Best CBD Gummies for Pain: Top 10 Brands in 2023
CBD is a popular supplement for pain management. Some users swear by its effectiveness, saying that CBD helped them ditch conventional treatments.
CBD’s anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects are well-documented by scientific studies; there are many forms of CBD that provide these effects, so why did we pick out CBD gummies?
You’ll learn everything from today’s article.
Gummies are yummies, and they can help you ease physical discomfort, but there are too many low-quality products offered on the market. Since the CBD space remains unregulated, it’s the consumer’s responsibility to research their potential vendors before purchasing any CBD products, such as CBD gummies for pain.
But don’t worry, we’ve done the legwork for you, painstakingly analyzing several quality criteria to choose the best CBD gummies for pain out of hundreds of US brands.
Here are 10 reputable brands that stock premium-quality CBD gummies that are also priced within reason.
Best CBD Gummies for Pain & Inflammation: Top 10 Brands in 2023
- Royal CBD – Best CBD Gummies for Pain Overall
- Gold Bee CBD – Best Organic CBD Gummies for Pain Relief
- Green Roads — Runner Up
- Tasty Hemp Gummies — Best Flavor
- CBDfx – Best Variety
- cbdMD – Good Value
- Charlotte’s Web – Most Popular Brand
- PlusCBD Gummies – Largest Size
- Medterra – Best for Daytime Use
- Joy Organics – Best Customer Service
1. Royal CBD
Get 15% off all Royal CBD products. Use code “CFAH” at checkout.
Royal CBD gummies contain all-natural ingredients, including colorings and flavorings. At 3 grams of sugar per container, these sweet dots and drops are actually a guilt-free pleasure.
Royal CBD gummies are made from 99.9% pure CBD; you can choose from two concentrations: 10 mg and 25 mg of CBD per gummy. They are available in an assortment of three flavors: grape, orange, and strawberry. Both potencies can be purchased in a sour version (they’re the most delicious sour CBD gummies we’ve tried to date).
We recommend the 25 mg option for pain management, as it can address more serious discomfort and prove more cost-effective than the lower strength. On the other hand, the low-potency version is a good pick if you struggle with minor aches or weigh more than 150 pounds.
Since the gummies contain pure CBD, they have an enjoyable, fruity taste thanks to fruit juices and extracts. You can buy them even if your vegan or if your diet doesn’t include wheat. Organic gummies are priced slightly higher than competitor brands, but they still offer the best value overall.
2. Gold Bee
Gold Bee is a California-based brand established by cannabis aficionados and superfood specialists. Similar to Royal CBD, they make organic products that are crafted to the highest quality standards.
The Gold Bee CBD gummies contain a broad-spectrum extract and are sweetened with organic syrups, cane sugar, and natural flavorings. Broad-spectrum CBD means that you can benefit from other cannabinoids and terpenes on top of the cannabidiol.
These gummies are also suitable for vegans and people on gluten-free diets. Flavor-wise, they’re our second pick; you can easily spot the notes of pumpkin, berries, apples, and oranges.
3. Green Roads
According to the Brightfield Research Group report, green Roads is one of the largest private-owned CBD companies in the U.S. They offer a wide range of pharmaceutical-grade CBD products, including oils, capsules, topicals, gummies, and even pet [roducts.
If you want to enjoy a burst of flavor in your CBD routine, then Green Roads has got you covered with delicious natural flavors coming from juices and fruit concentrates. If you’re looking for CBD gummies for pain management, the company has an extra-strength option that features 25 mg of pure CBD per gummy.
You can choose from 5ct and 30ct containers, although the amount of CBD in a single gummy remains the same. If you want a better choice of strengths and flavors, we recommend going for the two above brands.
4. Tasty Hemp Gummies
Tasty Hemp CBD gummies are formulated with all-natural, organic ingredients, such as organic fruit juices, corn syrup, natural flavorings, and colors. Tasty Hemp offers an assortment of three flavors: lemon, cherry, and orange. At 25 mg in each serving, these gummies provide a high dose of CBD at a reasonable price. Most gummies in this price range contain up to 15 mg.
However, Tasty Hemp only shows the lab reports for the potency of their gummies; there are no certificates with the results for pesticides, heavy metals, solvents, and other contaminants.
5. CBDfx
CBDfx has multiple options for its CBD gummies. The company offers both beginners and experienced users products, selling two strengths: 10 mg or 40 mg CBD per gummy. The second option is great if you weigh more than 200 pounds or want to ease severe discomfort.
