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February 8, 2023

Disclaimer: Our website includes general information and instruction relating to health and wellness topics. This content is not a substitute for medical advice from your health care provider. All treatment decisions should be determined in partnership with a health care practitioner. Hemp CBD products are derived from U.S. industrial hemp (less than 0.3% THC) and European hemp (less than 0.2% THC). While CBD products derived from the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) are legal on a federal level in the U.S., some states have specific laws, so you’ll want to check your state’s laws to be sure.

The world of hemp-derived CBD is filled with unfamiliar terms, whether it’s cannabinoids or full-spectrum hemp — yet product labels tout these terms as if they’re common knowledge. As if that’s not enough, there is potency, sourcing, quality testing, and more to consider — making the world of hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) feel a bit daunting.

Luckily, it doesn’t have to be all that complicated. Your first lesson? Understanding the difference between hemp and CBD gummies. Read on to discover what makes each formula unique, as well as a few of our favorite picks.

Hemp and CBD may seem interchangeable but, as medical cannabis expert and double-board certified doctor Dave Gordon, M.D.. explains, they’re definitely not.

“CBD (cannabidiol) is an active ingredient, a phytonutrient with the ability to support our inflammatory response and with potential healing properties,”* says Gordon. “Hemp is a plant—a specific type of a cannabis plant from where CBD is derived.”

While hemp-derived CBD comes from the industrial hemp plant, not all hemp products contain cannabidiol (although they usually do). Hemp-derived CBD oil is made using the aerial parts of the cannabis plant (i.e., leaves, flowers, stems), whereas a generalized “hemp seed oil” comes only from the seeds (which don’t contain meaningful levels of CBD).

Sounds easy enough, but to truly differentiate the two, you’ll need to take a closer look at the ingredients of a particular product.

“The term ‘hemp gummies’ is very non-specific and may or may not contain the active ingredients that a consumer is looking for,” says Gordon. “CBD gummies are more likely to contain CBD and other ingredients that have the health support benefits people want, but without looking at the third-party testing of the actual ingredients, the labels mean nothing.”

While hemp oil extracts in general include beneficial fatty acids and compounds (even hemp seed oil is beneficial for skincare and cooking), there’s less research and limited evidence of benefits compared to CBD oil. Here’s what we do know about gummies containing hemp-derived CBD:

• Research and anecdotal evidence suggest CBD can promote feelings of calm1 and improved mood.*
• Full-spectrum hemp extracts feature a combination of compounds to create an entourage effect2, which researchers believe to be more beneficial than CBD alone (one cannabinoid)
• Full-spectrum hemp contains trace amounts of THC (less than 0.3% by dry weight in the U.S.), which can potentially cause a negative drug test

Testing

Not to sound like a broken record, but the only way to know whether a product is high-quality is the reassurance of quality testing, particularly via third-party testing. This is your window into what’s actually inside a product.

Most brands offer a certificate of analysis (COA), which allows you to carefully review what’s in the product. These tests confirm that the product matches the advertised potency and falls below limits for solvents, heavy metals, pesticides, and microbial.

Transparency 

Beyond an easily accessible COA, brands should also be transparent about where their hemp is farmed and how it’s processed. If organic ingredients are important to you (they should be!), focus on brands that use all or at least some organically farmed ingredients in their formulas.

Added sugars

While they’re relatively small in size, the added sugars in CBD gummies can add up over time. Consider your sugar intake and pick a formula accordingly that works with your lifestyle, health status, etc.

Desired effects

Some hemp-derived CBD gummies contain additional ingredients or bioactive compounds to encourage sleep or feelings of calm.* Some of these ingredients have some science (such as melatonin) while others need significantly more research (CBN, for example). Keep an inquisitive mind, especially when it comes to high-priced products that make aggressive claims about their effects.

Hemp-derived CBD affects every person differently, so it’s always best to start with a lower dosage and work your way up. As for when to take CBD gummies, Gordon has some advice.

“CBD and the majority of other active ingredients in cannabis products are best absorbed when taken with a fat-containing meal,” explains Gordon. “Typically, ingested CBD products are best taken 2 to 3 times per day to maintain steady levels, though some individuals use them once daily or as needed for specific purposes.”

Examples of “specific purposes” could be easing into sleep or preparing for a busy workday. The effects of CBD typically take between 15 to 30 minutes to kick in (although it varies person to person), so keep that in mind when planning your dosage. If you’re new to hemp-derived CBD, be sure to check out our dosage guide!

If you’ve decided that CBD gummies are right for you, we have quite a few buying guides to help you find the right formula, including a round-up of the best CBD gummies, as well as specific guides for sleep and sex.*

Our full range of guides includes:

Whether you’re hoping to improve your sleep, ease aches, or promote calm, there’s no shortage of hemp-based products to consider.* When it comes to hemp versus CBD gummies, it’s important to remember that the only way to ensure you’re getting a quality product is to read the product’s ingredient list and cross-reference the certificate of analysis. It’s hard to cut through the noise, but when you do, there are plenty of good hemp-derived products—and if you’re interested in learning more about CBD, we’ve got much more to share.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.