CBD Oil vs CBD Edibles: What’s the difference?

Today, we have more consumable Cannabidiol (CBD) options than ever before. Of the many ways to enjoy CBD, the two most popular options, by a large margin, are oils and edibles

While both options can add calmness and balance to your life, the fact is your body absorbs oils and edibles differently. Ultimately, your decision rests on what you want to achieve by taking CBD.

But to choose the best product with any confidence, you must know how CBD oil and CBD edibles affect you. Below, you’ll find everything there is to know about oils and edibles: how they’re made, their benefits and drawbacks, and when to pick one over the other.

What is CBD Oil?

CBD oils (or tinctures) are the original dosing format and the most popular purchase our consumers make. That’s because the method is easy, effective, and fast acting.

We make our CBD oil by suspending a CO2 extracted, hemp-based CBD compound into an organic MCT oil mixture.

The common method of dosing CBD oil is known as sublingual administration. You place a few drops—or however much you want—under your tongue for sixty seconds, then swallow the rest.

This way, CBD absorbs directly through your mouth’s mucous membrane—soft tissue that’s rife with capillaries and acts as an on-ramp to your bloodstream. Whatever your membrane doesn’t absorb travels to your stomach and is digested there.

Because each person has unique body chemistry, there’s no easy way to know your preferred dose until you try.

CBD oil is a great method for quick dosing; within fifteen minutes you’ll feel its effects. But I think it’s also perfect for new users because they can learn how different doses affect their body quickly and safely.

What are CBD Edibles?

The term edible originates from the long history of baking cannabis extractions in fatty oils and butter. But don’t worry, CBD edibles contain zero THC; we remove even trace amounts of the substance from our products.

For our purposes, an edible is any consumable food containing CBD, including brownies, bars, cookies and our tasty line of organic fruit gummies.

Unlike CBD oil, you won’t feel the positive effects of edibles for one to two hours. The lengthy activation delay comes from your body’s first-pass metabolism. CBD must travel through your gut wall and liver before entering the bloodstream, and that takes time.

Having been absorbed entirely through your liver and gut wall, you’ll feel a more general body euphoria compared to CBD oil’s upfront effect. Neither feeling is better than the other; it all depends on what you’re after.

You don’t have to buy an edible, either. There are tasty recipes you can cook up at home. But it may take a few attempts to get the hang of cooking with CBD. Also, nailing down how much CBD you’re ingesting per edible is tricky when you’re cooking it yourself.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of CBD Oil and CBD Edibles

Below, I’ve listed the contrasting attributes of CBD oil and CBD edibles. Remember, only you can decide which product fits your specific needs. But with this list, I know you’ll be able to make the right decision.

The Benefits of CBD Oil

Fast Absorption: You absorb the lion’s share of CBD oil directly into the bloodstream via sublingual administration. So, you’ll feel CBD’s effects in no longer than fifteen to thirty minutes.

Great for Daily Use: Loaded with healthy oil and calming CBD, you can re-dose throughout the day without worrying about your sugar or fat intake.

Organic MCT: We make our CBD tinctures with organic MCT (medium-chain triglycerides) oil; it’s easily digestible and known in the health industry to support your metabolism and provide a clean source of energy.

First-Timer Friendly: When trying CBD for the first time, it’s best to monitor CBD’s effects on your cannabinoid system with minimal delay. CBD oil is the easiest way to judge how CBD feels because it enters your bloodstream faster.

The Drawbacks of CBD Oil

The Taste: The combination of MCT oil and terpenes doesn’t exactly excite the tastebuds. This is the main complaint most users have with CBD oils and tinctures.

Dosage Isn’t Exact: If you’re keen to know your dosage to the milligram, CBD oil can pose a problem. The included dropper, while useful, provides you with an approximate dosage.

Shorter Duration: The fast-acting effects of CBD oil means you’ll have less time under its calming euphoria, about two hours. If you’re going on a plane trip, for example, you’ll probably want an edible because it’ll last you the duration of the flight.

The Benefits of CBD Oil

Long-Lasting: Because your gut and liver process CBD slowly, an edible’s effects last four to six hours. If you need continual symptom relief throughout the day, edibles are for you.

Discreet Dosing: Pulling out a tincture dropper may cause your friends or coworkers to ask what you’re taking. But no one will look twice when you eat a gummy or brownie.

Great Taste: Unlike bitter-tasting CBD oils, edibles taste amazing. We have many unique and delicious flavors of edibles. My favorite is Orange Dreamsicle—it tastes just like my favorite popsicle.

Exact Dosages: Most edibles dole out a specific amount of CBD per unit. Our edibles, for example, state how much CBD you’re getting in every piece. This way, you can accurately monitor your dose throughout the day.

The Downsides of CBD Edibles

Slow Onset: CBD edibles are absorbed by the stomach and the gut, a slow process. It can take anywhere from an hour to three hours to feel the effects of your CBD edible.

Taste Too Good?: The scrumptious flavors of CBD edibles have a minor side effect—you’ll want to keep eating them. The struggles of sticking to a specific dose while eating edibles are very real!

Contains Sugar: If you’re on a low-sugar diet, like Keto, then brownies and gummies could pose an issue. You can, however, avert the sugar dilemma by purchasing CBD oil and making your own sugar-free edibles.

Which should you choose?

As you can see, deciding between CBD oil and CBD is all about preference—one is not better than the other.

CBD oils are great for quick doses, and aside from the CBD itself, they contain other healthy oils and zero sugar. But they taste bitter. And you may not feel as comfortable dosing in public, or with friends and family nearby.

CBD edibles, on the other hand, release over time and provide long-lasting effects. They’re easy to use, and you’ll know exactly how much CBD you’re ingesting. But edibles contain sugar to balance out the bitterness of the oil. And their slow onset could pose an issue if you need quick relief.

Personally, I think it’s reasonable to purchase one of each and try them for yourself. You may prefer one over the other. Or, as I often find is the case, you’ll end up enjoying edibles and oils for different reasons. Whatever you choose, you’ll find it in our comprehensive CBD shop—check it out today.