Key takeaways:
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CBD is a type of cannabinoid extracted from the hemp plant.
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Unlike THC found in cannabis, CBD won’t get you high and isn’t addictive.
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Different types of CBD products are available; CBD gummies are soft, chewy, easy to dose and simple to use.
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CBD gummies have an effect on the endocannabinoid system, and may help to reduce stress, anxiety and chronic pain and promote calmness and better sleep.
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In the UK, CBD products have to contain 0.2% THC or less, are considered safe and are legal to buy and use.
What are CBD gummies?
CBD gummies are a type of CBD product. Similar to chewy sweets, they contain CBD and are a simple way to take a dose of CBD.
Many people choose to take CBD gummies over CBD oil and other products because they’re easy to use and they enjoy the taste. Some people find CBD oil difficult to dose and the taste too strong. CBD gummies are, therefore, an ideal alternative for those who still want to use CBD.
CBD vs cannabis: the difference
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a type of compound called a cannabinoid. There are over 120 known cannabinoids that exist naturally in cannabis and hemp plants. CBD is extracted from the hemp plant, a type of cannabis plant that contains very low levels of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol.
THC is another cannabinoid that’s found in cannabis, and is the compound that’s responsible for the ‘high’ of using marijuana and cannabis products. Cannabis causes a psychoactive effect and can be addictive.
The crucial difference between CBD and THC is that CBD doesn't cause any high or psychoactive effects, and isn’t addictive.
CBD products are also different from medical cannabis products that are prescribed to some people to manage some forms of epilepsy.
What are the effects of CBD gummies?
Promising research shows that CBD has various health benefits and could help people manage certain health conditions.
Anecdotally, verified CBD testers report that CBD gummies help to reduce the symptoms of chronic pain, anxiety and stress, promote feelings of calm and improve sleep quality and duration.
The best CBD gummies tend to contain high-quality CBD, along with added vitamins, minerals, and natural plant-based botanicals. (If you’re vegan or vegetarian, look for brands that keep their products free from gelatine, an animal-based product.)
How do CBD gummies work?
CBD is the subject of extensive research at present, due to the promising results regarding its potential benefits.
So far, the science seems to point to the endocannabinoid system as the target for CBD. The endocannabinoid system, or ECS, is a complex network of cells and signalling pathways that extends from the brain throughout the body and helps maintain equilibrium, or balance.
The ECS is thought to play an important role in regulating:
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Mood
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Sleep patterns
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Appetite
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Pain perception and management
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Memory
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Immune function
It’s clear that the ECS is important for our overall health and wellness. There are thousands of receptors running the length of the ECS, and the body produces naturally occurring chemicals called endocannabinoids that interact with these receptors.
As they do, the receptors signal to parts of the brain that action is needed, such as releasing an anti-inflammatory compound to tackle inflammation or a natural pain-relief chemical, or activating the immune response to combat an invading bacterium or virus.
All this happens inside our bodies without much thought on our part. However, it’s believed that CBD supports the function of the ECS.
CBD is a type of cannabinoid that’s similar to the endocannabinoids produced naturally by the body.
Clinical trials on how CBD interacts with the ECS are ongoing. But research suggests that CBD works by preventing the breakdown of the endocannabinoids in the body. It’s for this reason that the benefits of CBD are believed to include pain relief, better sleep and improved anxiety symptoms (see more below).
Unlike CBD oil, which is absorbed under the tongue and enters the bloodstream directly, CBD gummies must first enter the digestive system before being absorbed into the bloodstream.
This means that they’re slightly slower than CBD oil to work, but if taken long-term, the CBD can build up in your body, meaning that any difference in time taken to work could be negligible.
Types of CBD gummies
CBD gummies and CBD products in general can be made using three different types of CBD:
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Full-spectrum CBD
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Broad-spectrum CBD
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CBD isolate
Full-spectrum gummies
Full-spectrum CBD contains all of the different compounds and cannabinoids found in the hemp plant, including very low levels of THC.
In the UK, to be sold legally, a CBD product must contain 0.2% THC or less. THC at 0.2% isn’t enough to cause a high, but if you’re using full-spectrum CBD products long-term, it could cause THC to build up in your body.
It’s therefore worth keeping this in mind if you have to undergo regular or ad hoc drug testing for work or other reasons, as there’s a very small risk that THC may show up.
The long-term use of full-spectrum CBD products may also cause THC to show up on a roadside drug test.
Broad-spectrum gummies
Broad-spectrum CBD contains the majority of the different compounds and cannabinoids found in the hemp plant, with the THC removed. Therefore, there’s no risk of a buildup of THC in the body if you use a broad-spectrum CBD product.
CBD isolate gummies
CBD isolate is a pure product extracted from hemp plants and contains no traceable levels of CBD. Products containing CBD isolate have no risk of causing THC buildup.
Potential benefits of CBD gummies
Research into the benefits of CBD shows promising results on a number of health conditions.
One study from 2021 found evidence that CBD has potential for pain relief. It’s thought that its effects on the receptors and endocannabinoids of the ECS help reduce inflammation, easing chronic pain.
