Despite CBD's popularity in recent years, many questions about it and related products remain unanswered. People are curious about how THC, illegal in many countries, works in the body, and equally curious about CBD, accepted as legal in many countries. CBD is nonpsychoactive and offers numerous health benefits; if you have questions about how it is metabolized, this article is for you.
Cannabinoid products on the market can be divided into two categories: edible and inhalable. The body processes them differently. Edible CBD products pass through digestion and are absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract. Like other compounds, CBD is metabolized by the liver. When CBD and other cannabinoids are inhaled, they are absorbed through the respiratory system.
Recent studies show that maximum blood THC levels occur roughly one to two hours after consumption in edible form. When smoked, THC reaches its highest blood level in about ten minutes. Although these studies concern THC, the assumption that CBD, another cannabinoid from the same plant family, has similar timing may be reasonable.
Regardless of consumption route, the liver converts cannabinoids into metabolites. Research has examined how some cannabinoids undergo this conversion. THC, for example, becomes “hydroxy-THC,” a more potent psychoactive compound than THC itself.
According to organic chemists and research authors István Ujváry and Lumír Hanuš, “There is no publication describing the biological activity of CBD metabolites in humans.” Although research has positively identified at least 20 CBD metabolites, most of the work consists of animal studies and one laboratory study.
These factors raise a natural question: how long does it take to benefit from CBD? THC's effects are clearly more intoxicating, while CBD is more subdued and its effects harder to feel. CBD works quietly, with the symptoms a user wants to treat gradually fading. How it is consumed naturally affects how quickly relief is felt. Studies suggest inhaled CBD's effects should be felt about 15–20 minutes after use. Although they begin quickly, they generally fade within a few hours.
The next fastest effects come from oral products such as sprays, sublingual drops and tinctures. Their compounds use the mouth lining to enter the bloodstream quickly. Effects are typically felt within 30 minutes but may last six hours or more depending on dose size and strength. Edible cannabinoids processed through digestion have the longest-lasting effects, but may take about two hours to work fully.
Several factors determine how long CBD remains after its effects start fading. CBD and its metabolites are rapidly absorbed into fat molecules and stored in fat cells. Consumers with a higher body mass index retain more of these metabolites, keeping CBD in the body longer. Those with a lower BMI have been found to eliminate them faster.
According to a 2018 study in Frontiers in Pharmacology, the time CBD remains in the body varies by administration route. Authors Sophie A. Millar and Nicole L. Stone reported an average lifespan of 31 hours for smoked CBD, 11 hours for sprays and about five days for oral administration. Remember that studies are conducted under particular standards and these times can vary with BMI.
CBD has a relatively high safety profile, and the article describes it as lacking toxic effects even with excessive consumption. Nevertheless, it recommends starting with small doses and finding an individual dose over time. For more information, read “How long does CBD take to work?”
