Anthony Pellegrino
It is no secret that the CBD industry has grown swiftly in the wake of cannabis legalization around the country. In fact, it has been some of the most rapid growth ever seen, and there are no signs of slowing down anytime soon. As you can expect, there are now countless brands of CBD edibles on the market. However, if you are new to CBD, you may be wondering which brands and products you should try. It is the paradox of choice, after all. So to help you narrow down your decisions, we created a list of the best CBD edibles you should check out in 2021!
And if you're ready to try California's best marijuana subscription box, be sure to sign up for Nugg Club today. You'll receive $225 worth of dispensary quality cannabis products for just $99! That's 5 to 7 full-sized, name brand products (yes with THC). Want more products? Add unlimited extras to your box from the Nugg Club wholesale market for 40% to 60% off retail prices.
And if you don't live in the SoCal area, sign up for the waitlist! We'd love to have you on board when we can! Now, without further ado, here's the best CBD edibles of the year.
Gummies aren't just for lunch box treats anymore. They've become a major carrier for health supplements, including CBD. You can even find vegan, gluten free CBD gummies at your nearest dispensary or health food stores! Here are some of the best CBD gummies of 2021.
Kanha's CBD gummies are seen by many as the best-tasting in the whole CBD industry. This is because they use the best and most premium quality CBD oils. All of which go through rigorous testing to ensure customers are getting a consistent dose in each gummy. As such, Kanha's gummies (especially their Vegan Serene Green Apple) make the top of our list of best CBD gummies. In addition, each gummy is made with only natural ingredients and is consistently safe, reliable, and incredibly tasty.
The second gummy on our list is the CBD/THC hybrid gummies by Portland-based cannabis company Wyld. Wyld is one of the top cannabis brands in the US and seeks to embody the culture of the pacific northwest in the quality of its edible products. The company makes several different gummies, all with varying concentrations of THC and CBD. However, the one with the most CBD is their strawberry gummy, with a 20:1 CBD to THC ratio. Wyld gummies are always made with real fruits and CBD oil derived from marijuana, unlike other hemp-derived CBD edibles. If you are looking for some CBD gummies that can help you kick back and relax while still keeping your wits about you, the Wyld Strawberry gummy should be at the top of your list.
Another rising star in the CBD world is Kanibi. They're a relatively new company that uses nothing but organic ingredients in its CBD edibles. They also rely on a particular extraction method to source their CBD using CO2 as a solvent. This extraction method is known and loved for the high-quality extracts it produces. Afterward, Kanibi mixes the CBD into the gummies during their production. In contrast, other companies tend to spray the CBD extract onto the gummies after being made.
All Kanibi CBD gummies go through a round of testing by a third party to give their customers the peace of mind that comes with trusting a CBD edible product. When you place an order with Kanibi, the edibles are exactly what they say they are. Considering the CBD market is mostly unregulated, and without FDA approval, this could be especially important for some customers.
Since NuggMD is based in California, we can't help but show some love to a fellow Golden State cannabis company. But that's not the only reason we put Fab on our list of best CBD edibles. With the stated goal of transforming the world of CBD, Fab is another provider of fully organic, CO2-extracted CBD edibles. Using a full-spectrum CBD oil sourced from hemp plants that are only grown in Colorado, Fab produces CBD gummies using isolate, with no added colors or flavors. Besides, they don't need to. They taste delicious!
Fab includes testing results by a third-party laboratory listing dosages of the gummies.
Whether you like your brownies with a buzz or just as another vehicle for sweet, sweet chocolate, these CBD brownies have got it all.
The CBD brownies by Kana Brownzzz is one of the best options on the CBD market for brownie lovers if they can't vist their dispensary. None of these brownies contain any THC that will intoxicate you, just 25 mg CBD and many herbs and spices to provide even more health benefits! They're also chock full of protein to provide additional nutritional value while helping you to relax further. So if you're looking for a quick, tasty snack that will help you relax, Kana Brownzzz could be your go-to. As the name suggests, these CBD brownies are also large and made in the style of cupcake brownies. So much so, you can easily share with a friend no problem! If you would like to learn more about Kana Brownzzz and their CBD brownies, you can visit their website at brownzzz.com.
