What Is the Difference Between CBD Gummies and Hemp Gummies?

If CBD gummies are made using an extract that comes from hemp plants, are regular hemp gummies the same type of product? The answer is simple, but important.

The main difference between CBD gummies and hemp gummies is the amount of CBD found in each one. CBD gummies are created with extracts that are rich in CBD from hemp plants that have been bred to produce high amounts of the cannabinoid, which sets them apart from plain hemp gummies.

Just because CBD gummies are their own thing, though, doesn’t mean they’re necessarily better than hemp gummies overall. It all depends on your needs and what you expect your product to do; if you expect hemp gummies to do what CBD gummies can, you’ll be disappointed, and vice versa.

What Is the Difference Between Hemp and CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid, which is a naturally-occurring compound found in large quantities in cannabis plants. Hemp is simply a type of cannabis plant; unlike marijuana, hemp has high levels of CBD and low levels of THC.

In other words, hemp is a plant, and CBD is a chemical found within the plant. It’s not possible, therefore, to use the two terms interchangeably. 

Products can be made with either pure hemp, pure CBD, or hemp that contains high levels of CBD (and therefore offers the benefits of both).

Options made with hemp or hemp extract rather than CBD-rich hemp extract, for instance, may have trace amounts of the cannabinoid, but they aren’t formulated with significant enough amounts to function like a CBD product.

To illustrate this, consider the characteristics of each type of flower (and the products made from it). A primary difference between a product labeled as hemp flower and one as CBD flower is simply the amount of CBD and other cannabinoids found within it. 

All CBD flower sold on the market (aside from flower from medical marijuana programs or in states where THC is legal) comes from hemp, but because it’s been grown to have higher-than-average levels of CBD, it is marketed as such.

Flower that’s sold as “hemp flower,” on the other hand, is still the same sort of hemp that leads to CBD flower, but without the genes to produce noteworthy amounts of CBD. 

The result, then, is bud that still carries natural compounds like antioxidants, terpenes, and flavonoids, but without the presence of a strong dose of CBD.

Remember that hemp isn’t a downgraded version of CBD flower, though; it’s a product option of its own, and it still has a lot of benefits to offer. 

For instance, over a dozen individual cannabinoids can be found in hemp plants and, as a result, hemp products, including gummies.

CBD Gummies vs. Hemp Gummies

Though they may share similar roots, CBD gummies and hemp gummies are not the same thing. The former contains high levels of CBD, and the latter does not.

It’s important to understand the differences between each product type so you can avoid investing in a product that won’t meet your needs.

Cannabinoid Content

The most noteworthy discrepancy between hemp gummies and CBD gummies is the amount of actual CBD found in each one. Other cannabinoids, including things like CBG, CBN, and even trace amounts of THC may also be present in higher levels within CBD gummies. 

Keep in mind that the key difference between a basic hemp plant and a CBD hemp plant is the way it’s been bred to grow; just because CBD comes from hemp doesn’t mean all hemp plants are rich in it. 

The hemp used to create hemp gummies may have some level of CBD in it, but because it’s not been specifically created and grown to have more than usual, it won’t lead to a product that has a significant dose. 

Hemp still does have cannabinoids in it, though, even if they aren’t populous enough to alter the way you feel. 

Cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other organic compounds, even in small amounts, can act as supplements and help promote overall health and wellness.

Effects

Because they are not formulated using hemp that’s rich in CBD, hemp gummies don’t carry the same therapeutic effects that CBD gummies do. Instead, their main benefits are related to their ability to introduce into your system healing compounds that may help your body function at its best.

CBD gummies, on the other hand, feature enough of the cannabinoid to alter bodily functions and responses, including things like inflammatory responses, nausea and appetite, and more. 

That’s because cannabinoids like CBD bind to receptors found within the endocannabinoid system, a complex chemical network throughout the body that helps it maintain homeostasis.

Once this reaction occurs, changes to the way the mind and body work and approach obstacles take place, leading to the results we all know and love.

Uses

Since hemp gummies function more as a supplement than a medication (like CBD gummies often do), they’re generally used very differently. 

You may take hemp gummies every day, or you may take them intermittently when you feel you need them.

CBD gummies, though also flexible, tend to be most effective when used regularly, usually daily. They can be used to tackle problems like chronic pain and inflammation, anxiety, insomnia, and more.

Legality

Because hemp flower is legal in all 50 U.S. states (so long as it stays below legal limits regarding how much THC can be present), hemp gummies and CBD gummies, which are made using hemp, are legal. 

But, CBD gummies can certainly be harder to come by and produce some challenges, especially if you don’t live in the U.S.

Drug Testing

A lack of a strong cannabinoid profile in hemp gummies means that, if you’re subject to random or frequent drug testing, they’re a great way to avoid allowing THC to build up in your body.

There’s not enough THC in CBD gummies to get you high or even make you fail a drug test after a few uses, but because it takes weeks or months for the body to completely break down and dispose of cannabinoids, regularly using CBD products can lead to a growing store of THC.

Toxicity

Though CBD comes with few side effects, it can cause things like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, especially at higher doses. 

Hemp gummies bypass these side effects because they don’t contain significant amounts of cannabinoids, though some irritation is still possible if you’re sensitive to your gummies’ ingredients.

Do Hemp Gummies Offer Any of the Health Benefits That CBD Gummies Do?

Hemp gummies can’t necessarily pack the same punch that CBD gummies do in terms of therapeutic benefits, but they still are well-known as a natural supplement that can help rid the body of toxins and feel its best.

The presence of things like terpenes also brings some benefits, including feelings of relaxation, increased appetite/lowered nausea, and similar changes.

Can You Buy CBD Gummies on Amazon?

You can’t buy genuine CBD gummies on Amazon due to the company’s policies; any “CBD gummies” you may encounter on the site are actually hemp gummies, regardless of how they’re being marketed.

Amazon Policy

Amazon’s CBD policy is a strict one: according to the company, listings for any and all products containing CBD are prohibited, including things like:

• Full-spectrum hemp oils
• Rich hemp oils
• Products identified as containing CBD by LegitScript

The small exception to this policy is the fact that some CBD topical products, specifically those that have been verified to be compliant with the appropriate laws and regulations, are approved for sale through Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market on Amazon. 

Amazon notes, though, that there are no plans to allow the sale of CBD products of any kind beyond these services.

Our Favorite CBD Gummies

When it comes to buying CBD gummies, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting your money and time’s worth; there are lots of brands and options out there to choose from, but not all of them will impress. 

That’s why we recommend FAB CBD Gummies, which are both affordable and effective enough to work for the majority of CBD gummy users.