You can’t fall asleep, let alone catch the quality zzz’s that are crucial for your well-being. You’re frustrated, you’re exhausted—but there’s one option that you may not have considered yet to promote a peaceful night of rest: the best CBD gummies for sleep.* Instead, these phytocannabinoids are thought to interact with cannabinoid receptors in unique ways to help promote a steadier mood and better stress management.* As a result, many people think CBD helps you fall asleep—but it’s often just a side effect of your body’s more relaxed state from introducing balancing and calm-promoting phytocannabinoids into the endocannabinoid system.* That being said, according to a large case series study1 published in the Permanente Journal, taking CBD (in the range of 25 to 75 milligrams per day) can promote mental and physical relaxation and therefore help busy minds and bodies give in to rest more easily.* This can hopefully lead to falling asleep faster, as well as staying asleep through the night. As a result, it’s important to find formulas that don’t solely rely on hemp CBD to put you to sleep. Other botanical ingredients that promote calm—such as chamomile2, lavender3, L-theanine4, lemon balm5, and magnesium6—should also be incorporated into the formula to ensure your pick can actually help you snooze.* Although many brands make hemp CBD gummies for sleep with melatonin, we recommend avoiding these options for daily consumption, as they may throw off your body’s natural production of the hormone. Sourcing: Batch hemp is organically grown on a multi-generational family farm in Neillsville, Wisconsin, and it undergoes ultra-cold ethanol extraction. Transparency: Batch CBD products are third-party lab tested and you can view the results of nighttime CBD gummies assessments here. Grow location and hemp strain genetics are shared on the product page, as well. What our tester says: “While these gummies may have a similar ingredient list to others on the list, they definitely taste the strongest of hemp. I found that one and half gummies (or about 37mg of hemp CBD) provided just the right amount of calm.* Plus, I loved that the container allowed me to use a QR code to easily access test results.” Plus, they’re available with full-spectrum hemp, too. Sourcing: FOCL CBD is grown on a hemp farm in New Mexico, although it’s sometimes sourced from other U.S.-based growers that meet the brand’s highest standards. The product goes through supercritical CO2 extraction—which is a nontoxic and environmentally safe process—and is packaged in a recyclable container. Transparency: FOCL CBD products are third-party lab tested, and you can view the results of assessments here. What Our Tester Says: “These gummies have the closest taste and consistency to traditional candy of any CBD products that I’ve tried, but there’s a slightly bitter aftertaste that gives the hemp away. I found the combination of CBD, CBN, and L-theanine really supported a relaxed state, and I woke up the next morning feeling well-rested. While there could be plenty of factors at play, this was the only change I made in my nightly routine.”* And even the hemp CBD itself is unique; the company separates the flower of the hemp plant from the rest of its components, including the stalk, leaves, and stems. This subtle changes makes their products slightly different from other competitors. The gummies are available in two strengths: a moderate 20 mg hemp CBD per serving or a strong 50 mg hemp CBD per serving. The latter is more expensive, but you can take advantage of a subscription option to save 25%. Sustainability & Packaging: Cornbread Hemp exclusively sources hemp from USDA-certified farms in Kentucky. Transparency: Cornbread Hemp products are third-party tested. You can view COAs directly on the product page, with an easily accessible QR code also printed on each gummy jar. What A Registered Dietitian & Nutrition PhD Says: “Aside from the amazing visibility of Cornbread Hemp’s hemp growing and flower harvesting in Kentucky, I enjoy the berry flavor of this hemp CBD gummy. In addition to the useful 20 mg dose of CBD per serving from my favorite type of hemp extract (the organic, full-spectrum variety), this vegan gummy’s excipient profile—you know, the ‘other ingredients’—are incredibly clean, organic, and innovative. While the 20 mg CBD potency is relaxing for me around sleepy time, a taller or larger individual might prefer the higher strength 50 mg hemp CBD gummies. Hemp preference and regimens are personalized, but this is one of my favs in the current market.” — Ferira Although the brand does offer CBD gummies specifically for sleep, they contain melatonin and shouldn’t be consumed on a nightly basis. Instead, opt for the brand’s Calm CBD gummies, which feature lemon balm (a calming herbal extract known to promote sleep) instead.* You’ll get the same calm-evoking perks without the grogginess!* Plus, these vegan-friendly pectin gummies are naturally flavored with juices from fruits and vegetables. Sustainability & Packaging: Charlotte’s Web hemp is grown on certified organic U.S. family farms (though this does not mean all product is certifiably organic). Crops are planted after the soil and water sources have been tested, and synthetic pesticides are never used. Transparency: Charlotte’s Web products are third-party tested. You can view COAs by searching here. What Our Tester Says: “These gummies help me feel relaxed before bedtime, as long as I remember to take them about an hour in advance. I would recommend these to someone who doesn’t mind the taste of hemp, as the lemon lime flavoring doesn’t mask the potent taste (or smell) of the plant. The texture is gooey, and I stick with the suggested two gummy dosage for the full calming effect.”