GoodBites was founded by Angelica Xavier, who was diagnosed with both a genetic disease and ADD. Having found relief for her physical symptoms with a vegan diet, she decided to try CBD to help her ADD. She reported that after including CBD in her diet, she felt more focused and calm during the day. As such, she chose to share this with others and created GoodBites CBD. One of GoodBites' best products is their CBD brownie bites. Each brownie bite is soft and moist on the inside while providing a nice crunch on the outside. Individual pieces contain 10mg of CBD each. The company and its founder pride themselves on their ingredients. Their CBD is extracted from organic hemp, and the edibles are baked with clean, healthy ingredients and nutrients. As a result, GoodBites deserves a spot on any Best of CBD Edibles list.
NatureCan makes many CBD products, including brownies. NatureCan Double Chocolate Brownies are made using high-quality CBD oil and include delicious chocolate chips. They're also jam-packed with protein. So if you like your brownies very chocolatey, you should consider NatureCan. The brownies each come with 25mg of full-spectrum CBD.
How can chocolate possibly be improved? Infuse it with CBD! Here's some of our favorite CBD chocolate bars of 2021.
Who doesn't love chocolate? It's one of life's simple pleasures. The Good Vibes Dark Chocolate Bars made by Pure Science Lab are no different. These dark chocolate CBD edibles are vegan, made without GMOs, gluten-free, and include 140mg of CBD in each chocolate bar. Pure Science Lab creates all of its products in certified ISO facilities, meaning they follow international production standards. In addition, all of Pure Science Lab's edibles use only organic and domestically grown hemp-derived CBD oil.
Another great CBD chocolate bar you should add to your list is the CBD Living Dark Chocolate Bar. Each incredibly delicious chocolate is packed with 200 mg CBD, making it one of the most potent edibles on our Best Of list. Not only that, they're affordable at only $16 a bar. So if you're looking to enjoy your CBD at the right price, CBD Living is the choice for you. CBD Living is one of the highest regarded cannabis companies out there. They also provide third-party lab results on their website so you can trust the purity of their product.
Lulu's Chocolates are known far and wide for the quality of their chocolate candies. Their founder Lulu Bonner has been dedicated to sharing amazing raw cacao with the cannabis world since 2006. She first discovered the wonders of cacao tree chocolate while visiting the lush tropical greens of Hawaii. Shortly after, and in not much time at all, Lulu Bonner has taken her brand from niche product to household name. Recently the company has decided to add cannabis into their chocolates, and this includes CBD. These edible chocolates even won the High Times 2017 Cannabis Cup Bronze medal for best edible. Each of these delicious CBD chocolate bars contains 78% cacao and 80 mg of CBD sourced from Colorado Sungrown Hemp.
Korova is one of our favorite edible cannabis companies, and they've been in the marijuana industry for a decade now. This experience has given Korova enormous perspective, allowing them to adapt to the rapidly growing and changing industry. Korova makes various THC edibles and extracts, but their Vanilla Bean CBD Cookie makes our list. Each package includes ten mini-cookies at 15mg of CBD per cookie. There's no THC at all in these cookies.
Another one of our favorite CBD cookies is the chocolate chip and vanilla lavender cookies by Kushie Bites. Kushie Bites use hemp-based, CO2 extracted CBD oil in their products. These cookies are packed with flavor and are 100% organic, vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and filled with many nutritious ingredients. Kushie Bites bake a fresh batch every single week and sell all their cookies online! The cookies are infused with 25mg of full-spectrum CBD oil with no added sugars, artificial flavoring, preservatives, or GMOs.