CBDfx has various formulas in its product lineup, offering unique benefits, such as immune support, sleep aid, or digestive health boost. Unfortunately, no formula would offer greater benefits in terms of pain relief. The high-strength version of the gummies indicates they’re a better fit for pain management, but the company doesn’t say it openly.
Another problem with these gummies is that they contain higher amounts of sugar than the competitor’s products. On the other hand, the gummies contain a full-spectrum extract, so the sugar was probably added to mask the strong taste of hemp.
6. cbdMD
cbdMD offers organic CBD gummies made from non-GMO, US-grown hemp. The gummies contain a broad-spectrum CBD extract, which evokes part of the entourage effect without any THC in your system. The company is highly transparent, providing certificates of analysis for each of their products; they’re available with a click of a button.
You can choose from three strength options: 10 mg, 25 mg, and 50 mg. The last version is great for heavyweight users and people with severe pain. Taking two gummies equals delivering 100 mg of broad-spectrum CBD to your body.
The gummies are gluten-free and vegan, and every container contains a mix of tropical, orange, strawberry, and raspberry flavors. But frankly speaking, they don’t have the best taste for broad-spectrum CBD gummies. If you’re unhappy with the flavor, cbdMD offers a 60-day return policy and a full refund for the product.
7. Charlotte’s Web
Charlotte’s Web was established by Stanley Brothers who have brought CBD into the mainstream by helping now late Charlotte Figi with Dravet Syndrome — a rare form of childhood-onset epilepsy that is resistant to conventional treatments. Since then, Charlotte’s Web has coined the reputation of one of the most reputable manufacturers in the market.
The brand has recently reformulated its CBD gummies, featuring three versions for different types of consumers. The best CBD gummies for pain are the Recovery ones. They contain ginger and turmeric on top of a whole-plant hemp extract, both known for their anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and immune-boosting properties.
That being said, Charlotte’s Web has recently received a few warning letters from the FDA regarding their health claims, which they aren’t allowed to make as a manufacturer.
8. PlusCBD Gummies
PlusCBD offers full-spectrum CBD gummies that leverage the entourage effect in cannabis. Since you’re getting other phytocannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in your treats, they all work synergistically to enhance the analgesic properties of CBD. Other ingredients in these gummies include purified water, fruit pectin, seaweed extract, and organic cane sugar.
There are two flavors available — mango and fruit punch. Both taste pretty well, but there’s still a distinct aftertaste of full-spectrum CBD when you eat them. You can choose from 30ct and 60ct containers; the latter will save you more money in the long run, especially that the price per mg of CBD is very high.
9. Medterra
Medterra is a craft company based in California that makes premium CBD products from locally grown hemp. They offer three types of CBD gummies: Sleep Well, Stay Alert, and Immune Boost.
The ingredients in the Immune Boost version are best suited for people who use CBD gummies for pain relief, as they combine CBD with vitamin C, zinc, and elderberry. Especially vitamin C is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties.
Each gummy contains 25 mg of broad-spectrum CBD; they are priced reasonably, but since Medterra doesn’t offer any discounts for regular customers, it makes its products less affordable than other brands mentioned on this list.
10. Joy Organics
Joy Organics is a family-owned and operated business with a mission to provide premium-quality extracts to health-conscious consumers. Joy Smith, the founder of Joy Organics, founded the company because she witnessed the pain-relieving effects of CBD first-hand.
These CBD gummies are made with isolate so that you won’t find any other cannabinoids and terpenes in them. They come in two flavors: green apple and strawberry lemonade. Both versions contain natural colorings and flavorings and are also vegan-friendly.
Despite the craft quality and simple formula, these gummies aren’t the most affordable option out there. Medterra only has them in 10 mg concentrations, so if you weigh more than 150 pounds, you may find them cost-prohibitive. But on a positive note, they can be a good addition to CBD oil or help you uplift your mood without getting you high.
How Did We Pick Out the Best CBD Gummies for this Ranking?
When federal legislators approved the 2018 Farm Bill, we saw the birth of a new industry.
Or the redemption of once buried giant, we should say.
Every company that could use a patch of the farm, an extraction facility, and a web designer, started growing hemp and producing hemp extracts.
But not every company knew how to do it — hence the problem with the quality of many CBD products on the market.