The positive effects of CBD could potentially extend to mental health support, too. A literature review performed in 2020 found evidence that CBD could provide support for people experiencing anxiety and depression.
CBD may also support better sleep. A 2024 study concluded that CBD is safe and as effective as melatonin for improving sleep quality in adults who regularly experience disturbed sleep.
Are CBD gummies legal?
Yes, in the UK, CBD gummies are legal because CBD doesn’t cause a high and isn’t addictive. Products containing CBD must contain less than 0.2% THC.
Are CBD gummies safe?
Yes, the World Health Organisation (WHO) consider CBD products generally safe to use for most people. A WHO report in 2017 concluded that “cannabidiol does not appear to have abuse potential or cause harm”.
Are there any risks or side effects?
For most people, CBD is well-tolerated, meaning that they don’t experience any side effects. However, some people may experience mild side effects such as:
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Diarrhoea
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Dry mouth
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Drowsiness
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Decreased appetite
You can minimise your risk of side effects by reducing the amount of CBD you use, or starting on a low dose of 20 to 25 mg CBD per day and gradually increasing by 5 mg per day each week.
CBD may interact with some medications used for some health conditions, including those used for blood thinning.
If you’re taking any medicine or you’ve been diagnosed with a medical condition, seek medical advice from registered doctors or pharmacists before taking CBD so that you understand your risks.
Do CBD gummies work?
Research and clinical studies on the effectiveness of CBD products are ongoing, and studies tend to examine CBD products as a whole rather than CBD gummies specifically. The research so far, albeit limited, appears positive.
In 2021, a Canadian study involved 279 adults prescribed CBD over a six-month period. All were experiencing symptoms of poor overall well-being caused by chronic pain, anxiety and/or depression and were grouped according to mild, moderate or severe symptoms.
The study concluded “CBD-rich treatment has a beneficial impact on pain, anxiety and depression symptoms as well as overall wellbeing only for patients with moderate to severe symptoms; however, no observed effect on mild symptoms”.
It called for further research to help consumers make informed health and well-being choices.
Further to this, in 2024, a literature review of 15 studies on CBD for chronic pain found that the majority reported significant reductions in pain among study participants. However, it found that in three, there was “no significant improvement in reducing pain”, and one was inconclusive.
This study also recommended further research, stating, “CBD may be useful in treating chronic pain. Findings should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of included studies.
More studies with robust study designs are warranted to evaluate CBD's effectiveness in treating chronic pain”.
The benefits of CBD appear to be experienced differently in different individuals. How CBD gummies or other products may benefit you may be different to the experience of someone else. CBD is safe to use for most people and appears worth trying to improve health and wellbeing.
However, a 2020 study warned that “Rigorous, controlled evidence for the therapeutic efficacy of CBD is lacking for many health conditions”. It recommended that research should continue and that consumers must do their own reading before they use CBD.
So the advice remains the same: do your research and always buy CBD products from a reputable retailer or brand.
Buying CBD gummies
When buying CBD gummies, or any product containing CBD, opt to buy from health and wellness brands that use high-quality ingredients that are rigorously third-party tested for safety and efficacy and demonstrate a certificate of analysis to prove it.
Third-party testing means that CBD products have been independently tested at a laboratory to ensure they contain CBD at the strength stated on the packaging, so that you know that what you’re taking is safe and at the dose you think it is.
How to use gummies
Always follow the instructions detailed on the packaging of the CBD gummies you’re using, as strengths, doses and instructions vary.
It’s advised that you start at a relatively low dose of 20 to 25 mg per day. Try this for a week and check in with your body to see if you’re noticing any benefits. If you feel like you could benefit from a higher dose, increase by 5 to 6mg per day.
As a general guideline, many CBD gummies contain 25 mg of CBD per gummy. CBD gummies are easy to take; simply eat them like you would a sweet. They’re easy to take on the go, and if you need to increase your daily amount of CBD, they can be cut into smaller pieces. For example, a quarter of a 25 mg CBD gummy will contain just over 6 mg of CBD.
If you’re using CBD to promote better sleep, make them part of your bedtime wind-down routine and take them an hour before bedtime. If you’re using CBD to help manage anxiety or for pain relief, it can be helpful to take it in the morning so that its benefits last longer throughout the day.
Gummies vs edibles
Sometimes, CBD gummies and edibles are used interchangeably to refer to the same product. However, they’re quite different.
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CBD gummies are soft, chewy, sweet-like products that contain CBD.
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Edibles tend to look the same, but contain THC and are designed to get you high.
Always check the label to check you’re taking what you think you’re taking.
More information and research
This Harvard Health article goes into detail on whether CBD gummies work, and this Healthline article discusses how long they might take to work.
References
Pahr, K. (2025c, August 29). What is cannabidiol (CBD)? what we know and what we don’t. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/your-cbd-guide#what-it-is
Raypole, C. (2025c, April 28). A simple guide to the endocannabinoid system. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/endocannabinoid-system
Haney, M. (2022). Cannabis use and the endocannabinoid system: a clinical perspective. American Journal of Psychiatry, 179(1), 21–25. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.21111138
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking other medications.
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