Any debate of “what is the best way to use CBD,” must start with a discussion and understanding of bioavailability in order to guide your choice of formulation, and to understand our decisions at Pin High CBD regarding product choices and concentrations. CBD BIOAVAILABILITY: The proportion of a drug or other substance which enters the circulation when introduced into the body and can exert a known clinical effect. More simply, it is the percentage of an administered substance that reaches the bloodstream. By definition, when a medication is administered intravenously, its bioavailability is 100%. If a formulation has low bioavailability, as do CBD gummies (best case absorption estimated to be 20-30%), the CBD will need to be taken in larger mg amounts to be considered effective. These higher required doses are typically not available, due to their prohibitive cost. The low absorption is a function of the fact that orally ingested CBD is first absorbed through the GI tract and then passes through the liver (first pass metabolism) before entering the circulation. CBD Edibles are simply food products that contain cannabis (cannabis ¹ marijuana) compounds from the hemp plant, such as cannabinoids and terpenes. They’re available in a variety of offerings including gummi-type candy, cookies, gum, and brownies. Gummies can typically contain CBD, CBD + THC, CBD + delta-9, and CBD + Melatonin. THC and delta-9 gummies are intended to be psychoactive, and the melatonin gummies are marketed as a sleep aid. With a typical CBD gummie being 10 mg, the most optimistic absorption, in our opinion, is an inadequate 3 mg per “candy,” with no expected anti-anxiety or anti-inflammatory effect. Gummies with THC and delta-9 typically come with higher mg content and generally exert psychotropic effects. This is due to higher mg content and the higher affinity of the psychotropic cannabinoids for CB1 receptors in the brain. CBD edibles (oral swallowing) are the least efficient way to consume CBD products. Further, they typically have high sugar content! CBD Tinctures are usually created using either an alcohol or CO2 extraction method, soaking the hemp flowers in order to extract the CBD. Supercritical CO2 (our method) creates a highly purified CBD isolate that is then blended into a carrier base. Pin High CBD uses selectively chosen medium-chain fatty acids that further enhance absorption. While tinctures are taken by mouth, the liquid is placed via dropper under the tongue, and absorbed through the oral lining (mucosa) directly into the bloodstream, creating significantly higher absorption. The tincture is swallowed, but not until after 45—60 seconds of contact with the mucosa. Tinctures, excepting only vaping, is the most efficient method to consume CBD and other cannabinoids. Pin High CBD recommends to those who wish to use CBD and/or sleep aides:
- Use CBD Tinctures due to quick and highest absorption. Pin High CBD’s only concentration is 3000mg/30 cc (100 mg per typical 1 cc dose).
- Use CBD Tinctures only at high mg concentrations to ensure adequate dosing. Pin High CBD’s only concentration is 3000mg/30 cc (100 mg per typical 1 cc dose).
- If you need a sleep aid, avoid a CBD + Melatonin gummie. CBD is typically not sedating. You may as well just take melatonin, or even better we believe, try our pure CBN Tincture, the most sedating cannabinoid of the hemp plant
CBD Biovailability Chart
Michael J. Cohen MD, Founder & CEO, Pin High CBD, LLC