CBD, the primary non-psychoactive compound in the cannabis plant, is popular in health and wellbeing circles for its purported health benefits. Consequently, CBD products are popular nutraceuticals available in various consumable forms, including softgels or soft-cased capsules.
However, while CBD softgels have been in the market for a while, they remain a mystery to mainstream cannabis consumers. Most consumers wonder whether CBD-infused capsules have therapeutic benefits, how many you can take safely, and whether they are as effective as other CBD products. You can find the answers to these questions in CBD softgel facts highlighted below.
1. CBD Softgels Will Not Make You High
Softgels are not new to the American consumer since most dietary supplements like vitamins and workout supplements come packaged as soft-gel capsules. Therefore, soft-shelled capsules contain liquid CBD extract or distillate encapsulated within a gelatin cover.
The advantage of CBD soft capsules over other CBD consumable forms is that the softgels have no flavoring additives to make the CBD extract palatable. Therefore, you enjoy the benefits of all-natural CBD extracts when you take CBD softgel capsules.
As stated above, CBD or cannabidiol is the primary non-psychoactive cannabinoid or compound in the cannabis plant. Its lack of psychoactive properties stems from its unique interaction with the body.
Cannabinoids or compounds occurring naturally in the cannabis plant utilize a similar mechanism of action to induce their effects in the body. They interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) and stimulate its receptors. The ECS is the body’s primary signal transmission system, helping to modulate various body functions by dictating the signals that reach the brain.
Psychoactive cannabinoids like delta-9 THC, the primary cannabinoid in the cannabis plant, have a high affinity to the ECS’s CB1 receptors and stimulate them to induce various effects. CB1 receptors occur in higher concentrations in the brain than the rest of the central nervous system, hence the psychoactivity.
However, one study concluded that CBD has no affinity to CB1 receptors. According to the study, CBD indirectly stimulates ECS receptors, inducing therapeutic effects without binding directly to the receptor.
The cannabinoid’s indirect stimulation explains its lack of psychoactive properties. Therefore, you can take CBD softgels as a nutraceutical without the fear of getting high.
2. All CBD Softgels Types Are Federally Legal
CBD is one of two primary cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, with delta-9 THC (THC) being the second primary cannabinoid. However, CBD is the dominant cannabinoid in the hemp species of the cannabis plant, while delta-9 THC is the primary cannabinoid in marijuana.
Marijuana falls within the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Schedule 1 drug classification due to its high potential for abuse and unproven substantial health benefits. Therefore, marijuana is a federally banned substance.
In contrast, CBD products, including softgel, are federally legal according to the 2018 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill stipulates that it is federally legal to cultivate, process, and distribute hemp and hemp-derived products with a THC content not exceeding 0.3%.
As earlier stated, CBD is the dominant hemp cannabinoid and CBD-infused products, including softgels, fall within the Farm Bill’s classification of compliant products. However, while hemp is CBD-dominant, it contains other minor cannabinoids, including THC.
Therefore, you may come across product descriptions like “full-spectrum” and “broad spectrum” when shopping for CBD softgels. Full-spectrum CBD softgels contain CBD extract that includes other minor cannabinoids, including 0.3% THC.
However, 0.3% THC is nowhere near enough to induce psychoactivity. Moreover, full-spectrum CBD has the benefit of inducing the entourage effect whereby the minor cannabinoids in the CBD extract work synergistically to potentiate CBD’s therapeutic effects.
However, if you have qualms about taking THC, you can purchase broad-spectrum CBD instead of full-spectrum softgels. Broad-spectrum CBD contains all other minor cannabinoids present in the hemp plant except THC. Therefore, you still experience the entourage effect with broad-spectrum CBD soft gels without worrying about consuming THC.
3. CBD Softgels Have Some Proven Therapeutic Benefits
One consumer survey on why people take CBD softgels and other CBD products showed that stress relief, pain relief, improved sleep, and anxiety relief are the top reasons why people take CBD, respectively. However, is sufficient research backing CBD’s efficacy in alleviating the above health conditions available?
According to one study review, human trials strongly support CBD’s anxiolytic (anxiety relief) effects. The review highlights that 300mg-600mg of oral CBD, like CBD softgels, can alleviate experimentally-induced CBD. On the other hand, a study review on CBD’s analgesic (pain-relieving) properties supported CBD’s efficacy as a pain-relieving agent. The report showed that a CBD dose diminished hyperalgesia or heightened pain sensitivity.
Therefore, scientific evidence supports CBD’s therapeutic properties as a stress-relief and analgesic agent. However, the FDA does not approve CBD softgel use as the primary treatment for anxiety and chronic pain. Still, doctors can recommend softgels as an ancillary treatment to supplement prescription medication.
4. The CBD Dosage In Softgels Varies From Brand To Brand
The FDA classifies CBD softgels as dietary supplements rather than medications. While the regulatory body has stringent oversight production rules for approved medication, its oversight role in dietary supplements mainly extends to ethical marketing. Therefore, the FDA does not dictate how much CBD extract should be in a single CBS softgel dose. Moreover, researchers have not established a standardized CBD daily dose or a dose for specific therapeutic effects.
Consequently, you can find CBD softgels in doses ranging from 10mg-50mg. While some brands recommend taking a specific dose consistently for best results, the best route with cannabis administration is to start low on the dosage and go slow.
Although one study on CBD’s safety and tolerability show that it is highly tolerable, the cannabinoid is biphasic or induces opposite effects at higher doses. Second, CBD softgels have individual-specific effects, meaning a similar dose can trigger unique effects among individuals.
5. All CBD Softgels Are Not Made Equal
The FDA’s minimum oversight of CBD softgel production processes means that some unscrupulous manufacturers get away with making substandard products and mislabelled packages.
However, you can avoid purchasing unsafe CBD softgels by exclusively purchasing lab-tested products. Lab-tested products undergo third-party lab tests in a state-registered lab to verify the hemp quality, CBD extract quality, and potency and to ensure that the final product has zero contaminants. Second, such products feature a certificate of analysis (COA) issued by the independent lab and showing the lab test results.
Conclusion
CBD softgels provide a convenient and easy way to enjoy the cannabinoid’s benefits and improve your overall well-being. However, follow the tips above to purchase high-quality CBD softgel capsules to meet your wellness needs.
