CBD: What's The Best Time Of Day To Take It?

By The Fresh Toast's Mary Sauer, provided exclusively to Benzinga Cannabis.

Before deciding which time of day is best for you, it is important to understand that the delivery method used for CBD changes when and how often it should be used.

Cannabidiol has become a part of the daily lives of many users, taken as part of their routine just like any supplement or medicine. Once or twice a day, they fill a dropper, take a few gummies or swallow a capsule to help manage a chronic condition, like pain, anxiety, or anxiety.

As it turns out, when CBD is taken may make a difference in how it affects users; finding the right time of day could improve the effectiveness of this hemp-derived product, getting users closer to their desired results.

The Right Time For Each Delivery Method

Before deciding which time of day is best for you, it is important to understand that the delivery method used for CBD changes when and how often it should be used. This is because each method is absorbed differently in the body, some more quickly than others while some have a slow, but long-lasting, effect.

Inhalation Using a Vape Pen

Inhalation using a vape pen is a fast delivery method. Since CBD is quickly absorbed through the alveoli of the lungs, the CBD hits the bloodstream quickly. Within minutes of inhalation, CBD reaches peak levels in the bloodstream. 

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This means the effects can wear off quickly, too. Whatever your goal might be for using CBD, a vape pen is probably best used on an as-needed basis in addition to regular supplementation using other methods.

Capsules and Edibles

Cannabidiol is available in an edible form, swallowed in a capsule or taken through a gummy. There are also products that dissolve into a drink. Since these methods have to be digested first before the CBD enters the bloodstream, they’re slower acting. It can take 1 to 6 hours to reach peak CBD levels in the bloodstream.

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For this reason, this delivery method is best used with a goal of supplementing for the long-term and won’t work well on an as-needed basis. Deciding on the best time of day for this method of delivery comes with two considerations — what fits your lifestyle and when you eat.

Remembering supplements and medications isn’t easy. To consistently keep up with daily CBD supplementation, weave it into your routine in a convenient way. Take it alongside other supplements or at the same time each day. Since eating when you take an edible or capsule can increase the bioavailability of the CBD, it is a good idea to take this form alongside food.

Oral Delivery

Oils and tinctures are typically taken by placing them under the tongue where they are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream at a receptor site. This delivery method isn’t as fast acting as inhalation, but it is still fairly quick with CBD reaching the bloodstream somewhere between five and 20 minutes after use. The effects of oral delivery are longer acting than vaping, however, and it can take hours for peak levels to be reached in the bloodstream.

As far as timing goes, this method can be used as a daily supplement once or twice a day or taken as needed. Even though it doesn’t need to be digested, using CBD right after eating may increase absorption of CBD so it is a good idea to take alongside a meal or snack.

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Timing and the Effect of CBD

CBD users have offered up varying anecdotal reports about how CBD makes them feel. Some say that they feel energized after use while others report it having a calming effect. It is helpful to pay attention to how CBD affects you as you decide on the best time of day for using CBD.

Feeling energized? Opt to take it with your morning meal or at lunch time not only to feel better throughout the day but to avoid sleeplessness at night. If a calming effect is your typical experience, considering waiting until the evening meal to take CBD.

The effect of CBD can vary from person to person, so don’t be afraid to make changes to when and how you use CBD based on how you feel. A healthcare provider who works with cannabis products may be able to offer additional insight into getting the best results.

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