When choosing to start a CBD routine, we quickly realize that it’s not always easy selecting the exact product to incorporate into our regimens.  CBD comes in a huge array of forms, with all kinds of unique formulas, concentrations, and ingredients.  While each product ultimately does an efficient job at supplying your body with cannabidiol, it does so in a unique way that can determine your overall experience.

We’ll be comparing the three most popular forms of CBD: tinctures, edibles, and flower – to help you figure out which one is right for your daily needs.  Then, we will weigh the pros and cons of each, and by the end of this article, you should hopefully have a great idea as to how you will want to start taking your daily dose of CBD.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Type of CBD Product

Like we said, CBD (cannabidiol) can be taken in a number of ways.  No single way is objectively better than the other, because they all equally accomplish the same goal, which is delivering the compounds of the hemp plant into the body.  The delivery method that you choose, however, determines important factors such as how long the effects of hemp last, how quickly you can feel the effects, and how strongly those effects will be felt.

CBD Tinctures

CBD tinctures are CBD oil products arrive in a dropper bottle for easy dosing and administration that are meant to be administered below the tongue.  Here, they absorb through the sublingual tissue, which allows them to take effect within 15 to 30 minutes, lasting for about 40 hours.  Available in a wide variety of flavors and milligram strengths.

Pros:

#1: Available in Different Types of Hemp Extract

Tinctures come in full spectrum, broad spectrum, and CBD isolate varieties.  Full spectrum tinctures contain every compound in hemp, including the trace amount of THC naturally present, that is non-psychoactive.  Broad spectrum hemp is a THC-free version of full spectrum hemp, while CBD isolate contains only pure cannabidiol.  Some users like being able to be selective about the hemp compounds that they consume.

#2: Available in a Uniquely Wide Array of Strengths

CBD tinctures come in the widest variety of milligram strengths.  Therefore, they give you the most control over how many milligrams of hemp you take per dose, so that you can be choosy about your potency level.

#3: Easy to Take

Tinctures are easy to take.  The dropper bottle measures out a perfect single dose at a time and makes it simple to pour the amount directly below the tongue.  All you need to do is hold the tincture under the tongue for a minute before swallowing.

#4: Can Be Flavored

Many tinctures are flavored, which gives them the advantage of satisfying your taste buds.

Cons:

#1: Not the Fastest-Acting Method

Tinctures do take effect in about 15 to 30 minutes, but if you’re looking for something that acts even sooner, you’ll want to go with an smokeable product.

#2: Not the Longest-Lasting Method

Tinctures produce effects that last for about 4 hours.  For many, that length of time is plenty, but if you want longer-lasting effects, edibles are the way to go.

CBD Edibles

CBD edibles are ingestible items containing hemp extract, and gummies are the most popular out of all of the edibles on the market.  They are flavored to appeal to the taste buds and have the distinctive ability to promote long-lasting effects for up to 8 hours due to the nature of the digestive process.  It can take up to 2 hours for the effects to be felt due to the fact that the hemp must work its way slowly through the digestive tract.

Pros:

#1: Long-Lasting Effects

As we said, edibles can produce effects that last for up to 8 hours.  This means that many people can experience all day effects in the body with a single dose.

#2: Tasty

Edibles are formulated to taste delicious, and this makes the act of taking them extremely enjoyable.  Besides gummies, you can find chocolates, crunchy snacks and more.

#3: Available in Various Strengths

Edibles, like tinctures, come in many unique milligram strengths.  Usually, the selection is not as wide as tinctures, however.

#4: Available in Different Kinds of Hemp Extract

Like tinctures, edibles can be purchased in full spectrum, broad spectrum and CBD isolate varieties.

Cons:

#1: Slow to Take Effect

Edibles can, as we said, take up to 2 hours before the effects are felt in the body.  Therefore, if you need something faster-acting, edibles may not be for you.

#2: Sweet

Edibles tend to be sweet, which means that if you are trying to avoid sweets, edibles may not be the best delivery method to use.

CBD Flower

CBD flower is simply the raw buds of the hemp plant, which contain the full array of compounds that naturally occur such as cannabidiol and other cannabinoids, plus terpenes, nutrients and more.  CBD flower can be either smoked or vaporized, although some people do like to cook with it as well.  Because it is inhaled, the effects can take just minutes to kick in, and while they are felt very potently, they are relatively short-lived.

Pros:

#1: Fast-Acting

Flower takes effect within minutes, as said earlier, which is great for those who want an on-demand approach to taking hemp throughout the day.

#2: Potent

Inhaling CBD acts as a highly bioavailable delivery method, which translates to more potent effects.  This means that if you want to feel the hemp as strongly as possible, flower may be a great choice.

#3: Naturally Full Spectrum

CBD flower is a naturally full spectrum product, meaning that it naturally contains every single compound found in the hemp plant, including every cannabinoid, nutrient, and terpene.  This produces the entourage effect, which means that all of the compounds are working together synergistically to produce a more effective experience overall.

#5: Available in Different Strains

CBD flower is one of the only types of CBD products that comes in a wide variety of strains.  Each strain has a unique composition of compounds, and its own distinctive terpene profile, thus meaning that every strain has a specific series of properties that determine how you feel.  For instance, some strains can be calming, and others energizing.  If you are looking for a particular type of effect out of hemp, flower is a good choice for this reason.

Cons:

#1: Not Available in Broad Spectrum or CBD Isolate Form

Flower is not available in broad spectrum or CBD isolate form, like other types of hemp products on the market.

#2: Short-Lived Effects

While the effects of flower are fast-acting and potent, they tend to wear off in about an hour or two after taking it.  This means that you will have to continuously use flower if you want to feel CBD at work throughout the day.

#3: Requires Equipment

If you’re going to inhale flower by smoking or vaping the product, you will need the right type of device, such as a pipe or a vape pen.

Which One is Best for Your Routine?

So, now that you have a good idea of how tinctures, edibles and flower all work in the body, which one is right for you?  Well, that is entirely your call.  All of these products efficiently give you a complete hemp experience, with adequate amounts of CBD to feel the effects you’re looking for.  We recommend trying out all three to see which one feels the best in your routine.