Hemp vs. CBD Gummies: Which One Is More Effective + Our Top Picks

Disclaimer: Our website includes general information and instruction relating to health and wellness topics. This content is not a substitute for medical advice from your health care provider. All treatment decisions should be determined in partnership with a health care practitioner. Hemp CBD products are derived from U.S. industrial hemp (less than 0.3% THC) and European hemp (less than 0.2% THC). While CBD products derived from the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) are legal on a federal level in the U.S., some states have specific laws, so you'll want to check your state's laws to be sure.

The world of hemp-derived CBD is filled with unfamiliar terms, whether it's cannabinoids or full-spectrum hemp—yet product labels tout these terms as if they're common knowledge. As if that's not enough, there is potency, sourcing, quality testing, and more to consider—making the world of hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) feel a bit daunting.

Hemp and CBD may seem interchangeable but, as medical cannabis expert and double-board certified doctor Dave Gordon, M.D., explains, they're definitely not.

"CBD (cannabidiol) is an active ingredient, a phytonutrient with the ability to support our inflammatory response and with potential healing properties,"* says Gordon. "Hemp is a plant—a specific type of a cannabis plant from where CBD is derived."

While hemp-derived CBD comes from the industrial hemp plant, not all hemp products contain cannabidiol (although they usually do). Hemp-derived CBD oil is made using the aerial parts of the cannabis plant (i.e., leaves, flowers, stems), whereas a generalized "hemp seed oil" comes only from the seeds (which don't contain meaningful levels of CBD).

Sounds easy enough, but to truly differentiate the two, you'll need to take a closer look at the ingredients of a particular product.

"The term 'hemp gummies' is very nonspecific and may or may not contain the active ingredients that a consumer is looking for," says Gordon. "CBD gummies are more likely to contain CBD and other ingredients that have the health support benefits people want, but without looking at the third-party testing of the actual ingredients, the labels mean nothing."

Testing

Not to sound like a broken record, but the only way to know whether a product is high quality is the reassurance of quality testing, particularly via third-party testing. This is your window into what's actually inside a product.

Most brands offer a certificate of analysis (COA), which allows you to carefully review what's in the product. These tests confirm that the product matches the advertised potency and falls below limits for solvents, heavy metals, pesticides, and microbials.

Transparency 

Beyond an easily accessible COA, brands should also be transparent about where their hemp is farmed and how it's processed. If organic ingredients are important to you (they should be!), focus on brands that use all or at least some organically farmed ingredients in their formulas.

Added sugars

While they're relatively small in size, the added sugars in CBD gummies can add up over time. Consider your sugar intake and pick a formula accordingly that works with your lifestyle, health status, etc.

Desired effects

Hemp-derived CBD affects every person differently, so it's always best to start with a lower dosage and work your way up. As for when to take CBD gummies, Gordon has some advice.

"CBD and the majority of other active ingredients in cannabis products are best absorbed when taken with a fat-containing meal," explains Gordon. "Typically, ingested CBD products are best taken two to three times per day to maintain steady levels, though some individuals use them once daily or as needed for specific purposes."

If you've decided that CBD gummies are right for you, we have quite a few buying guides to help you find the right formula, including a roundup of the best CBD gummies, as well as specific guides for sleep and sex.*

Whether you're hoping to improve your sleep, ease aches, or promote calm, there's no shortage of hemp-based products to consider.* When it comes to hemp versus CBD gummies, it's important to remember that the only way to ensure you're getting a quality product is to read the product's ingredient list and cross-reference the certificate of analysis. It's hard to cut through the noise, but when you do, there are plenty of good hemp-derived products—and if you're interested in learning more about CBD, we've got much more to share.