When to Take CBD, CBN, CBG and CBC

Cannabinoids like CBD, CBN, CBG, and CBC don’t get you “high” like THC (the main psychoactive compound in cannabis). They don’t cause euphoria, nor will you have a sudden desire to eat your body weight in Kit-Kats. But they can affect your mind and mood, and those effects may be more pronounced if they are taken at certain times of the day.

So, what is the best time to take these cannabinoids, does timing always matter, and is there anything else you need to know?

When to Take CBD

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the most commonly consumed non-psychoactive cannabinoid. It kick-started the medicinal cannabinoid revolution and is added to everything from gummies and skincare to pet food and more.

It typically doesn’t make you drowsy or produce any other strong effects, so it can be taken throughout the day. The best time to take CBD, therefore, is whatever time works best for you.

The most important thing is that you pay attention to your reactions:

If it relaxes you, take it when you need to de-stress, such as after work.
If it improves your focus, take it when you need to concentrate, such as during work/school.

It should also adapt to your routine. If you take all of your supplements in the morning, that would be a good time to take CBD; if you find that you’re always in a rush in the morning and don’t have time, keep your CBD mints by your bedside and make it part of your night-time routine.

When to Take CBN

Cannabinol (CBN) can make you drowsy. It’s often promoted as a mild sleep aid, with many users saying that it helps them to fall asleep and stay asleep without any of the morning grogginess associated with prescription sedatives.

CBN is best when taken 30 to 60 minutes before sleep or as part of a night-time routine:

Take a long soak in the bath
Brew a cup of chamomile tea
Turn off your phone and TV
Take a dose of CBN (follow the instructions on the label)
Climb into bed with a good book or magazine

Of course, everyone reacts differently. After taking a test dose to judge its effects, you may find that it helps you to relax and unwind without necessarily making you tired. In such cases, you can take it when you need to chill out.

When to Take CBG

Cannabigerol (CBG), like CBN, is usually taken before bed to promote restful sleep. This “mother cannabinoid”, so named because its acid form (cannabigerolic acid) is responsible for producing other cannabinoids as the plant grows, may also help with anxiety and pain. If it provides one of these benefits and doesn’t make you drowsy, you can take it throughout the day.

There is some research to suggest that CBG could stimulate the appetite. That’s great news if you’re struggling to meet your daily caloric needs but bad news if you’re trying to lose weight. So, keep this in mind when planning your CBG doses.

Anecdotal reports suggest it could help with pain relief, likely due to its anti-inflammatory properties. We have a wealth of customer feedback highlighting CBG’s soothing and relieving properties and included it in our Relief mints for this reason.

When to Take CBC

There isn’t a great deal of research on the effects of cannabichrome (CBC) yet, but it seems to play more of a supportive role. It could help with something known as the entourage effect; whereby multiple compounds work synergistically to provide a positive effect.

The research we do have indicates it could provide an uplifting effect. We included it in our Energize mints for this reason and believe it’s best consumed when you need a pick-me-up, such as before work/study or prior to a workout. It may also have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, so it provides benefits when taken throughout the day.

Before a workout
On waking
Before a hike
To enhance a focused approach to your creative outlet

Look out for Complementary Ingredients

Cannabinoids are often marketed with specific effects in mind, such as night-time formulas that claim to help you sleep.

Sometimes, these formulas just contain cannabinoids and carrier oils. The only difference between these products and standard cannabinoid products is how they are marketed. Most of the time, however, they use additional ingredients to enhance the effects of the cannabinoid. So, check product labels for the following, as they will impact the dose and timing:

Melatonin: A naturally occurring sleep hormone that can be very effective in the right dose. Always take these products before bed.
Lavender: A relaxing plant often used to promote sleep. Much of the positive research on the effects of lavender revolve around its scent, and those effects are mild at best, but it could help you to relax/sleep.
Caffeine: Found in many tinctures and gummies, as well as CBD coffee, caffeine is a stimulant that’s best taken in the morning or when you need a pick-me-up.
Red Raspberry Leaf: Used to combat menstrual cramps and to induce labor. Can be taken at any time.
Valerian: An effective herbal sleep aid. Valerian may also help with stress and anxiety.
Passionflower: May help with anxiety but doesn’t necessarily cause drowsiness—good for any time of the day.

Bear in mind that these complementary ingredients are only effective in the right doses, and if you’re taking a small amount of a cannabinoid product, it’s unlikely to contain a dose high enough to produce an effect. Edibles like our CBD mints may be a better option. You can also just buy a pure cannabinoid product and then purchase an additional herbal supplement to take in combination.

Summary: When and How to Take Cannabinoids

The US CBD market is worth more than $5 billion, with estimates suggesting that it could top $16 billion within a couple of years. CBN, CBG, and CBC are not quite as popular yet, but they account for an increasing share of the cannabinoid market. Needless to say, cannabinoids are here to stay. They offer a safe, effective, and low-cost way to deal with an array of conditions and can be taken throughout the day and in varying combinations.

You may be able to maximise the effects of cannabinoids by taking them when you need them the most, but timing is often less important than dose. Just remember:

Try taking them at varying times of the day to see what works best for you
Pay attention to how they make you feel (energetic, focused, tired) and plan accordingly
Look out for other active compounds that may heighten certain effects

And, as always, if you’re new to cannabinoids, start with a smaller dose and build from there.