Best Vegan CBD Gummies for 2022

Whether it’s for post-work relaxation, or to get through the day, CBD’s
become a
popular option for millions of Americans.
And when CBD comes in the form of a tasty treat, relief & relaxation becomes
a
lot sweeter.
But is theres an option for everyone?
In this article, we’re diving into vegan CBD gummies: why we love them,
where to
find them, and what makes them vegan.
Then, we’re getting into our 8 favorite vegan CBD gummy brands, so stick
around!
What Are CBD Gummies?
CBD gummies, also known as cannabidiol gummies, are tasty, chewy gummies
with an
infusion of CBD, and they tend to come in a variety of sweet flavors and fun
shapes.
So what is CBD, then?
To put it simply, CBD is a compound found in cannabis, and while it’s from
the
same family of compounds (known as cannabinoids) as THC, it doesn’t possess
the
same intoxicating, “high” inducing properties. However, CBD’s shown promise
for
a number of benefits, which we’ll dive into soon!
And when we say cannabis, we typically mean industrial hemp, which is
naturally
low in THC and high in CBD, but it also possesses hundreds of other
cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and more.
And as you’ll see when shopping, CBD is available in 3 different
extractions:
full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate.
CBD isolate gummies are when CBD is the only hemp extract you’ll find in
your
plant—no terpenes, no flavonoids, and certainly no THC (or any other
cannabinoids). CBD is a popular option for those who wish to enjoy their CBD
gummies without worrying about getting a false positive on a drug test.
Meanwhile, full-spectrum is when you have all of hemp’s naturally-occurring
compounds; while CBD is the dominant compound, you’re going to get the
entire
spectrum, though THC will still be under 0.3%. Full-spectrum hemp gummies
are
favored by those who wish to achieve the entourage effect. This effect is
said
to be a synergistic connection between all of hemp’s compounds, which may
enhance CBD’s overall efficacy.
But suppose you want an in-between option? That’s where broad-spectrum
gummies
come in! Broad-spectrum gummies contain all of hemp’s compounds except for
THC,
but it’s been said that this extraction can still allow for the entourage
effect.
What Do CBD Gummies Do?
CBD gummies offer the benefits of CBD in a sweet, tasty edible that’s highly
portable and easy to dose.
And over the past several years, CBD has gained more recognition for its
numerous benefits.
Here are some of the most commonly-mentioned benefits of CBD:
CBD Gummies for Anxiety
It’s no secret that mental health has become widespread issue in the United
States, and it’s been reported that over 40 million Americans suffer from
anxiety.
It’s also no secret that some of the ways in which we relieve anxiety aren’t
the
most effective or healthy, like cigarettes, overeating, excessive drinking
or
use of narcotics.
CBD, on the other hand, poses an option that’s non-intoxicating, non
habit-forming, and in the case of gummies, delicious.
In one 2015 review, preclinical evidence demonstrated that CBD is an
effective
treatment for numerous anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety
disorder
(GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder (PD),
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD).
And in a 2020 article, eight studies contained evidence of similar effects,
and
that it can be an effective form of supplemental therapy for generalized
anxiety
disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder,
especially when taken in tandem with behavioral-cognitive therapy or
counseling.
CBD Gummies for Pain
With millions of Americans suffering from chronic and acute pain every day,
pain
relief may be one of the biggest reasons poeple go for CBD gummies.
So what makes CBD good for pain?
CBD has been particularly noted for its anti-inflammatory benefits.
Inflammation
is an important function of the body, and it’s meant to occur whenever the
tissues are injured by something like injury or bacteria.
When inflammation occurs in a part of the body, it’s usually accompanied by
pain
and swelling, and it’s meant to do two things: eliminate whatever is causing
the
damage, and remove the injured tissue so that the healing process can begin.
But sometimes, inflammation may occur for reasons unknown, and on a frequent
basis, thereby creating chronic pain.
Chronic pain can often be difficult to treat. And in our society, we’re
taught
to manage pain with painkillers, whether it’s over-the-counter NSAIDs, or
powerful prescription opiates.
Potent pain medications have contributed greatly to the opioid epidemic, but
for
many Americans, they can often feel like the only option available.
Could CBD gummies be used to manage pain instead?
In short, they show promise.
CBD has been show to possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and
muscle-relaxant
properties, but without the side effects pain medications are known for, and
without the habit-forming or intoxicating properties of some drugs.
CBD Gummies for Depression
Aside from anxiety, depression is also a major issue for millions of
Americans.
