CBD Not Working for You? Here Are 6 Possible Reasons Why & Tips to try.

Medically reviewed by: Dr. Vance Green, PharmD.
Updated on July 9, 2021

Well, although the above statements could, and in many instances, are accurate. It’s not all bad; although your initial CBD experience got tarnished, there are some simple reasons why. We’re going to guide you through the possible causes, impart some fundamental advice and ways to turn your CBD experience around. So you, too, can benefit from the life-changing effects that CBD has brought to many people just like you.

The main reasons CBD may not be working for you and the mistakes you’re probably making (Without Even Knowing It)

1. Poor product quality
2. Strength & Dosage
3. Type of CBD
4. Length of Time
5. Tolerance, Genetics & Metabolism
6. or you’re expecting something that isn’t going to happen.
7. Delivery Method & absorption.

There’s no doubt about it: CBD is everywhere. Unfortunately, for consumers, this means many labels to read and understand, claims to wade through, and endless options for you to choose from.
And unfortunately, not all bets are safe bets.

To ensure you’re receiving the full benefits of the hemp plant, you need to take the right kind of CBD in the right way from the right brand. Brands going above and beyond in quality, safety, and transparency. The fact is: Not all CBD is created equal.

There’s nothing worse than wasted time, money, and effort – especially when you’re taking steps to improve your health. So how do you know if you’re doing CBD the right way? And what are the most common mistakes? Here are some signs you’ve veered off the path on your CBD journey—and exactly how to get back on the straight and narrow.

Are you expecting to feel a “Buzz”?

Let us clear up the last reason CBD is not “working” first.
You’re expecting, or you were misinformed, you’ll feel a buzz similar to a THC high.

This expectation isn’t going to happen 99% of the time; CBD and its companion cannabinoids don’t affect us in that way. They’re non-intoxicating. They could, in some cases, give a sense of calm, relaxation, or what’s known as a “body high.” But, you’re not going to get “stoned” unless you take high doses containing THC.

Many people report CBD doesn’t make you feel something; it’s more what you don’t feel. But, it takes away feelings of discomfort or anxiety. Leaving you with less pain & tension, resulting in a sense of wellness and relaxation. It can be subtle but profoundly powerful.

Poor product quality.

Poor product quality, unfortunately, is more common than not. With a considerable portion of the market flooded with fakes, under-dosed, low potency, un-tested CBD products getting sold.

In some cases, simply hemp-seed oil (Sativa Cannabis seed oil) getting sold has hemp extract (containing absolutely no CBD) as a means to confuse consumers into parting with their money. But, of course, you want to be spending your money on the best CBD oils you can afford.

The good news is you can avoid most of these products with a few simple checks.

First, it’s vitally important to do some digging and buy CBD from reputable companies with transparent reporting on their CBD products. If you can’t, find lab reports, or the company isn’t willing to show you lab reports. Then, just say no and move on.

Second, avoid Amazon, eBay, and similar platforms. You cannot buy legitimate CBD on those platforms as they prohibit CBD sales.

Finally, stick to domestic companies with business registration and easy-to-find reviews and information. If you purchase CBD through social media via direct messaging, you’ll likely get scammed.

Buying CBD extracted by butane or hexane

Before you jump ahead and purchase your full- or broad-spectrum CBD oil, it’s time to do a little research on extraction methods, which are not all equal in extraction quality or preservation of compounds.

To get the best CBD for your money, look for a product extracted using CO2. Extraction using the Co2 method is where the raw plant material gets exposed to high-pressure, low-temperature CO2 gas.

Co2 extraction isolates the cannabinoids, terpenes & other compounds and preserves them in the oil. However, Co2 extraction takes longer and requires expensive machinery, which some businesses are unwilling to utilize.

On the flip side, seeing this method is a good hint that the people extracting your CBD have a legitimate operation going. If the brand can educate you regarding the ins and outs of its process. This information should be on their website or given over the phone. It’s a clear sign they’re going above and beyond in terms of quality and transparency.

CO2 extraction remains the gold standard in the industry. But with high production costs come higher price tags. Consumers looking for a quality product should be willing to invest, though. Because other extraction methods, including butane or hexane, do a good job extracting cannabinoids from hemp but they can leave a residue behind that’s not healthy to ingest.

