How Long Do The Effects Of CBD Last?

Luke Sholl

Veteran Cannabis Journalist & CBD Expert

Luke Sholl

Last updated: November 7, 2023

Reviewed by:

Arno Hazekamp

Reviewed by:

Arno Hazekamp

he intensity and duration of CBD's effects depend on numerous factors, including a person’s weight, metabolism, the amount of CBD consumed, and, most importantly, the method of consumption. And though CBD's effects may wear off after a matter of hours, trace amounts of the cannabinoid can actually remain in the body for weeks. With all that in mind, this article will explore the main points you need to know regarding the duration of CBD's effects.

What to expect when taking CBD

Thanks to CBD’s explosion in popularity, the cannabinoid is being consumed by countless people. But what exactly is it about CBD that has caught the eye of wellness enthusiasts, scientific researchers, and even pet owners?

CBD acts primarily through a principle of balance, supporting the body's desire for homeostasis. While there are specific use cases (health conditions), these require exact doses and advice from medical professionals. Instead, the general population has turned to CBD for its broad influence on mental and physical well-being. In everyday terms, CBD can affect areas such as:

• Sleep
• Mood
• Digestion
• Mobility

Of course, the impact of CBD in these areas differs according to your lifestyle and overall health. Therefore, it’s crucial to find a product and regimen that works for you—and that’s where understanding the duration of CBD’s effects comes into play. You don’t want to be consuming CBD needlessly; likewise, you don’t want the effects to fade when you need them most.

How long do CBD’s effects last?

Devoid of intoxicating side effects, CBD has gained a reputation as an “everyday, low-threshold cannabinoid” that may benefit our bodies and minds in a variety of ways. Determining the correct dose of CBD can be tricky, especially since there are so many methods of consumption, all with their own specific bioavailability (i.e. rate of absorption into the body). However, for most CBD users, knowing how long CBD’s effects last and the magnitude of such effects is crucial to effectively manage their intake.

With that said, here are the main factors that impact the length and degree of CBD's effects.

Consumption method

Because different consumption methods have different rates of absorption, this typically has the greatest influence over the length and intensity of CBD's effects.

CBD oils and tinctures

Most people consume CBD in the form of sublingual oils (oil dropped under the tongue) or tinctures. When taken in this convenient manner, CBD’s effects can last anywhere from 2–4 hours. The primary advantage of this method is how quickly the effects take hold; oftentimes, it requires only a few minutes. This is because CBD is able to quickly enter the bloodstream through an abundance of capillaries beneath the tongue, allowing it to work very fast.

CBD edibles

CBD can also be orally ingested in the form of an edible, such as a gummy or baked good. Moreover, thanks to the compound’s versatility, CBD oil and tinctures can be added to food or drinks. When ingested, CBD’s effects can last for anywhere between 4 and 6 hours. However, the degree of these effects is unpredictable. This is due to the first-pass effect (Pelley, 2017), a process whereby the liver prevents the absorption of many compounds that enter the body through the stomach.

CBD vapes

High-CBD strains of cannabis can be vaped and smoked just like their high-THC counterparts. However, when consumed in this way, the effects of cannabinoids usually only last 2–3 hours.

Despite this, some vaporizers provide a bioavailability of roughly 50%, making vaporization one of the most efficient ways to get the most out of your CBD. As with sublingual application, CBD's subtle effects come on almost immediately after inhalation.

CBD topicals

CBD can also be applied topically in the form of patches, creams, oils, and salves. The effects of topical application typically last anywhere between 2–4 hours. However, it is worth noting that the skin absorbs cannabinoids very slowly, and the effects do not travel beyond the local area of application, unless you’re using specially developed transdermal patches.

Dose/concentration

The length and intensity of CBD’s effects also depend on the concentration of the product or strain being consumed. The more CBD it contains, the more significant the effects may be.

Interestingly though, provisional studies suggest that CBD is only effective to a certain point (Linares et al., 2019). In an animal model, researchers discovered that “cannabidiol presents an inverted U-shape dose-response curve”. In simple terms, this suggests that the efficacy of CBD increases as you keep taking more—until you reach a certain dose. From here, the trend drops off and doesn’t keep increasing proportionally.

