CBD isn't working? 7 Reasons Why this might Be Happening

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a compound in the cannabis plant that has gained popularity recently for its potential therapeutic properties.

CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network of receptors and neurotransmitters that help regulate things like mood, appetite, and pain perception.

CBD might not work due to unrealistic expectations, as its effects are subtle and not instant. Low-quality products, such as mislabeled hemp seed oils, often lack the cannabinoids needed for efficacy, so always check for lab tests and opt for full-spectrum CBD. Improper dosage is another common issue—start low and adjust gradually based on your needs. 

By increasing levels of natural cannabinoids, CBD appears to be able to boost the endocannabinoid system's ability to function optimally. Supporting the ECS can reduce feelings of anxiety and pain and improve sleep and mood overall [1]. 

7 Reasons Why Your CBD Isn't Working

We're sorry to hear that your CBD product isn't working for you.

With over a thousand CBD brands on the market, navigating all the different CBD products and purchasing CBD worth your money can be tricky.

Before you give up on CBD products completely and miss out on the many potential wellness benefits the hemp plant offers, let's figure out why CBD doesn't work for you. 

Hopefully, this information will help you troubleshoot your issue and find a better product. 

Reason #1: You Have Unrealistic Expectations

There are many factors to consider when it comes to taking CBD products, and one of the most important is managing your expectations.

CBD is a powerful compound with many potential benefits, but it is not a magic bullet that will instantly solve all of your problems.

To get the most out of CBD, it's important to be realistic about what it can and cannot do.

Start by doing your research and understanding how CBD works.

Once you understand its capabilities, take some time to evaluate your health and wellness goals. With this knowledge in hand, you can set realistic expectations for taking CBD and be more likely to experience its full benefits.

Most people who take CBD experience a sense of calm or more focus on a given task, and higher doses on CBD products may support better sleep or ease tension in the body—but it won't alter your state of mind or produce body highs. This is because CBD is non-psychoactive. 

Reason #2: Poor Product Quality

Many CBD oils on the market today are of low quality and may not provide the results you're hoping for.

This is largely due to the fact that the CBD market isn't regulated, which means there are no strict guidelines on manufacturing CBD products sold online—to add to the confusion, there are a lot of mislabeled CBD products.

For instance, we've encountered numerous hemp seed oils labeled "CBD oil." 

Hemp seed oil does not contain cannabinoids or terpenes that can interact with cannabinoid receptors to support endocannabinoid system function.

This ingredient is often used to dupe unsuspecting customers because hemp seed oil is much cheaper to produce than hemp seed extract, which is derived from the resin glands found on the buds of the cannabis plant.

If you don't do your due diligence researching CBD products, you may end up with an overpriced hemp seed oil that's best used as a culinary oil. Always do a thorough research on the CBD brand before purchasing any product.

One great example of a product full of terpenes are live resin CBD gummies, made from fresh, flash-frozen hemp plant, which preserves the plant's natural compounds for a more potent experience. 

Reason #3: Wrong Dosage

If you do happen to get your hands on high-quality CBD, but it's just not working for you, you may struggle to find the appropriate dose to suit your needs. 

Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all to how much CBD you should take.

CBD affects everyone slightly differently because everyone has a unique body chemistry, and how much CBD you should take can depend on various factors, including:

• Age

• Baseline experience with CBD and other cannabinoids

• Health condition

• Metabolism

It's recommended that you start with a lower dose (10-20 MG) daily and slowly increase the doses until you find the number that meets your needs.

If you find that these lower doses aren't producing the effects you're looking for, you may want to look for a stronger CBD potency.

You may also find it helpful to keep track of your daily CBD dosages on your phone or in a physical journal and monitor how you feel to better understand how your body is responding to the CBD product or if the CBD isn't working altogether.

Reason #4: You Haven't Used It For Long Enough

The effects of CBD aren't always apparent after your first try—or even your second.

Unlike THC (which is psychoactive), CBD doesn't have the ideal molecular shape for unlocking the actions of the CB1 and CB2 receptors, so the effects aren't as noticeable.

Rather CBD may help with an endocannabinoid deficiency by helping to boost the levels of internally produced cannabinoids to help the body maintain homeostasis. However, it may take more time to notice the full benefits of a CBD product as your ECS needs to adjust to the supplementation [2].

Before you give up on CBD oil altogether, take consistent doses around the same time each day for up to a week and track your results.

Reason #5: You're Not Using A Full Spectrum CBD Product

There are several CBD extracts you'll come across on the market:

1. Full spectrum CBD

2. Broad spectrum CBD

3. CBD isolate

Experts agree that the best extract is full spectrum CBD. This is because the cannabis plant is home to over a hundred biologically active compounds alongside CBD that can amplify and balance its effects for a more robust product [3].

