Hemp Gummies vs CBD Gummies: What’s the Difference?

These days, a lot of consumers are familiar with CBD and the reasons why it’s so popular. But, while most people know about CBD in a general sense, a lot are still unfamiliar with what they should know when shopping for a top-quality product. And sadly, this lack of knowledge leads some to purchase poor quality products from lesser-known brands that keep costs down by cutting corners in their creation process. If you’re just beginning your research into CBD, chances are you might have typed “Best CBD Gummies” into your search engine only to come up with “best hemp gummies” as a result. This is where things can get tricky. Hemp gummies are very different from CBD gummies in a lot of ways. 

What’s the Difference Between Hemp Gummies and CBD Gummies?

As we just said, hemp gummies and CBD gummies are not the same thing. Sadly, many less reputable brands capitalize on the confusion of consumers to sell gummies that don’t have any CBD in them at all. Hemp gummies are created from hemp seeds. Even though hemp seed oil contains an abundance of nourishing properties, it does not have any CBD in it. In fact, hemp seed oil is used in foods, cosmetics, and skincare products, among other items. The hemp seeds that the oil is extracted from are simply not able to produce any CBD like the stems, flowers, and stalks of the hemp plant are. 

CBD gummies are made by extracting oil from the leaves, flowers, and stems of the cannabis plant. Both the marijuana plant and the hemp plant are varieties of the cannabis plant. As a consumer, it’s important to also know the difference between these two plants for legal reasons as well as personal reasons. Marijuana-derived gummies contain well over the federal legal limit of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, one of the main cannabinoids in the cannabis plant that also produces a euphoric high when used in large quantities. Hemp-based gummies contain 0.3% or less THC, and do not cause people to feel “high” when eating them. Per federal law, all hemp-based CBD products are legal to buy and sell throughout the United States, providing they contain 0.3% or less THC. Otherwise, you’ll have to check your state’s laws regarding the recreational and/or medicinal use of marijuana-based CBD products. 

Hemp gummies that are made from hemp seed oil are commonly found on Amazon and in local stores. These gummies tend to be cheaper in price, but that’s only because there isn’t any actual CBD in them. CBD gummies that are derived from the flowers, stalks, stems, and leaves of hemp will have a host of cannabinoids, phytonutrients, and terpenes in them. Hemp-based CBD gummies from reputable brands are also thoroughly and regularly lab tested by an independent third-party lab. These detailed reports — that the brand should make available to customers via its website — list everything in the oil’s composition including cannabinoids and terpenes, and also lists what shouldn’t be in there like mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticides, fungicides, and harmful chemicals. 

How Can You Choose the Best CBD Gummy for Your Lifestyle?

Most consumers avoid buying hemp seed oil gummies, unless they’re specifically looking for gummies that don’t have any CBD in them at all. Instead, they’re buying hemp-derived gummies from reputable brands, like FAB CBD, that are transparent and that make pure and potent products. Most reputable brands craft an array of gummies that are specifically formulated to help target the various needs of their consumers. These gummies are also made to come in different potencies. Some gummies formulated with other ingredients like melatonin that are taken at night may assist in helping you fall asleep faster, while lower dose gummies taken in the morning are created to help you make it through your busy day.

For example, FAB CBD crafts its fruit-flavored Anytime CBD Gummies out of high-quality Colorado-grown hemp. These gummies can be eaten any time during the day, for whatever reason you need them for. Moreover, they’re a fun, easy, and discreet way to get in your daily dose of CBD. Along with natural flavors, “Anytime” gummies are vegan, non-GMO, gluten free, and are coated with 25mg of CBD isolate per gummy. If, however, you’re looking for a CBD gummy that can help in gently assisting you off to sleep at night so that you can wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, then you may want to opt for the melatonin-infused FAB CBD Nighttime CBD PM Chews. Along with 12.5mg of broad spectrum CBD per gummy, “Nighttime” PM CBD Chews are acai-flavored and made with L-Theanine, 5-HTP, GABA, and melatonin. Many reputable brands are using these types of functional ingredients to formulate unique and interesting types of CBD gummies. 

How Should You Shop for Hemp Gummies vs CBD Gummies?

Whether you’re buying a hemp gummy or a CBD gummy, you need to pay attention to these important factors so that you can ensure you’re buying a high-quality product:

• The CBD Source: If you’re purchasing a hemp-based CBD product, you should decide which variety you want to go with. The three types of CBD products are: full-spectrum, broad spectrum, and CBD isolate. CBD isolate gummies contain 99% pure CBD that is free from all other cannabinoids and terpenes, as they have been filtered out using a special process. Full-spectrum gummies contain all of the terpenes, phytonutrients, and cannabinoids in the hemp plant. They also contain 0.3% or less THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. Per the federal law, all hemp-based CBD products must contain this amount of CBD in order to be legally bought and sold throughout the United States. Finally, broad spectrum gummies contain the same components as full-spectrum gummies. The only difference is that all of the THC has been filtered out of them. Remember that hemp seed gummies do not contain any CBD in them whatsoever. Therefore, you should avoid products that claim to have CBD in them but only list hempseed oil on the label. 
• Product Ingredients: Regardless of whether you’re buying hemp gummies or CBD gummies, you should always make it a habit to read the ingredients listed on the packaging. Look for brands that use natural ingredients and flavors in their gummies. 
• Independent Lab Tests: While most hemp gummies won’t be tested by an independent third-party lab, the CBD gummies from reputable brands will. All products that have been tested by an independent lab will come with a COA, or certificate of analysis. This COA should include the date that the product was tested, its potency — which should match the number listed on the packaging, and the results of the contaminant testing. Brands that fail to test their products, or that don’t make the lab reports easily accessible to consumers should raise a red flag for you. 

So What’s the Big Takeaway?

Both hemp and CBD gummies are worth integrating into your daily supplement routine. However, just as you would with any other product that you’re interested in buying, you should also do your research before jumping on the first gummy brand that you find. Spend some time reading verified customer reviews, third-party lab reports, product labels, and brand websites. This will help you avoid buying subpar products from less reputable, and potentially shady brands. Moreover, if you’re on the lookout for gummies that contain CBD, then beware of brands that sell hemp gummies that they’ve disguised as CBD gummies. If, for example, you find a product that’s suspiciously cheap and labeled as CBD, then that brand could have used hemp seed oil instead of CBD oil in the making of that product. 

Lastly, don’t get fooled by brands that make over-the-top claims about their gummies. All reputable brands will never make outlandish claims about what their gummies can or cannot do. Additionally, CBD gummies will cost more than hemp gummies, so even though hemp gummies can have more of a nutritional value, they won’t be able to assist you in the same way that a top-quality CBD gummy will. No matter which type of product you decide to go with, you should speak with your primary care doctor or medical specialist if you have any concerns or questions.