Now, this study only involved 57 patients, but it does suggest a need to find a “sweet spot” dose for CBD (the highest dose possible before effects fade) to garner the greatest benefit. For most people, this process involves slowly increasing daily consumption until they find a dose and frequency that delivers the desired effect.

Quality

Another key consideration for regular CBD users is the quality of their chosen product. After all, you need to be confident that the product matches its specifications. If the CBD has not been decarboxylated, contains additives, etc., this can reduce its efficacy, sometimes significantly.

There’s also an argument to be made for full-spectrum CBD products versus CBD isolate. The former includes a selection of minor cannabinoids and essential terpenes alongside CBD. By including a diverse selection of compounds, these products are believed to offer improved efficacy via the entourage effect (Ferber et al., 2020). This unique phenomenon suggests that natural compounds in cannabis work better together than in isolation, increasing the overall effect. Whether or not this prolongs the effects, however, is unclear.

CBD isolate, on the other hand, focuses exclusively on the influence of cannabidiol. Though its influence may not be as broad, it may appeal to people who want to harness CBD’s exclusive benefits. Indeed, it’s important to point out that CBD isolate isn’t necessarily inferior to full-spectrum formulas. Deciding which type of product is best for you comes down to your own wellness needs and the various CBD products available.

Biological differences

Your metabolism also plays a role in processing CBD. If you have a fast metabolism, then CBD will spend less time in your blood. Conversely, a slow metabolism will allow it to remain in your system for longer.

Something else to consider is your body’s tolerance to CBD. As with any substance, the more CBD you regularly consume, the higher your tolerance becomes. This means that, over time, it will become more difficult for your body to make the most of each dose of CBD.

In this case, you will need to consume more in order to achieve the same effects, switch up your consumption method, or stop taking it altogether (for a few weeks) in order to reset your tolerance. Taking a short break of about seven days from CBD use should be enough to lower your body’s tolerance back down to a sufficient level.

An individual’s weight also contributes to how they experience CBD’s effects. Generally speaking, people who weigh more require higher doses to feel the desired effects, whereas smaller people may experience them at lower doses.

How long does CBD stay in your system?

While CBD’s effects may only last a few hours or so, that doesn’t mean the compound is no longer in your body. CBD, like THC, is fat-soluble, meaning it gets stored in the body’s fat cells for quite some time after being consumed.

How much CBD you consume and how frequently you consume it will primarily determine how long the cannabinoid stays in your body. Simply put, the more CBD you consume, the longer it will take for your body to get rid of it.

With regular oral consumption, you can expect the cannabinoid to remain in your system for anywhere between two and five days (Meissner & Cascella, 2020). Obviously, the exact duration depends on the factors detailed above. But if you want to keep levels topped up and get closer to that five-day threshold, then consistency is key.

Try to split your daily dose across three servings, administering your chosen CBD product at regular intervals throughout the day. Given its relatively short duration of effects, it’s better to take the cannabinoid in smaller amounts more often, rather than taking one large dose per day.

Will CBD show up on a drug test?

Luckily, in order to determine cannabis use, drug tests only search for THC and its metabolites, not CBD. Nevertheless, some CBD products may contain trace amounts of THC. A good rule of thumb is that if it contains less than 0.3% THC, it is probably safe to consume, even if you may be tested. Though there is a chance of THC showing up, it’s definitely a very small one.

How long should CBD’s effects last?

With all of the information regarding the duration of CBD’s effects, it can be easy to get bogged down with all the different factors. Ultimately, the best way to establish an effective schedule is to experiment with the cannabinoid yourself. Hunt down a high-quality product that you can administer using a method that suits your lifestyle, and start recording how the product makes you feel.

You can then start to gradually increase your dose, giving your body plenty of time to get accustomed to the effects. If you don’t feel like the impact lasts long enough or you desire a more pronounced effect, then increase your intake accordingly. If you reach a point where you can’t achieve the desired effect by taking CBD three times a day, then it may be time to consider changing either the product concentration or the administration method.