People have been using cannabis for medicinal purposes for centuries, but the CBD industry as we know it is relatively new. It caught the public’s attention rather quickly; people were excited to reap cannabis’s health benefits without getting high. Despite its iffy legal status, the CBD industry is worth billions.
From oils and tinctures to creams and edibles, you may even have a few close friends that use these products and are happy to talk about them with you if you were to ask. One product they might be especially keen on are gummies: they look like multivitamins, but instead of iron and vitamin C, they have a small dose of cannabidiol.
Are CBD gummies here to stay? They sound like a fad, but a growing amount of research seems to suggest that CBD’s properties are the result of more than just the placebo effect. You don’t want to waste your money on something that will be debunked within the next few years like every other health craze, so what does the future of CBD gummies look like?
Why people love CBD
First, let’s address why people love CBD itself. It is one of over 120 compounds found in cannabis, like THC. Both have health benefits—which is why some doctors suggest medical merijuana for pain—but the former does not get you high, and the latter does.
Your body also produces its own cannabinoids with its endocannabinoid system (ECS). Along with its network of receptors and enzymes, your ECS helps keep your body in equilibrium—or homeostasis. Adding CBD to the mix gives your ECS more cannabinoids to work with, powering it up so that it can help maintain balance. CBD is not a cure-all and does not eliminate underlying issues, but this is why people take CBD for all kinds of ailments, such as epilepsy, pain, inflammation, anxiety, PTSD, and more.
Your friends who use CBD gummies might live with conditions that cause them chronic pain or discomfort. Instead of taking pharmaceutical drugs that may have unpleasant side effects, or using addictive painkillers, they opt for CBD because it’s a more natural yet effective alternative for providing relief.
Why gummies are a fan favorite
The gummy part isn’t necessary to reap CBD’s benefits; it just makes the experience more fun. Wouldn’t you rather eat a delicious apple-flavored gummy before bed to help you sleep instead of popping a pill?
CBD gummies are similar to gummy multivitamins in that they are made of gelatin, sugar, flavoring, etc. They can, however, contain other ingredients to enhance its intended effect. For example, CBD gummies for sleep might have melatonin.
People also love gummies because they make doses easy to measure. You have to estimate how much CBD is in a drop of oil based on the bottle or dropper’s label, but you know exactly how much CBD is in each candy. CBD gummies from Verma Farms, for example, have 12.5mg or 21mg each, which might be precisely the amount of cannabidiol you need instead of integers like 10 and 25.
Cannabis products are, unfortunately, still stigmatized in the US. This seems to be changing with a growing number of states legalizing it (though far too many people are still in prison for drug charges despite this), so it’s possible that you will one day be able to use products like CBD oil in public without drawing odd looks. Until then, gummies are popular because they are discreet, so you can eat them when your discomfort flares up during the day.
How will CBD gummies change?
Entrepreneur notes that professional athletes are already beginning to favor CBD products over traditional pharmaceuticals, so it is possible that CBD gummies will become commonplace in fields like sports. As acceptance of cannabidiol spreads (the 2018 Farm Bill made hemp products legal as long as they contain less than .3 percent THC, but it remains to be seen how individual states will shift), gummies are likely to ride the wave because people will gravitate toward the better-tasting variety.
There will also likely be wider assortments of gummies, too. Many gummies are currently “isolate,” but companies are starting to offer “full-spectrum” options with other cannabinoids and terpenes. Likewise, newer gummies may include vegan and sugar-free choices, as well as other ingredients to promote overall health (such as vitamins, turmeric, and other nutrients/foods). Check out Forbes’s list of CBD gummy recommendations to get a glimpse of what is already on the market. The future of CBD gummies is bright. People love cannabidiol’s range of health benefits that don’t come at the price of getting high—and eating gummies is fun and delicious. Where do you see the future of CBD gummies heading?
