Trends come and go, but occasionally a trend turns into something more permanent due to its wide appeal, whether it’s new technology, music, or products. The same may be true of CBD edibles. CBD, or cannabidiol, is a trendy health supplement that has exploded in popularity since it was fully legalized as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. Now, you can purchase numerous types of CBD products, including edibles.

However, other cannabis-products like marijauna and THC are still illegal. or at least regulated. In some states, you can only legally use it if you get a medical prescription from a doctor. In other states, it is still completely illegal, even for medical reasons. However, that is trending in the direction of increased legalization. Every year, states are removing more restrictions due to  the medical benefits that cannabis and each of the individual components has to offer.

It is now becoming a major industry globally, which is another incentive for increased deregulation. As of 2019, the marijuana industry was estimated to be over $13 billion in the U.S. alone. The CBD market topped another $4 billion, and is expected to surpass $13 billion by 2028.

As more states legalize it, people in nearby states where it is still illegal or regulated will start traveling to get cannabis products, like edibles. Others will move to those states for all the new jobs that the industry is creating.

What Is CBD?

CBD is a natural chemical found in cannabis plants, such as hemp. It is safe to consume and offers numerous health benefits, such as reducing pain, inflammation, stress, anxiety, and improving your sleep. Unlike THC, CBD does not make you high as long as it doesn’t have THC mixed into it.

CBD works by interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is found in your nervous system. It binds with certain receptors in the ECS that are responsible for sending, receiving, and producing neurotransmitters responsible for important bodily functions, including your sleep-wake cycle, appetite, pain signals, inflammation response, and more.

Since being legalized, you can get CBD supplements or products that use CBD from numerous stores, retailers, dispensaries, and manufacturers. You can get it in CBD oil drops, capsules, topicals, hair products, and more. Arguably, the most popular kind of product you will find are edibles.

What Is THC?

THC is the main psychoactive component in cannabis, which means it is what makes you feel high. The psychoactive property is why cannabis and THC is still more heavily regulated throughout most of the United States, while hemp and CBD are fully legalized. While that is changing, and more and more states are legalizing or re-regulating marijuana use, you will still want to be sure of your local laws before trying Delta 8 THC.

THC comes from the same family of cannabis-based chemical compounds as CBD, which are called cannabinoids. They share similar properties, but there are some differences. THC tends to be better for treating things like pain and nausea, which is why cannabis is more widely legal for medical reasons: treating cancer symptoms, or conditions like glaucoma or arthritis. CBD, on the other hand, tends to be better for inducing a state of calm, relaxation, and reducing stress or anxiety.

What Are Edibles?

Edibles are made when you infuse CBD into any kind of food. There are a few different ways to do it, but typically you require some kind of oil or fat. This makes pastries and baked goods a very popular type of edible, since they usually use some kind of milk or butter.

It is also common to infuse CBD with honey or maple syrup as a sweetener, which is why you will often find candies like gummies, suckers, mints and chocolate. If you want something healthier, you can also get cooking oil, salad dressing, or mixed tea leaves. While it can also be infused into drinks, the process is much more difficult. Typically you either need to steep the hemp leaves in the drink as if it were tea, or to use water-soluble powder.

The benefit of edibles is that they are extremely versatile. Since you can infuse CBD into almost any kind of food or drink, it is virtually guaranteed that you can find something that suits your taste. In its natural state, CBD is not something most people will like, so mixing it with food helps overcome this potential aversion.

Whether or not CBD edibles are an option for you will depend on why you want to take them. In addition to their great taste, the benefit of edibles compared to other types of products is that their effects last longer, thanks to the slow absorption into your system. The drawback is that you will feel the effects the slowest when compared to other methods.