How Long Does CBD Oil Take to Work? Ask a Pharmacist

If you’re considering using CBD, there’s always a good reason. Maybe you need help relaxing after a stressful work day, or you’re looking for something to ease the muscle pain after an intense workout. When you decide to supplement your active lifestyle with CBD, a natural follow-up question to ask is: “How long does it take for this CBD oil to work?”

In general, it takes between 30 minutes to 2 hours for CBD to be absorbed into the bloodstream. For its effects, some people may notice results within a matter of days, while others may require weeks of consistent use before feeling a difference. 

These factors can weigh heavily on how quickly you can anticipate feeling the effects of CBD oil: 

1. Body weight — It may take a larger man longer to feel the effects of CBD than a smaller person. The higher your body weight, the longer it may take for your CBD to start working.
2. Metabolism — People with a faster metabolism are likely to feel the effects of CBD more quickly than those with a slower metabolism. 
3. Previous cannabis experience — People who have used cannabis in the past may feel the effects of CBD more quickly than someone who has never used cannabis. 

Once you understand how those factors can affect your CBD oil’s effectiveness, you can then consider these variables: 

1. Dosage amount — Your ideal CBD dosage is something you will have to dial in for yourself. A great daily starting dose is 25 mg, and then adjust up or down as needed. 
2. Dosage frequency — Consistent daily dosing is key for success. Some people take multiple doses throughout the day, while others take a full amount once a day. 
3. CBD product quality — Not all CBD products are created equal. Many CBD brands do very little to produce safe, quality products.¹ Therefore, always look for full spectrum, Flower-Only, USDA Organic CBD products to ensure the highest quality. 

After a month, you will likely feel the impact of taking CBD.² But if you don’t believe us, try taking it for one month, and then stop for a week. That’s when you will likely begin to understand how CBD made you feel, which will become more apparent as those effects wear off after you stop for a few days.

References

1. VanDolah HJ, Bauer BA, Mauck KF. Clinicians’ Guide to Cannabidiol and Hemp Oils. Mayo Clin Proc. 2019;94(9):1840-1851. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2019.01.003. Under the “Finding a Quality Product” and Table 3.

1. Shannon S, Lewis N, Lee H, Hughes S. Cannabidiol in … and Sleep: A Large Case Series. Perm J. 2019;23:18-041. doi:10.7812/TPP/18-041.