CBD isolate only contains one active compound, CBD.

And while some people can experience the benefits of CBD with a CBD isolate product, they may find that they need higher doses to achieve the same results as its broad spectrum or full spectrum CBD counterpart—this is the same for any cannabis extract product: CBDa, CBN, or CBG.

Cannabinoids are found to work better when taken together than when isolated in a plant medicine phenomenon called "the entourage effect."

Reason #6: Wrong Delivery Method

CBD not working for some people can result from using the wrong delivery method for the job.

CBD is an incredibly versatile compound that can be taken orally, topically, and inhaled through smoke or vapor—which is also why you'll find so many CBD products on the market, from CBD gummies, oils, creams, and smokables. 

A high-quality CBD product should work in all these methods because endocannabinoid system receptors are found throughout the body but are mostly concentrated in the central nervous system. However, not all CBD products will be appropriate for all use cases.

The type of experience you can expect from your CBD depends on how you apply it.

For example, high-potency topicals are the best CBD for muscle tension and soreness. This is because you can deliver a high concentration of CBD right to the area of tension rather than having the cannabinoids broken down by the digestive system and then dispersed throughout the body. 

The different delivery methods can also affect the onset of effects and how long the compounds remain active. 

If you find CBD isn't working for you, we suggest trying different delivery methods before giving up.

Reason #7: You've Built A High Tolerance To CBD

Let's say your CBD product has been working well for months, but now it's just not doing the trick.

Tolerance may be to blame in this instance.

The body quickly adapts to many situations, and substance tolerance is an example of this.

Tolerance is when you need to take larger and more frequent doses of a compound to feel the same level of effects. CBD is not addictive, but it's possible to build a tolerance to it, which means you'll need to take more CBD in higher doses to reach the same level of initial effects.

This commonly occurs with caffeine too, but CBD tolerance doesn't happen to everyone.

But just because you can't feel the effects the same way doesn't mean you're not getting the health benefits from hemp.

However, suppose you're using CBD to support sleep, pain, or anxiousness. In that case, you should consider doing a tolerance break and stopping using CBD products altogether for 14 days to a few weeks to reset your endocannabinoid system.

How Do You Buy CBD That's High Quality?

We have all heard the hype around CBD and the promises it can make for our health and wellness, which is why CBD sales have skyrocketed in recent years. But when it comes time to purchase some for ourselves, many of us don't know where to start or what exactly we should look for in a product. 

Let's get into some of the green flags for purchasing the best CBD out there.

1. High-quality CBD comes from organic hemp crops: shop from brands that take their hemp sourcing seriously. Mass-produced hemp crops can sometimes contain heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxins in the soil that can affect the overall CBD product quality and effectiveness.

2. Always check the third-party lab testing: not all companies opt for this, but third-party lab tests on the hemp extract show the purity, potency, and safety of the product. This can also verify that you are purchasing CBD oil and not just hemp seed oil.

3. Shop from a reputable company: there are a lot of choices out there, but make it easier for yourself and look for a CBD brand with a strong track record for customer service and customer satisfaction. 

4. Shop for a CBD product made from full spectrum or THC-free broad spectrum oil: these extract types leverage the benefits from the entourage effect, and isolate does not.

5. The price should reflect the quality of the product: be wary of extremely cheap CBD products, but you should also have enough information from the CBD brand about why their CBD products cost more. Prices can vary because of hemp sourcing, testing, and overall higher quality of ingredients.

6. Shop from a brand that offers a money-back guarantee: this isn't common in the industry, but Neurogan offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all orders because we firmly stand behind each quality product. If something isn't working for you, we'll happily exchange it for something that will work or offer a full refund.

Reasons CBD Isn't Working

There are many reasons, including low dosage, slow onset, high expectations and more on why CBD isn't working for you, but the most common culprit is low-quality CBD products.

This includes shopping for full-spectrum CBD, finding the ideal dosages to suit your unique body chemistry, trying different forms of CBD, and giving it more time to support the endocannabinoid system with consistent use.

The good news is that there are a few simple fixes that many CBD users found to work for them when it comes to leveraging the full benefits of CBD. 

Resources:

1. Mechoulam, R., & Parker, L. A. (2013). The endocannabinoid system and the brain. Annu rev psychol, 64(1), 21-47.

2. Lu, H. C., & Mackie, K. (2016). An introduction to the endogenous cannabinoid system. Biological psychiatry, 79(7), 516-525.

3. Russo, E. B. (2011). Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid‐terpenoid entourage effects. British journal of pharmacology, 163(7), 1344-1364.

Disclaimer:

The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Before using any product, please consult your health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications.