Before you take a CBD capsule, you might think, “How long does this product last?” You might be looking for a clear, concise, one-size-fits-all timeline. But the truth is a little more complicated than you might think. The short answer is: the effects of CBD capsules last around six to eight hours … in general.
The long answer is: it depends.
To better understand how long the effects of CBD capsules last, we need to look at three things:
- Your body’s unique physiology
- The type of CBD in your CBD capsules
- Your tolerance for hemp-derived compounds
Understanding these three factors will help us gauge your timeline for effects as you enjoy one of the most popular CBD products on the market, CBD capsules.
What Is CBD?
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of the most abundant cannabinoids native to the hemp plant. Other cannabinoids include CBD, CBG, CBN, and CBC. These compounds interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), inciting a host of wellness-boosting effects.**
The ECS is a network of receptors that spans the body, working to retain homeostasis, or balance. The ECS plays a vital role in many important functions like sleep, mood, energy, and appetite. When you take hemp-derived CBD, the cannabinoids engage the receptors and boost their performance, offering a list of therapeutic benefits.**
But the number of cannabinoids that reach these ECS receptors differs from product to product. A significant reason for this is bioavailability.
What Is Bioavailability?
The cannabinoids from your CBD product of choice find their way into your bloodstream, engage your endocannabinoid receptors, and promote wellness-boosting benefits.** But the number of cannabinoids that reach this crucial point in the process determines how long the effects last and their potency.
You’re unique, as is your body’s physiological makeup. Your height, weight, body mass, and metabolism affect how your body processes chemical compounds like CBD.
Here’s a hypothetical. You and your best friend take the same CBD capsule at the same time. It might sound strange, but don’t expect to have the same experiences. You might feel the wellness-boosting effects earlier, while they feel the effects set in stronger.** Now, you both took the same capsule simultaneously, but your different physiologies affect how much of the cannabinoids get absorbed, which alters your CBD experience.
But it’s not just your body’s physiology that affects bioavailability. It’s also the type of CBD products you take.
Back to the hypothetical. Your friend decides to puff on a CBD vape while you, unwaveringly, take a CBD cap. CBD vapour isn’t digested like capsules. Rather, these vaporous cannabinoids filter through the lungs, reaching the bloodstream quicker and in larger numbers.
On the other hand, the CBD capsule you took is trekking through your digestive system. As it travels along, a percentage of the cannabinoids don’t reach the liver. So, fewer cannabinoids filter into the bloodstream and engage your ECS receptors. This could lead to quieter effects.**
Compared to products like CBD vapes, CBD capsules have a lower bioavailability. On the positive end, though, the effects of ingestible products, like CBD tablets, last much longer than vaped CBD.**
The Different Types of CBD
The factor you need to consider is the type of CBD. The three types of CBD include full spectrum, broad spectrum, and CBD isolate.
Full-Spectrum CBD
A full-spectrum CBD capsule has hemp’s total cannabinoid and aromatic profiles, which include terpenes and flavonoids. These organic molecules offer their own set of therapeutic benefits.** Full spectrum CBD also includes the plant’s low THC content––less than 0.3%. While CBD is non-intoxicating, large amounts of THC create the plant’s iconic “high” sensation.
We should note that UK laws require CBD products to have under 0.2% THC. So, because their THC levels can fall above this threshold, most full-spectrum CBD products are not legal in the UK. If a product is labelled as having full spectrum CBD, it’s probably misleading you or is an illegal product.
Broad Spectrum CBD
To make broad-spectrum CBD, we process the oil through an extra filtration step, stripping away its THC percentages to undetectable levels. Broad-spectrum CBD still has the rest of the plant’s cannabinoid profile, terpenes, and flavonoids. If you’re interested in broad-spectrum CBD, both our CBD capsules use broad-spectrum CBD; more on that below.
CBD Isolate
Lastly, we make CBD isolate by stripping away all other compounds. CBD isolate has no other cannabinoids or hemp-derived compounds, so it only offers the effects of cannabidiol.** If you’re interested in experiencing a product with 99% CBD, check out our CBD Bath Bombs!
Knowing the Right Dose of CBD for You
Your tolerance level for CBD also influences your timeline for effects. Like any other compound, CBD builds up in your system over time. If you’ve been using hemp-derived CBD products for a while, the cannabinoids may have built up in your system. The higher your tolerance for CBD, the more you’ll need to take to enjoy the same level and duration of effects.**
Like we said above, if you’re new to CBD, a good starter dose is 25–50mg of CBD.
What Are CBD Capsules?
CBD capsules introduce a dose of CBD through your digestive system. They break down before reaching your liver and entering your bloodstream. Like other CBD edibles, this process can take 1–2 hours.
For those who want to add CBD capsules to their morning routine, we offer CBD + CBG Morning Capsules. These organic CBD capsules deliver 30 milligrams of CBD, 5mg of CBG, and 150mg of extended-release caffeine per serving.
We also offer our CBD Soft Gel Capsules. Like our Morning Capsules, these come with hemp-derived broad spectrum CBD. Each serving contains either 25 or 50mg CBD. We suggest starting by taking one capsule over an extended period of time before increasing your dose. This will help you acclimate to the effects of CBD.**
| CBDfx Product | Type of CBD | Mg of Cannabinoids per Serving |
| CBD Soft Gel Capsules | Broad Spectrum CBD | 25mg/50mg CBD |
| CBD + CBG Morning Capsules | Broad Spectrum CBD | 30mg CBD & 5mg CBG |
Finding the Right CBD Gel Capsules
Now that we know how to gauge the timeline for effects, how do you find the right capsules for you?
First, choose products with high-quality hemp. How well hemp is cultivated and harvested will influence your CBD experience.** You can check the quality of our hemp (as well as additional ingredients) by looking at our lab reports.
A lab report will show you the product’s full chemical composition, including its cannabinoid breakdown and any other complementary ingredients. We keep our lab reports up-to-date so you can shop with added peace of mind.
Next, review the product’s formula. We add beneficial ingredients to boost CBD’s benefits for wellness, like MCT oil. MCT oil is a fatty oil that helps boost absorption along the digestive tract, increasing the capsule’s bioavailability. Our Morning Capsules also use organic compounds to accompany CBD’s effects on the mind and body.**
CBD Products With Higher Bioavailabilities:
If bioavailability is essential to your CBD experience, check out products with higher bioavailabilities, like our CBD tinctures or vapes.
CBD Tinctures
Like our CBD capsules, our CBD tinctures use MCT oil to boost absorption. However, you administer CBD oil sublingually (under your tongue) and hold it there for around a minute. The cells in your mouth absorb the cannabinoids and usher them into your bloodstream, sidestepping your digestive tract, leading to a quicker and more profound onset of CBD effects.**
CBD Vapes
CBD vapes offer a quicker route to enjoy the benefits of CBD.** Cannabinoids in vapour filter through your lungs and directly into your bloodstream much faster than capsules. So you’ll feel the effects sooner. But since the cannabinoids absorb and process through your body quicker, you won’t experience the effects for as long.
Final Thoughts
So, when will you feel the effects of CBD capsules, and how long will they last?
A simple answer: CBD capsules take 30 minutes to two hours to absorb into your body, and their effects can last up to eight hours.** This is generally speaking, of course. As we’ve discussed, this is based on unique factors and varies from person to person.
The best way to find out is to try your favourite CBD capsules and keep an eye on the clock. Once you find your ideal capsules and dosage, it’s smoothing CBD sailing ahead!
Looking for a way to enjoy CBD capsules? Be sure to check out our collection of CBD capsules!