However, one of their flavors stood out above all others in our taste test -- the new Kushie Bites Sweet Dreams Lavender Vanilla CBD Cookie. This cookie comes with even more CBD, at 50mg a pop. It also includes another 3mg of melatonin for an even better night's sleep. So if you were looking at our list to find the perfect snack before bed, look no further than these Kushie Bites cookies.
Dr. Norm’s CBD cookies are a well-known and award-winning edible brand. Their 15mg Pure CBD Cookie is another delicious addition to our best-of list. Their CBD is sourced from organic hemp, and their cookies are tested beforehand for pesticides, toxins, solvents, and pollutants. They are also rigorously tested to ensure their dosages are accurately labeled.
While Dr. Norm made its name with its unique cookies, they've recently spread their wings into many other health and wellness products. They know that as the CBD industry grows and blossoms, the wants of their customers will grow with it. Now the company is serving these needs with its tinctures, topicals, CBD candies, and hemp pre-rolls, among many fantastic treats.
Feel like indulging your sweet tooth? There's no reason you can't add a CBD boost to make it worth your while! Here are just a few of our favorite CBD candies.
One of the companies that consistently make the most potent and cleanest CBD edibles is Satori Care Naturals. Our personal favorite is their CBD Milk Chocolate Strawberries. These edibles are the perfect way to enjoy a sweet snack while kicking back. Satori uses CBD oil made with the highest-quality California sun-grown cannabis and the best Italian-sourced ingredients for its chocolate. They're organic, GMO-free, and without any toxic pesticides, metals, or other contaminants. But they don't just expect you to take their word for it. Satori always provides third-party lab testing to prove it.
If you're anything like us, you love gummy worms. And if you're also a lover of cannabis, you naturally must be wondering if you can find the best of both worlds. Luckily, you can! Penguin's CBD Sour Gummy Worms are infused with 10mg of CBD isolate. Each gummy is bright, soft, and painted with a delicious mix of sweet and sour sugar. Every Penguin package comes with 30 single worms packed with 10mg of CBD per worm. None of them contain any THC or marijuana taste.
CBD drinks are becoming all the rage. Here's just a few of the standout products in this ever-growing category.
In terms of CBD drinks, one of our go-to's is the CBN/CBD Sleep Tea from Atlas. Their teas are made only with the highest quality ingredients and sourced from top-tier cannabis plants. Every cup of tea is a safe, tasty, and reliable experience. Atlas decided to use only full-spectrum rosin as its source of high-quality CBD, allowing the full benefits of the plant to shine through. Their professional chefs design their products with the trends and movements of the food industry at large, allowing them to make some of the most amazing edibles as a whole. We consider their Sleep Tea one of the best CBD drinks of 2021.
Recess makes one of the best CBD-infused waters today. Our favorite is the Pomegranate Hibiscus CBD, which "is tart and fruity, like a perfectly delivered punchline." Each can comes with 355ml of deliciously flavored water and 10mg of CBD. Ingredients also include American ginseng to support vitality and concentration, L‑theanine to relieve stress and improve mood, and lemon balm to promote balance and help you relax. Our favorite flavor, as we said, is the Pomegranate Hibiscus, but there are many others for you to try, such as Coconut Lime, Black Cherry, Peach Ginger, Blood Orange, and Blackberry Chai too.
Quite frankly, CBD Living Water is perhaps the most basic product on our list. It's also one of our favorites because of its pure simplicity. CBD Living Water is, as the name suggests, water infused with CBD. The CBD extract also has high bioavailability to maximize the amount of CBD absorbed in the body. As you can imagine, the product is also entirely organic, being only water and CBD. This is perhaps the easiest way to consume CBD and stay hydrated without extra sugar and calories.
CBD Living Water is also packed with potassium and magnesium to help you recharge after a long run or workout. In addition, the water is Kosher certified and lab-tested to guarantee the labeled CBD levels are accurately reported to the consumer.
