so fussy about sweet gummy bears.
When searching for the best CBD gummies, choose products that are made from organic hemp and tested by 3rd-party laboratories to ensure that they match the advertised potency and meet safety requirements.
Remember that dosing CBD gummies is easier with lower potencies, so unless you need to take very high doses, I suggest that you opt for strengths such as 10 mg per gummy — they make dosing super easy.
I hope this article has helped you understand the difference between good and bad quality CBD gummies and you’ll be ready to make a well-informed decision.