How Long Do the Effects of CBD Oil Last?

The effects of CBD oil may last for 2 to 8 hours in the body depending on various factors such as body weight, method of intake, and metabolic rate. The blog explains CBD oil and the factors affecting its long-term effects.

CBD is a healthy natural compound extracted from industrial Hemp. It has taken the UK health industry by storm with many reported health benefits, such as managing anxiety, pain, and stress, boosting mental health, and improving skin conditions. CBD oil is the most commonly used product to harness these potential therapeutic effects. However, there is a lot of misinformation and confusion surrounding Cannabidiol oil. One of the most frequently asked questions is the Longevity of CBD effects in the body. The answer varies from one person to another since it depends on the dosage, method, body weight, and individual lifestyle.

Understanding CBD Oil

In cannabis strains like the hemp plant, there are over 100s chemical compounds. The main building blocks received in most clinical studies and research are Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD has an opposing effect associated with cannabis. Cannabis smokers are highly associated with a feeling of highness, tension, and hallucinations. All these effects are caused by THC, which is a psychoactive compound found mostly in marijuana strains. Czegeny et al. (2021) explained that CBD has no mind-altering effects but has proven to have potential health benefits, like managing pain, anxiety, and stress.  According to Gibbs et al. (2019), in 2018, the UK government legalised CBD products for public consumption,which should contain less than 0.2% THC. The most common CBD supplement in the hemp market is CBD oil. It is made by diluting extracted CBD compounds with organic carrier oils like Coconut, hemp seed, and olive oil. Afterwards, the oil is packed in bottles and tinctures and is readily available in hemp stores, dispensaries, and online stores.
The Longevity of Effects of CBD Oil

Upon consuming CBD oil, the cannabinoid is absorbed into the body's systems, where it interacts with ECS receptors. The Endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex structure responsible for maintaining body balance. According to Spanagel& Rainer (2022), the speed, Longevity, and efficiency of how CBD molecules interact with ECS receptorsdepend on individual body chemistry and the amount of CBD oil taken. The effects of CBD will last in the ECS for around 2 to 8 hours. However, it depends on how quickly CBD is metabolised, absorbed, and synthesised by the body's enzymes and ECS receptors. The speed varies from person to person depending on factors like the method of taking CBD oil, CBD dosage, body metabolic rate, and frequency of use.

Factors Affecting the Longevity of CBD Effects

Method of Consumption

There are different ways to take CBD oil nowadays. Each method has ways it affects how long the cannabinoid stays in the body. Below are 4 common ways to take CBD oil:

Ingestion

An oily bitter taste, which is a huge roadblock to many consumers, characterises CBD oil. Therefore, you can ingest it down the digestive tract by infusing it into your daily meals or other edibles. The effects of ingesting CBD last longer compared to other methods. Although the cannabinoid takes time to beabsorbed into the bloodstream, its effects manifest slowly with time, making it last longer. It might take 5 to 8 hours forthe effects to vanish.

Sublingually

Sublingually involves placing a few drops of CBD oil under the tongue and holding it for about 60 seconds. The timeframe allows the compound to be absorbed into the bloodstream through the mouth mucous membrane. Its effects will kick in faster but also disappear fast. It is because CBD bypasses metabolism making its effects come to show earlier. However, the compound is quickly dissociated by body mechanisms.

Topically

CBD oil can be applied directly to the affected skin. It means that the Cannabidiol bypasses the digestive and liver breakdown to work locally. CBD penetrates through the skin pores into the inner skin layers, where ECS receptors are highly concentrated. It does not diffuse into the bloodstream and takes around 45 minutes to feel the effects of CBD,lasting 5 to 8 hours or more.

Doses of CBD oil

Adding to a method of consumption, the amount of CBD oil you use can also affects CBD longevity in your system. Silmore et al. (2021) explained that the standard rules amplify that the higher the CBD dosage you consume, the longer it will take for the body to metabolise, absorb, and process it. Therefore, the therapeutic effects of CBD will last longer in high dosages.

How Frequently Should You Take CBD Oil?

How often you take the supplement plays a crucial role in the time effects of CBD last. When consuming CBD oil more regularly, Cannabidiol molecules build up in the body and are absorbed by fat body cells since it is fat soluble. Therefore, its effects will last longer upon frequent users since the accumulating cannabinoids heighten it in the body. Here are factors affecting how long the effects of CBD last.

Body Weight

CBD is highly soluble in fat and is stored in body fat cells. Therefore, people with high body fat will feel the effects of CBD longer. In addition, people with more muscles than fat have higher metabolic rates. CBD will be synthesised more quickly and disappear in the body system sooner than in less masculine individuals. So, CBD consumers with a high muscle-to-fat ratio can tolerate high dosages of CBD.

Metabolic Rate and Age

Body metabolism determines how CBD molecules are synthesised and eliminated. The rate of body metabolism varies from different person depending on their age and health status. Seniors are characterised by weak body metabolic rates, meaning it will take time to breakdown CBD. Therefore, the effects will last longer in seniors compared to their youthful version

Lifestyles

 The way you spend a day can determine the period CBD stays in your body. People with active lifestyles, such as athletes, bodybuilders, and Yoga practitioners, are characterised by higher metabolism and metabolic rate than those with sedentary lifestyles. Therefore, your body will metabolise and process CBD more quickly, and itseffects will last shorter.

Conclusion

CBD oil is a common supplement used to harness the therapeutic effects of Cannabidiol. The effects last in the body for approximately 2 to 8 hours, depending on factors like the method of consumption and dosage used. Taking CBD oil sublingually is the fastest way to feel the effects of CBD compared to ingesting it. Other factors like body weight, metabolic rate, and individual lifestyle greatly impact the Longevity of CBD effects. CBD is fat soluble, meaning people with high body weights can feel effects longer since their body metabolic rate is low due to the low muscle-fat ratio.

References

Czégény, Z., Nagy, G., Babinszki, B., Bajtel, Á., Sebestyén, Z., Kiss, T., ... &Csupor, D. (2021). CBD, a precursor of THC in e-cigarettes. Scientific reports, 11(1), 1-6.

Gibbs, B., Yates, D. A., & Liebling, J. (2019). CBD in the UK. London, UK: Centre for Medicinal Cannabis.

Silmore, L. H., Willmer, A. R., Capparelli, E. V., &Rosania, G. R. (2021). Food effects on the formulation, dosing, and administration of cannabidiol (CBD) in humans: A systematic review of clinical studies. Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy, 41(4), 405-420.

Spanagel, R. (2022). Cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system in reward processing and addiction: From mechanisms to interventions. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience.