CBD Firsts and What to Expect

New to CBD? You're bound to have some questions. From what to expect when taking CBD for the first time to the health benefits of CBD, proper dosage, and more: there's a lot to know.
This article will guide you through some of the most important questions and considerations that new users will face, so you can be best equipped for your first forays into the wide world of CBD.
CBD Extract Type: It Makes a Difference
There are three types of CBD extract that are commonly used in CBD products, and the extract you choose may have a meaningful effect on what CBD does for you.
- CBD Isolate: The purest form of CBD, CBD isolate contains absolutely no other hemp compounds.
- Full spectrum CBD: Contains not only CBD but traces of all other compounds in the hemp plant, including traces of THC (CBD's intoxicating cousin).
- Broad spectrum CBD: Identical to Full Spectrum CBD, except all THC has been carefully removed.
Users generally tend to have the best results from full-spectrum CBD products. That's because the other hemp compounds work together, reinforcing and supplementing CBD's benefits. This is known as the entourage effect, and many users believe it's the key to unlocking CBD's full therapeutic potential.
How Much CBD Should You Take?
Different CBD products have different dosage recommendations. As a general rule, you should always follow the dosage recommendations for the product you choose.
As with any supplement, though, different people will have different needs. Experimentation is the only sure-fire way to find the dosage that works best with your body's unique biochemistry.
Generally speaking, available research suggests that a 20mg dose is a sweet-spot that allows most users to experience CBD's benefits. That said, it's a good idea to start small. You may be surprised by the benefits of even a small dose, and moderation will stretch your supply (and your dollar) further.
What Does CBD Feel Like?
On its own, CBD doesn't feel like much of anything! It's non-intoxicating and won't get you "high", so don't expect to experience euphoria or an escape from your day-to-day.
Instead, CBD is meant to remove the pain and anxiety that are keeping you from being fully yourself. CBD works to remove several of the common stressors and deterrents that weigh you down in your day-to-day.
CBD feels like an absence of pain, like reduced anxiety, and like a generally clearer, slightly lighter state of mind.
Of course, CBD products aren't just CBD. Other ingredients will alter CBD's effects and may cause a more noticeably altered bodily experience.
Does CBD Get You High?
CBD absolutely will not get you high. Although it comes from cannabis, CBD is non-intoxicating, no matter how much of it you take.
That said, CBD products don't contain just CBD. If you selected a full spectrum CBD product, for instance, it would contain small amounts of THC — which is an intoxicating compound!
Despite that, legal CBD products should never get you high, regardless of whether they're full spectrum or not. The trace amounts of THC are so small as to have only the very slightest, non-intoxicating effects.
How Long Does It Take for CBD to Kick In?
How long CBD takes to kick in will depend on a number of factors. Most importantly, it depends on the type of CBD product that you take, as each has a different bioavailability.
- CBD vapes will be the fastest-acting and will take effect very quickly after inhalation.
- Sublingual products (like CBD oils) will generally take effect within about fifteen minutes.
- Other CBD products, such as CBD edibles, may take significantly longer, as your body needs to break down the product before the CBD can be absorbed and used.
CBD Gets More Effective Over Time
Like many botanicals or other supplements, CBD builds up in the body over time. That means that your first few doses won't work at full strength.
Many users who claim that CBD doesn't do anything for them are simply judging too quickly without giving CBD a chance to build up to full potency in their system.
That's why it's recommended you try CBD for at least a full week before making judgments about how it affects your stress, anxiety, or pain.
That's not to say that your first few doses of CBD won't have any effect. On the contrary, many users report a meaningful reduction in their symptoms even after their first 2 or 3 doses! But it does mean that, whether your first dose has any noticeable effects, it's only going to get better from there.
CBD Firsts: In Closing
There's a lot to learn when you're first starting out with CBD, but the tips in this article should get you started on a solid footing. From there, the CBD Choice Blog and Learning Center are great resources for keeping abreast of all the latest, research-driven news and information.
If you're ready to try CBD for the first time, we offer a hand-curated collection of the industry's absolute finest products. Lazarus Naturals CBD products may be especially suited to new users, as they are not only top-quality, but also one of the most cost effective ways to experience all that CBD has to offer.