Not every CBD edible out there can fit nicely into one category. There are a plethora of other kinds of edible CBD that are available in today's market. Here are some of our "other" favorite CBD edibles:
Based in California, Kin Slips specializes in natural edibles and sublingual strips. This 10:1 CBD to THC blend is designed to relax and enhance mood without the THC high. They believe sublingual delivery, which means absorbing the strips under the tongue, just works better. Like the tasty treats we usually enjoy, traditional edibles break down in stomach acids and then the liver. But sublingual products are thought to be partially absorbed by the delicate membranes under our tongue, leading to faster onset. One pack contains ten slips, and each slip contains 10mg CBD and 1MG THC. Kins sells 5mg microdose options as well, with 20 slips per container.
Green Revolution produces this avocado oil tincture for those who are primarily interested in the benefits of CBD and don't want to get high. At a 20:1 ratio of CBD to THC, consumers can still harness the entourage effect without experiencing the psychoactive effects of THC.
As a bonus, the pure avocado oil used as a carrier for this product is preferred by those who opt to reduce PUFAs, polyunsaturated fatty acids, like those found in common vegetable oils. Simply place one dropper under the tongue for 30 seconds, and then swallow. One dropper full contains 10mg CBD, 0.5mg THC and 0.25 CBG.
Green Revolution also has a fantastic Anxiety-Free 4:1 Avocado Oil Tincture for those who want to experience more of the THC effects. This formulation is designed to let you notice a slight psychoactive effect, but balanced with the anti-anxiety actions of CBD and mood-boosting CBG. Added Vitamin C and Ashwagandha add to the relaxing feel.
Chemistry has a tincture for every mood. Whether it's a THC dominant high with a little soothing CBD thrown in, or pure relaxation with 18:1 CBD, they're ready to make your day with Moods.
Our personal favorite for daytime work is their Green 18:1 tincture. Like all of their other Moods tinctures, it's additive-free, full-spectrum, and made in small batches to ensure the best final product possible. As their motto says, "Chemistry stays true to the plant you know and love."
Level's CBD Protabs are designed to take the bite out of physical and mental stress. Their extra-strength tablets contain 25mg of CBD and take effect within about 30 to 90 minutes of ingestion. There is no THC in this product, so you'll only notice the relaxing calm of CBD. They generally last about 3 to 6 hours and are scored for those who want a smaller dose. Each box contains ten tablets.
Before we go any further, we must emphasize something important. The FDA has not evaluated CBD for any health benefits. So, while there is an enormous amount of anecdotal evidence to support many of CBD's health benefits, it is just that: anecdotal. However, the anecdotal evidence suggests that CBD could provide some of the following benefits:
Again, this does not constitute any medical advice and should be considered anecdotal only.
CBD edibles that don't contain any controlled substances, like other marijuana products, can be sold anywhere now. It's not uncommon to see them at gas stations, grocery stores, or local pharmacies like Walgreens or Rite-Aid. Unless the CBD edibles contain over a certain amount of THC, their sale does not need to be restricted to licensed dispensaries, as conventional marijuana products are. You can also purchase CBD edibles online for the same reason.
CBD products that contain THC are only sold at dispensaries in states where THC is legal for medical or recreational purposes.
CBD edibles, like other marijuana edibles, take around 30 - 90 minutes to kick in. Smoked or inhaled marijuana takes effect in minutes, but edibles must be digested and processed by the liver before effects are felt.
While edibles take longer to kick in, their effects can be felt for much longer, usually several hours. The exact time edibles take to kick in depends on many physiological factors and the other active ingredients found in the edibles.
If you're eating CBD with THC as well, then you'll feel it when it kicks in. But CBD's effects are much more subtle than THC. As such, it may be difficult to tell when the CBD starts working. You may feel nothing more than slight relaxation.
This gives you a little idea of the doses that people using CBD are taking, but this isn't medical advice. It's an example of the range of doses that are commonly used.
CBD doses usually come in 5mg to 25 mg increments. Some contain as little as 1 mg per dose. There's not enough research to know yet what a proper therapeutic dose is for CBD for most conditions. However, Epidiolex, the FDA approved CBD drug for seizures, uses doses as high as 5mg per kilogram of body weight twice per day. The starting dose they use for Davet's is 2.5 mg/kg by mouth twice daily.