And while antidepressants can be effective for many, they often require much
trial and error, and some come with some undesirable side effects like
nausea,
agitation, dizziness, and loss of appetite.
While CBD might not be as effective as most antidepressants, it may tackle
depression through a more holistic approach. Rather than encumber the brain
with
a flood of neurotransmitters or inhibit a neurological response, CBD’s been
suggested to gently stimulate serotonin production and ease stress.
CBD Gummies for Sleep
About 70 million Americans suffer from lack of sleep, and while this can
often
stem from insomnia, it could also come from anxiety, stress, or an irregular
schedule.
While more research is still needed, there’s been some evidence that CBD may
help users fall asleep more easily.
In one 2019 study, it was found that participants with insomnia experienced
an
improvement in sleep when given CBD, and in another study, researchers found
that a 160 mg dosage helped improve sleep quality for those with insomnia.
Are CBD Gummies the Same as Hemp Gummies?
Whether vegan or not, you may see a mix of products labeled as “CBD gummies”
or
“hemp gummies.”
So what’s the difference between CBD gummies and hemp gummies? Are they the
same?
In some ways, yes.
This variation in product names is mainly due to CBD’s legal status, which
is
often complicated.
Because of the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD is federally legal, under the stipulation
that it contains less than 0.3% delta-9 THC, and that it’s derived from
industrial hemp.
But CBD edibles have posed an issue for the FDA, since they generally frown
upon
products that mix food and drugs.
States have handled this matter in a few different ways: some have placed
laws
against CBD edibles, and some have declined to enforce the FDA’s guideline.
Whatever the case, some companies have responded to the issue by changing up
the
language of their gummies; rather than “CBD gummies” or “CBD-infused
gummies,”
some brands have called them “hemp gummies.”
As long as you’re shopping from a reputable brand, and that the product list
the
amount of CBD in milligrams (mg), rest assured that you are looking at
gummies
with CBD.
But what makes a CBD gummy vegan?
What Makes a Vegan CBD Gummy?
Good news for vegans: CBD is completely plant-based, since it comes from
hemp.
But what else makes a vegan CBD gummy?
As with any vegan product, CBD gummies must be free of any animal products.
For CBD gummies specifically, this especially means that there’s no gelatin.
Gelatin is sourced from the skin, tendons, ligaments, bones of animals, and
it
gives gummies a bouncy, pleasant chew.
Luckily, gelatin has a vegan alternative: pectin, which is a plant-based
gelatin
that’s sourced from fruits and vegetables.
In most CBD gummies, pectin is going to be the most telling sign of vegan
gummies, but vegan formulas should also avoid ingredients like dairy, eggs,
or
honey, though these ingredients are not common in gummies to begin with.
When in doubt, most vegan CBD gummies will be labeled as such. But if you’re
still in doubt, rest assured: we’re about to share our 8 favorite vegan CBD
gummy brands for anxiety, depression, pain, and sleep.
How to Choose the Right Vegan CBD Gummies
Before purchasing your own vegan CBD gummies, there are a few factors to
take
into account.
First, take hemp sourcing into consideration. The best vegan CBD gummies are
going to be made from the best hemp, which is typically sourced from the
United
States and Europe. Moreover, the most reliable brands are the ones that
source
hemp responsibly.
When shopping for vegan CBD gummies, it’s also helpful to consider the THC
content, especially since this can become a legal issue: if a CBD product
contains less than 0.3% delta-9 THC, it’s in compliance with federal
regulations.
Also avoid CBD companies that make medical claims. While CBD’s shown
evidence to
possess numerous benefits, a lot of issues can arise when companies make
claims
about them.
This is because the FDA has not officially proven that CBD is safe or
effective,
and there are concerns that brands may make lofty, and even inaccurate
claims as
a marketing strategy. At this time, the only CBD product approved by the FDA
is
the anti-seizure medication Epidiolex.
Finally, make sure that the CBD brand you’re shopping from tests their
products
through a third-party lab. The FDA doesn’t regulate CBD products for
quality, so
brands are completely responsible for them. Reputable brands will
third-party
test their products for toxins in the soil, cannabinoid levels, and
pesticides
used, and they should make their certificates of analysis (COAs) readily
available.
Best Vegan Gummies for Anxiety
Sunday Scaries
Most of us have experienced the Sunday scaries at some point: when Monday’s
rolling around and you’re dreading the week ahead.
It’s fitting, then, that there’s a CBD gummy brand for anxiety, aptly named
“Sunday Scaries.”
