Hemp Edibles are Increasingly Popular, and We’re Here for it!

Hemp Edibles are an easy way to consume CBD for long-lasting effects. Edibles represent any CBD-infused ingestible product, such as gummies, dry capsules, tinctures, and more. Essentially, if it goes in the mouth and contains hemp components, it is an edible hemp product.

However, there is much more to edibles than whether or not consumers can eat them. In fact, many variables alter the effectiveness of cannabinoid-based edibles. For example, product type, absorption method, or certain elements may all alter the effectiveness of CBD products.

In fact, there’s a lot you should know about CBD edibles. Use the following information to help determine which CBD edibles to stock in your store and learn a few tips to educate your customers while you’re here.

What to Know About CBD Edibles

Hemp edibles are incredibly popular, accounting for $4 billion in US sales in 2022 alone. Candy, particularly hemp gummies, dominated hemp edible sales, largely due to their delicious flavors, convenient dosing, and product effectiveness.

Alternative cannabinoid edibles, which are edibles infused with intoxicating semi-synthetic cannabinoids, are also trending, with particularly high sales among millennial men in non-recreational cannabis states. Essentially, alt cannabinoid edibles are legal hemp edibles that mimic marijuana-type THC to produce varying levels of intoxication. Examples of alternative cannabinoids we can infuse into hemp edibles include delta 8, hemp delta 9, D10, HHC, and THCO.

Hemp Edibles Vs. Weed Edibles

There is one stark difference between hemp edibles vs. weed edibles: legality. To be clear, the FDA legalized hemp and all of its derivatives for commercial sale in the 2018 Farm Bill. This includes all hemp cannabinoids, whether natural or synthetically-produced, as long as the product complies with the FDA’s definition of hemp. Basically, if the product and all of its components contain less than 0.3 percent Delta 9 THC, it’s considered a hemp product and, therefore, permissible for commercial sale. This included alt cannabinoids if they come from hemp (even if developed in a lab) because they are “hemp derivatives.”

But what about hemp delta 9 edibles? Are hemp-derived delta 9 edibles legal?

That question is a bit complex. Some believe that CBD-turned-D9 might be a legal hemp derivative, while others argue that high levels of delta 9 THC are explicitly prohibited even if sourced from hemp. Consequently, one solution to sell hemp delta 9 edibles is to ensure enough additional components exist in the product (usually by way of full-spectrum CBD oil) to ensure the product remains under the 0.3 percent THC allowance. Contact VCM to discuss hemp-derived delta 9 edibles and other alternative cannabinoid options.

Hemp Edible Absorption Methods

Notably, different hemp products absorb differently in the body, which may alter their potency, onset time, and effectiveness. For example, eating and swallowing CBD products will not net the same results as would absorbing it under the tongue. Hence, these two absorption methods (metabolic versus sublingual) have different dosing requirements and produce slightly different results.

For example, swallowing CBD requires the body to metabolize it before it can absorb into the bloodstream. However, the metabolic process inevitably burns some cannabinoids off before they can absorb into the blood. In fact, some research suggests that the metabolic process may burn up to 60 percent of the cannabinoids ingested. As such, products meant to be swallowed may require higher dosing or special processing to make up for the loss.

Notably, our CBD technicians and formulations experts created Nano CBD and PGF CBD Powders to meet the demand for more metabolic-friendly products.

On the other hand, sublingual products absorb directly into the bloodstream from under the tongue and around the gum line. Notably, these products tend to take effect quicker because they bypass the metabolic process. As such, suggested doses are generally lower and may require more frequent consumption. Examples of sublingual CBD edibles include tinctures and gummies that the consumer absorbs under the tongue.

Importantly, swallowing cannabinoids ensures that they stay in the body longer to endure a drawn-out metabolic process. As such, the effects of metabolized cannabinoids last much longer than those of sublingual CBD products.

The Entourage Effect

The Entourage Effect refers to the phenomenon by which multiple elements work together to amplify their effectiveness as a whole. Examples of the Entourage Effect include products like our Sleep Softgels, which mix relaxing hemp terpenes with other sleep-promoting botanicals like melatonin.

Buy the Best White-Label CBD Products

Hemp edibles represent a massive market segment that your retail brand can join, and VCM would love to help! Notably, VCM offers a vast selection of customizable hemp edibles for your store or product line, including gummies, candies, oral strips, and more. Please contact us to learn more about our custom edibles, or follow us on Facebook for news and product updates.