The proper CBD dosage differs from person to person and you'll need to talk to your doctor to figure that out. Some of the primary factors are your weight and general health. Another critical factor is the medications you may be taking if any. If you're on any prescription medication, be sure to consult your physician before you begin using CBD to avoid any possible complications or interactions.
The physiological sensitivity may also differ from person to person. Some people may feel the effects more strongly than others. The proper dose also depends upon the reason you're taking CBD.
For instance, if you're looking for chronic pain relief, you may need to take more CBD than if you were only looking for relaxation or anxiety relief. CBD products also have different CBD bioavailability, which refers to the amount of CBD absorbed into the bloodstream.
You should be aware that there is a difference between CBD products sourced from cannabis vs. hemp plants. Not all CBD products are the same. To clarify, let's first define hemp oil. Sometimes, "hemp oil" may be used colloquially to refer to hemp seed oil. As the name suggests, hemp seed oil is derived from the seeds of hemp plants.
CBD oil is not the same thing as hemp seed oil. CBD is only present within the flower of cannabis plants, whether it be hemp or marijuana. There is no CBD in hemp seeds and no CBD in hemp seed oil. As such, buyers should not purchase hemp oil if they expect to use it to consume CBD.
Instead, CBD is extracted from the flowers of the plant, whether hemp or marijuana. Both hemp and marijuana tend to take up toxins in the soil and absorb pesticides. Medical and recreational marijuana is usually grown under more stringent conditions and is more tested and regulated than hemp. So, if nutrition and purity are essential and you only have access to hemp-derived CBD products, make sure they're as well-tested by third parties as the edibles you'll find at your dispensary.
The simple difference between CBD edibles and THC edibles is that one will get you high and the other will not. THC is psychoactive, whereas CBD is not. A CBD edible may make you feel more relaxed and calm, but it will not produce the effects that a THC edible will.
THC edibles should be made and eaten with smaller dosages that are only increased slowly over time. Eating too big of a THC edible will produce unpleasant effects such as anxiety and rapid heart rate. If you eat too much CBD, on the other hand, chances are you'll simply fall asleep -- so it's unlikely that you'll ever overdose on CBD. This is not to say you should ignore proper CBD dosages. Not at all. It's just that you may need to be more cautious and mindful of dosages when eating THC edibles.
CBD and THC are usually measured in ratios on the label of your product. You'll notice ratios as high as 20 parts CBD to one part THC (20:1), and vice versa. For example, if you take an edible that's 20:1 CBD to THC, you probably won't feel any psychoactive effects at all. However, with the reverse, you'll definitely feel it.
So make sure you check the ratio of your product. If sleep is your goal, you can probably aim higher on the THC ratio. But if you want to stay awake and avoid couch lock, aim for the higher CBD products.
Many people aim for a 1 to 1 ratio to get the best bang for their buck. This ratio of CBD to THC tends to provide strong THC vibes with the anxiety-reducing chill of CBD.
CBD isn't a controlled substance anymore, which means there are very few legal ramifications to buying CBD products. Nevertheless, remember that most CBD products aren't FDA approved for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or cure of any condition, illness, or disease.
Even though most CBD products aren't FDA approved*, that doesn't mean they're unsafe to consume. Look for products tested by third-party labs and made with clean ingredients. You'll find these qualities in most prominent CBD brands sold in dispensaries. These products are almost always well-made and sourced, and lab-tested so you can trust their safety profile.
*Epidiolex is a CBD-based medicine approved by the FDA for seizures. Other CBD-based medicines will probably be approved soon.
We hope you enjoyed this year's roundup of the finest CBD edibles in the land. If you want to learn more about CBD edibles and whether they'll make a good addition to your health care routine, NuggMD's Board Certified physicians are always happy to help. Just drop by and create your NuggMD account today!
