When you think of CBD gummies, it’s easy to think about the many unregulated edibles of days past and wonder – are CBD gummies safe to eat? The short answer to this question is: Yes if you know what you’re buying. We’re going to break it down for you in this article.

The Rise of CBD Gummies

As CBD has grown in popularity, the mediums for ingesting it have expanded. It used to be that CBD was mainly available as a hemp-y tasting oil that wasn’t super fun to take. But in recent years the market has exploded, and clever brands have marketed a variety of more convenient and tasty ways to take your CBD.

CBD is shorthand for cannabidiol, an extract of the hemp plant that is related to THC. Like its psychoactive cousin, it offers a multitude of potential health benefits, but without the high. Some of these potential health benefits include:

• Anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects
• Decreasing the symptoms of anxiety and insomnia
• Seizure control (there is now a CBD-based FDA approved medication for seizures)
• Neuroprotective benefits

In addition to all this, CBD has a good safety profile, with only a few potential mild side effects. So, the CBD piece of CBD gummies is certainly safe, as long as you research the source.

Finding the Best CBD Brands

CBD is only as safe as the trustworthiness of the source makes it. Let’s face it, a bit of research is necessary to find a good brand in an unregulated marketplace. There are a lot of CBD gummies out there, but because the FDA doesn’t regulate CBD you have no idea what you’re getting unless you do your own digging. Here are some of the big things to look for.

Brand Reputation

Only buy your CBD products from a reputable and well-known brand. Search third-party website roundups to see what companies are being talked about most, then look a little deeper. Is the company a member of a trusted industry organization like the Hemp Roundtable? Are their products mentioned in quality publications? Do they have a USDA organic label, or are they Hemp Association certified? The frontrunners will become clear.

Third-Party Testing By Independent Labs

It is imperative that you only buy your CBD gummies from a company that has their products batch tested for purity and potency by a third-party lab. This is the only way that you can ensure that the product actually contains the amount of CBD it claims for dosing purposes (as well as any other beneficial hemp compounds), and that the product is free from any heavy metals, toxins, or contaminants.

Follow the Reviews

Once you are assured that your product is both safe and effective through lab reports, take a look at what other users are saying. This can be as simple as scrolling through the reviews on the product website itself. Obviously, the more people that are reviewing it, the better. This means that they have more customers. How is the taste? What benefits are the users noticing?

Also, don’t neglect third-party reviews. Google the company name and product to see if any other sites have reviewed it. Since CBD gummies are more reliant on taste testing than other types of products, be sure that the majority think they actually taste good.

What About the Other Ingredients?

So far, we’ve looked at the CBD aspect of CBD gummies. That’s most of the battle. Now we need to check out what other ingredients are involved. This part will come down largely to personal views and tastes. For example:

Is It Vegan?

As with any type of gummy, this can be an important question. Many gummies are made with gelatine (a by-product of animal bones), and unless it is specifically stated that they are vegan, may not be appropriate for vegetarians. Vegan gummies will use either agar or other gums to create the “gummy effect”.

Is It Organic?

Your mileage may vary on this one, as well. Some brands use CBD extracted from organic hemp, some create their gummies with all organic ingredients, and some are actually USDA certified organic. (This final one is pretty rare, it’s an expensive certification). You can get a good feel by reading the ingredient list.

How “Clean” Is the Brand?

The ingredient list will also give you an idea of how clean the product is. Generally, the fewer ingredients on the list, the better. Most people don’t relish a whole lot of extra ingredients, artificial flavors, or additives. A truly transparent company will have a complete list of ingredients right on the product page so you can see for yourself.

How to Take CBD Gummies

CBD gummies, if purchased from a quality source, are very safe to use. But as with any kind of wellness supplement, you want to find the dose that works best for your body. Because CBD is not regulated, there isn’t a standard dosing chart.

If you have a chronic illness, or take medication, it’s best to discuss CBD dose with your doctor before starting any regimen. Otherwise, start small and work your way up. Most CBD gummies offer a fairly low dose per serving (anywhere from 10 mg to 25 mg per gummy).

To give a general idea, a person who weighs around 150 lbs may consider 25 a low daily dose, 50 mg a moderate daily dose, and 75 a high daily dose. The amounts change for those who weigh more or less, and of course, everyone’s body will react differently. Start with 10-25 mg and see how it makes you feel. You can always take more if needed.

A Final Note

If you have children in your home, make sure that you keep your CBD gummies out of reach. While safe even for children in an appropriate dose (talk to their pediatrician), you don’t want a child mistaking them for candy and eating a bunch of them at once. There has never been a recorded death from an overdose of CBD, but too much can certainly make them feel sick.