While Sunday Scaries is still a fairly new brand, they’ve already built a
strong
reputation for their quality, transparency, and customer service.
On the company’s site, many customers have given Sunday Scaries 5-star
ratings,
and they haven’t received any warning letters from the FDA, which
demonstrates
their reputability.
They’re also highly transparent about their manufacturing processes.
According
to their site, their hemp is sourced with care from farms based in Greeley,
Colorado, where they appear to have a solid relationship with the farmers.
Sunday Scaries ensures that their hemp is free of pesticides and heavy
metals,
and they process it in good manufacturing practice (GMP) certified lab
that’s in
good standing with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment,
and
every product has a COA readily available online.
And while their COAs don’t show the terpene profile, they do list the
cannabinoid levels and overall potency.
Currently, Sunday Scaries offers a fairly minimal selection, selling oils,
gummies, candy, and bath bombs, which are all made with broad-spectrum CBD,
and
only offer one dosage.
Still, Sunday Scaries have a reputation for quality, and they’re highly
affordable. They also offer customers discount bundle, a rewards program,
and a
monthly subscription, which saves you a few dollars that can add up if
you’re a
frequent CBD user.
And while their classic gummies are made with gelatin, they offer a vegan
option
that’s earned quite a name. Their Vegan AF gummies are interesting in that
rather than pectin, they use modified food starch to create chewiness in
each
bite, and they add vitamin B-12 and D-3, which may be lackin in a vegan
diet.
It’s also worth mentioning that Sunday Scaries’ Vegan AF gummies have a sour
coating, so if you’re not a fan of sour vegan CBD gummies, these might not
be
for you.
Joy Organics
Joy Organics is a family-run business that was started by Joy Smith, who
discovered the benefits of CBD for herself years ago.
As a company that opts for natural sugar and fruit flavorings instead of
processed sweeteners, Joy Organics offers some great options for those who
wish
to healthfully manage their anxiety.
Currently, Joy Organics offers a decent range of products, which include
tinctures, softgels, topicals, pet treats, and even energy drinks, and all
of
their products are organic and vegan, including their gummies.
Joy’s CBD gummies are packed with high-quality CBD isolate, which is
obtained
from hemp that was grown organically in Colorado and tested at Cannalysis
Testing Facility.
Each jar contains 30 gummies at 10 mg each, which is a great starting dose
for
most beginners, and they come in two tasty flavors: Strawberry Lemonade and
Green Apple. And for anyone worried about a drug test coming up, rest
assured
that these gummies are completely THC-free.
Best Vegan CBD Gummies for Pain
JustCBD
Whether you’re looking for vegan CBD gummies to help manage pain, or you
simply
crave more variety, JustCBD is the brand to check out.
JustCBD is a brand that’s known for both reliability and for having an
impressive range of products including tinctures, gummies, honey sticks,
pain
creams, bath bombs, and vapes. And what’s even better is that each of these
products come at a variety of doses, and when it comes to gummies, a variety
of
flavors.
JustCBD may be best known for their broad variety of gummies, with choices
like
peach rings, sour worms, rainbow ribbons.
However, the CBD gummies from JustCBD are not traditionally vegan. It was
only
recently that they added their own line of vegan CBD gummies, which come in
the
shape of classic bears, anre come in flavors like Mixed Berry, Strawberry
Champagne, Exotic Fruit, Mixed Fruit, and Dragon Fruit.
These vegan CBD gummies are available in both 300 mg resealable bags, or
1000 mg
jars, but with the rate at which JustCBD expands, we can only expect more
dosage
options in the future.
And as far as flavor goes, JustCBD is always the reigning champ. In a space
where many CBD gummies have an off, bitter aftertaste, JustCBD’s gummies are
known for their sweetness through and through. And this is no different for
their vegan options!
These vegan CBD gummies are naturally sweetened with organic cane sugar and
real
fruit juice, and use fruit-derived pectin for a purely plant-based chew.
Royal CBD
“Royal” is a fitting name for this company: founded in 2018, this brand
started
with just one product, but seriously rode the CBD craze. Today, they offer a
much wider range of products, and they may be one of the most
highly-recommended
brands out there.
Yet despite the name, Royal CBD is anything but elitist. They strive to
create
great CBD products at competitive prices, and truly practice what every
company
other CBD company claims to work toweard: make CBD accessible for all walks
of
life.
And while their price range is more in alignment with an average CBD brand,
the
quality of their products is comparable to the more high-end options in the
industry.
