CBD has become a huge business since the 2018 Farm Act effectively legalized it. As its gained popularity, people have begun to develop an understanding of its many uses. CBD is short for Cannabidiol. It’s a chemical that comes from the hemp plant, but, unlike marijuana, it does not cause a high.

However, even CBD comes with its downsides. Since it doesn’t cause a high, it can be hard to tell when it’s working. Many consumers aren’t even sure when the effects of it are supposed to wear off.

How long does CBD last, anyway? What kind of factors affect it? We’ll talk all about that in this article.

A Note on Specifics

Like anything else we put in our bodies, CBD is going to react differently based on a few factors. We’ll discuss them all in more detail later on, but the general idea is that every aspect of CBD and the person taking it have the potential to influence the strength of the effects and how long they last.

The strain you’re taking matters because some strains have higher CBD amounts than others. A more concentrated dose is going to hit differently than a less-concentrated dose.

The dosage itself is also going to play a role, as is the method of administration. Eating CBD and using a topical won’t produce the same results.

There’s also the question of body chemistry. Nobody reacts to things the exact same way as others. It may be best to ask your doctor and consider your medical history before trying anything new.

1. Vaping/Smoking

Much like marijuana, it can be administered by vaping or smoking. A lot of people choose to vape it because it is the quickest method.

Vaped CBD starts working within a few minutes, so you don’t need to sit around waiting for it to kick in. Unfortunately, it also wears off more quickly than other methods. So, how long does it last when you vape it?

On average, it lasts for around three hours. If you’re looking for long-term relief, as many users are, it may be more convenient to use other methods.

There are issues of safety related to vaping it, as well. The biggest issue is that it is not well-regulated, so people have been injured by dangerous counterfeits and poorly-made vape pens.

There are a lot of things to look for when trying to spot counterfeit CBD. Low price is one of them, as are exaggerated claims of being a cure-all.

As far as we know, it doesn’t cure anything. It eases certain symptoms, but the condition remains.

There may also be claims that their product won’t show up on a drug test. This is true, but it doesn’t show up on a drug test because it’s not a drug. Only THC, which causes a high, will show up on a drug test.

The good news is that many legitimate dealers do lab testing, and make the results public. That way, their customers know that the products are safe.

Vaping and smoking are also concerns. As of yet, there’s no proof that vaping marijuana or CBD is inherently harmful. However, doctors are slow to sign off on anything that involves taking smoke into your lungs.

2. Tinctures

Another popular way to take CBD, tinctures are small amounts of oil that you drop into your mouth with an eyedropper. The effects of tinctures aren’t as fast as vaping, but they’re not too long, either. It’s rare for tinctures to take more than a half-hour to kick in.

Though they take a bit longer to work, they last substantially longer than vaped CBD. Most tinctures last anywhere from four to six hours. That’s twice as long as vaped CBD.

CBD tinctures are best administered under the tongue. This allows parts of your mouth to absorb some of the tinctures. What’s left should be swallowed.

While unregulated CBD can cause problems no matter how you take it, there is one advantage with most CBD products when it comes to safety. Unlike vaped CBD, you won’t have to worry about any potential issues regarding smoke-inhalation.

3. Capsules

Capsules are a great way to take CBD oil. They fall under the category of edibles, which covers several popular forms of CBD.

Capsules require significantly more patience than other forms of CBD. They can take a few hours to work, but they’re definitely worth the wait.

Capsules have effects that can last for more than eight hours. They’re among the longest-lasting form of CBD on the market.

The reason why capsules take so long to kick in and last for as long as they do is because like everything we swallow, CBD has to first pass through our digestive system.

4. Topicals

Topicals are often used to treat skin conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema, and even acne. They’re also great at treating joint pain.

This is especially useful since the most common reason for using CBD is to ease chronic pain. The same goes for anxiety and other, similar disorders.

In terms of application and effects, topicals can are comparable to tinctures. Both take about 20 minutes to activate, and both last up to six hours.

The reason they take effect so fast is that they’re taken in through the pores of the skin, rather than through digestion. This is similar to how tinctures absorb partly into the flesh under our tongue.