And unless the product is being third-party tested (more on that to follow), you don’t know how much of that solvent residue is ending up in your oil that you might later consume.

Buying CBD from conventionally grown industrial hemp farms.

Speaking of unwanted ingredients in your CBD oil, pesticides are another big concern. Hemp is a bioaccumulator, meaning it absorbs chemical waste and heavy metals, also known as Phytoremediation. It does this with such vengeance that hemp often gets planted to detox land after contamination.

According to a paper published in Epilepsy & Behavior in 2017, “if large quantities of hemp get cultivated to produce CBD, it is critically important that the quality of the soil is closely monitored and regulated.”

The good news is, buying CBD products extracted from organically grown (Preferably USDA Certified Organic CBD Products) hemp can lower your risk of pesticide exposure and support the environment at the same time.

Ready for a little bad news?

The keyword in the sentence above is “lower.” Buying CBD extracted from organic hemp is a good start—but it’s not guaranteed that the product is contaminant-free and up to safety standards. The only way to truly protect yourself is to make certain your CBD oil has been 3rd party lab-tested, which brings us to the following common mistake.

Buying CBD without a batch lab test

As we just learned, pesticides are a significant factor to consider when buying hemp-based products and an excellent reason to go organic. But, unfortunately, that’s not where the contamination conversation ends. It surprises many, but other unsafe & unhealthy compounds, including heavy metals, fragrances, preservatives, solvent residues, mold, mineral oil, and microbes, can also find their way into your product. (Yikes, right?)

The above is why lab testing is. Absolutely. Imperative. It’s the only way to really guarantee that you’re not ingesting harmful chemicals along with your CBD. We deem this as a minimum barrier of entry that all companies should be held to.

Independent Lab testing is important for another reason as well: to make sure there’s actually CBD in the product you’ve purchased.

Independent Lab testing is essential for another reason as well: to make sure there’s actually CBD in the product you’ve purchased.
Now, this might seem silly, but when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lab-tested CBD products in 2015, many of them contained significantly lower levels of CBD than stated on the bottle—and some didn’t contain any CBD at all.

A great CBD company will be open and transparent about its lab testing procedures on its website and product label.

What is independent Third-party lab testing? Third-party lab testing means the testing has been carried out by an independent company with no affiliation with the brand. It’s also vitally important that there’s an exact batch number on your product with a corresponding lab report. This means the company is testing every batch of the product instead of just every so often.

CHECKLIST: Avoid Amazon, eBay  & similar platforms.

• Avoid buying via social media pages, private messages, and unknown individuals. Always use a credible, registered company with an online business presence.
• Google the brand to see if they have a legitimate website and reviews
• Always check for lab reports that include batch number, contaminant tests as well as cannabinoid tests. 
• Contact the company to ask questions.
• If you’re unsure or something doesn’t feel right. Move on.

Strength & Dosage

If you frequent social media groups, you’ll often hear, start low. In many cases, people don’t start with a reasonable amount to receive any benefits. CBD is very individual, so it will undoubtedly require trial and error. Legally CBD product manufacturers can’t give dosing advice, so that leaves consumers to work it out for themselves.

However, many sources and consumers report that a reasonable starting dose would be between 10-50mg per day, while others state upwards of 100mg a day. So, again this would be for you to trial and adjust accordingly, which brings up the question of bottle potency. Many products contain less than 5mg per dose / per ml, so trial and error with these products would be challenging, somewhat expensive, and likely ineffective overall.

Working out the products’ possible dosing amount is fairly simple. Take the full CBD value and divide it by the milliliter value of the bottle. You’ll quickly be able to work out how many doses you have to play with while you learn your requirements. Our 1000mg CBD oil comes in a 30ml bottle. 100 / 30 = 33mg per ml. Approx 20 drop per ml of oil = 1.65mg per drop.

Many CBD users have reported trying several different brands before settling on one that works for them, so keep searching if your first try doesn’t produce the results you’re looking to achieve.

Remember, what works for one person may not work for you. Biology, metabolism, diet, exercise will affect each person’s response to CBD.

Medical News Today has an in-depth dosing article here that you may find helpful.

TIP: Try spreading your intake out multiple times a day. Gradually Increase your dose each day until you feel comfortable. You may need less; you may need more. Adjust as you see fit.