Many of the brands on this list started out with gelatin-based gummies
before
creating vegan options. But for Royal CBD, all of their gummies are
completely
vegan.
And as far as dosage goes, they offer two options, both containing 30
gummies: a
lower potency at 10 mg per gummy, or a higher dosage of 25 mg. And because
higher doses are typically best for pain management, this could be a great
option for those looking to manage chronic or acute pain with CBD. Plus, the
higher dose appears to offer a better bang for your buck.
Royal CBD’s vegan gummies are flavored with tapioca syrup and cane sugar for
some natural sweetness, and while they offer an assortment of flavors in
each
jar, you can choose between their sour and non-sour formulas.
Best Vegan CBD Gummies for Depression
Cheef Botanicals
Cheef Botanicals was founded by health-consious individuals with a passion
for
cannabis and 25 years of experience in food.
And while they’re a fairly new company (founded in 2019), they’ve garnered
quite
the reputation for creating some of the most potent oils on the market.
Cheef Botanicals is also widely respected for their honesty and
transparency,
since they show their customers every step of their manufacturing process.
Plus,
they offer loads of information for beginners.
Cheef Botanicals offers vapes, concentrates like waxes & distillates, pet
products, smokable flower and more, but let’s talk about their gummies.
Cheef makes their gummies vegan, cruelty-free, and highly potent, offering a
range from 300-3,000 mg. And while they’re made with CO2 extracted
full-spectrum
hemp oil, they’re guaranteed to contain less than 0.3% THC.
Cheef also has all of their products third-party tested by CannaSafe, an
ISO-17025 certified testing lab for California Cannabis and International
Hemp,
which publicly shows their lab results on their website.
All of their products ship free, and they offer a 30-day money-back
guarantee.
Medterra
With the growing market and rise in popuarity, there’s been an increasing
demand
for more organic options, and Medterra has been catering directly to that
need.
This California-based company has a specialty for organic, USA-grown hemp.
And
while their product categories are pretty basic with options like oils,
gummies,
and topicals, the products themselves are available in a few different
formulations.
For instance, they offer both full-spectrum and broad-spectrum choices, and
they
even offer products with 10 mg of CBD and 2 mg of THC, which will certainly
appeal to many customers.
As for their gummies, Medterra makes them vegan, gluten-free, all-natural,
and
they never use corn syrup. Instead, they flair their gummies with cane
sugar,
tapioca syrup, and real fruit juice for a flavor you’ll love.
But flavor aside, their gummies are available in one dosage, which is 25 mg
of
CBD and 2 mg of THC per gummy, with 30 gummies per container.
Medterra also offers a refreshing approach to sustainability. For instance,
their bags are made from paper instead of plastic, which is what most
companies
use.
These gummies are reasonably priced compared to similar products on the
market,
but with their high dosage and THC content, they’re not for everyone. Thse
are
definitely for those who want an especially potent vegan CBD gummy for their
depression.
Best Vegan CBD Gummies for Sleep
Vida Optima
Next, we have Vida Optima. Vida Optima is a San Diego-based company that
aims to
use CBD to optimize everyday life, and source their hemp from cGMP-compliant
growers in the United States.
If you’re looking to get to sleep faster with the help of CBD, Vida Optima
makes
a great option with their Dream Gummies, which are designed for improving
sleep.
It’s widely suggested that CBD works best when taken in tandem with other
sleep
aids, and Vida Optima makes their special sleep formula with CBD and CBN.
CBN is one of hemp’s many cannabinoids, and while the research is limited,
it’s
believed that it may help improve sleep quality.
Vida Optima also makes their gummies with vitamin B12 and D3, which may be
lacking in a vegan diet.
Each bottle of Dream Gummies contains 150 mg of CBN and 750 mg of CBD, with
30
gummies a pop.
CBDfx
CBDfx has a lot of recognition, not only for creating a number of great
products, but also for the medical professionals they have on staff,
including a
dermatologist, pharmacist, and doctor of internal medicine.
CBDfx offers a few different CBD products for sleep, but their vegan CBD
gummies
with melatonin may be one of the most popular options.
For many individuals, melatonin and CBD is a powerful duo for assisting with
sleep, and while they’re the featured sleepytime ingredients, they’re
certainly
not the only ones; these vegan gummies also include passion flower,
chamomile,
and lemon balm, which are especially helpful for those who struggle to get
some
shut-eye because of stress or anxiety.
These vegan gummies are made with broad spectrum CBD that’s been CO2
extracted
from quality hemp, so you can get the broad entourage effect without
worrying
about THC.