* Each individual gummy includes 25 mg of CBD isolate, a concentrated form of CBD that doesn’t contain other cannabis plant compounds or substances. Although you skip the trace amounts of THC present in full-spectrum CBD—less than 0.3% by definition—you’ll also miss out on the other beneficial compounds of the plants, including other cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. Sustainability & Packaging: TribeTokes sources its CBD isolate from Global Cannabinoids, an established supplier known for its consistent, high-quality product. Transparency: TribeTokes products are third-party lab tested and you can view the results of each of product assessments here. One bottle yields 30 servings of the sugar-coated candy supplements that come in a mix of Lemonade, Mixed Berry, and Orange Cream flavors. Each pectin gummy has 30 mg of CBD, as well as 10 mg of CBN, or cannabinol, a phytochemical compound also derived from the Cannabis sativa plant that is believed to help promote sleepiness.* In addition to organic vegetable juice, turmeric, annatto, and spirulina for color, other ingredients include organic tapioca syrup and cane sugar, which help mask the taste of hemp oil (though some product reviewers note they still experience an earthy aftertaste). Sourcing: Extract Labs CBD Gummies feature American grown hemp and are extracted, refined, formulated under, and shipped from a cGMP facility in Boulder, Colorado. Pesticides and heavy metals are not used during the farming process. Transparency: Extract Labs CBD gummies are third-party lab tested and you can view the results of your batch here. What’s more, when shopping for broad- and full-spectrum formulas, Beach notes that combinations of different cannabinoids can affect an individual’s experience with a product. “If you find that you are not falling asleep faster, staying asleep longer, or are having adverse reactions,” Beach says, “it is best to stop the CBD gummy and search for other sources of relief.” While many people take melatonin to help with sleep on a nightly basis, no research has been done on the impact of taking melatonin longterm. What’s more, many supplements opt for high doses of melatonin—sometimes upwards of 20 milligrams—when the research points to just .05mg to 5mg10 for resetting your circadian rhythm (or internal clock). Per a previous interview with Ferira, this modest dose “mimics physiological melatonin levels.” As a result, we don’t recommend taking melatonin on a nightly basis. However there are rare instances where it might be beneficial for some, such as those traveling or starting a new work schedule who need to reset their internal clocks. If you do want a CBD gummy with melatonin, you can find our top pick below. The gummies have over 1,200 rave customer reviews on the brand’s website and average a 4.5 out of 5-star rating. In a survey administered to 114 customers by the brand, just over 98% of respondents reported “experiencing better sleep,” while just under 87% reported “falling asleep faster.”* Transparency: Medterra products are also third-party lab tested and you can view the results of the sleep gummies assessment here. CBD isolate is CBD void of any other ingredients or cannabinoids other than cannabidiol, while broad-spectrum hemp formulas include the additional compounds found within the cannabis plant but intentionally minus THC. Registered RDN and certified holistic cannabis practitioner Emily Kyle, M.S., tells mbg these may include “cannabinoids and naturally occurring terpenes” but never THC. Full-spectrum hemp, on the other hand, does have trace levels of THC, as well as all of the native botanical compounds (i.e., other phytocannabinoids plus terpenes, flavonoids, and fatty acids) you would find in a broad-spectrum CBD (hence the name “full”). However, in order to be considered federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, full-spectrum hemp in the U.S. cannot have more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. (In the European Union, it’s even more strict at less than 0.2% THC by dry weight.) According to Kyle, when determining what kind of CBD gummies are best for sleep, full-spectrum hemp is widely considered the best option, as the full array of cannabinoids and terpenes present contribute to the “entourage effect.” Broad-spectrum hemp and CBD isolates, on the other hand, are better suited for those who do not want any trace of THC in their systems. Ergo, what kind of CBD you should take will ultimately depend on your personal needs and preferences. Remember to always discuss with your health care provider before starting any supplement. “Because CBD does not create a ‘high’ feeling like THC does, it can be hard to tell which dose is right for you at first,” Kyle tells mbg. However, because the dosage of CBD gummies is measured in increments, it’s easy to control and adjust your dosage until you figure out how much CBD is good for sleep at night. “My best advice is to be patient and willing to experiment for a week or two so you can have enough time to assess how you feel as you increase the dosage,” Kyle says, adding that it might be beneficial to keep a journal and jot down your experiences with each dosage. (This is why partnering with your health care provider before starting is essential.) 1/17: We added additional information about melatonin to help readers decide whether or not they want a CBD gummy formulated with the hormone.