Although the market has matured over the last three years, there are still hordes of shady dealers in this unregulated industry. Given this, we’d like to give you some pointers to give you an idea of how legitimate and reliable products should be made.
To do this, we’ve:
- Interviewed over 10 000 readers using email surveys, scoring a response rate of 64%.
- Analyzed customer reviews sections of 30 popular vendors to see what people say about their products.
- Tested each product ourselves, narrowing down our choices to the top 10 CBD gummies for pain.
Below answer some important questions that can help you distinguish premium CBD gummies and a sub-par product from a sketchy brand.
What’s in the Gummies?
The ingredients used in CBD products are as important as the ingredients of any other herbal supplement. Hemp manufacturers should, at least, have a general idea of what chemical combinations play nicely together — and what ingredients shouldn’t be used. If a company doesn’t know what they’re doing, it can accidentally mix the right quantities of bad ingredients to produce an unwanted reaction.
So, if you want to ensure your CBD gummies are safe, you need to check their purity. Look for words like “pesticide-free” and “natural” when reading product descriptions. Home-grown hemp is better than mass-produced crops because it is subject to stricter quality-control procedures by the USDA.
Aside from the carrier base, various herbal compounds, and natural flavorings and colorings, the only ingredients you should see in CBD gummies for pain are the ones that can boost the analgesic properties of CBD or add their own complementary effects.
If you see any ingredients that you wouldn’t use in your kitchen, you probably don’t need them in your gummies.
To learn more about Top Hemp Edibles for 2023, read our Best CBD Gummies Guide here.
Do They Work?
Higher concentration of CBD per gummy results in more pronounced effects and longer duration. You know your body better than anyone else — so carefully observe how it responds to different doses of CBD — and asses the right potency for your needs.
If you’re unsure, consult a holistic doctor experienced in CBD and cannabis use in general.
And don’t rush with large doses from the start. It’s generally best to start low and slow. Gummies look like regular store-bought candy, but they can pack a healthy dose of CBD. It may make you feel dizzy or sedated if you’re not careful with the dosage.
Where Does the Hemp Come From?
The source of CBD is paramount for the quality of CBD gummies. The USA- and Europe-grown hemp is safe because it’s regulated. You should avoid all China-imported hemp, as those crops are often grown with pesticides and fertilizers that can seriously contaminate the plant material.
Since hemp is an effective bioaccumulator — it absorbs everything from its environment — the best CBD gummies for pain relief come from organic hemp plants grown in clean and nutrient-dense soil.
Otherwise, hemp may contain heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxins from its surroundings.
That’s why the source is so important.
What Type of Extract do the Gummies Contain?
There are three types of CBD: isolates, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum.
Again, choosing the best type of CBD gummies boils down to knowing your needs and preferences. Full-spectrum CBD gummies offer the most value in terms of the therapeutic effects of CBD; broad-spectrum extracts still evoke some of the entourage effects, but they don’t use their full potential due to the lack of THC. Isolates cannot produce the entourage effect, but they don’t carry any odors and flavors, unlike broad-spectrum and full-spectrum gummies.
That’s why most CBD gummies are made with pure CBD. Since there is no strong hemp taste upon swallowing, they are more enjoyable than their whole-plant counterparts.
The best way to make a well-thought-out decision is to read the manufacturer’s description on the container’s label.
The Lab Reports
To say this one is essential is like to say nothing at all. Lab testing is paramount for ensuring the high quality of your CBD gummies. Since the CBD market isn’t regulated by the FDA, companies should use the services of third-party laboratories and publish the results of those tests on their websites.
Reputable manufacturers put great effort into testing their products. Some companies are very scrupulous about their lab work, testing samples of their products at different production stages.
So, look out for manufacturers who go above and beyond to confirm the potency and purity of their CBD gummies.
Shipping and Return Policies
Customer-friendly shipping and return policies can tell you a lot about the company’s approach to its activity. If a company has strict return policies or offers limited shipping, they probably don’t care much about their individual customers.
Price
The abundance of CBD gummies on the market has spoiled customers for choice. That being said, you should always make sure you actually receive what you paid for. Spend some time comparing products and prices to figure out the best deals for yourself.
Reward Programs
CBD products are generally more expensive than other health supplements due to the amount of time and money making them. Nevertheless, most companies offer some sort of reward programs, or at least discount codes, for returning customers to help them save money on high-quality CBD gummies. The mechanism is simple: you buy with the company and collect reward points for each purchase; once you’ve got enough points, you can exchange them for a discount or even get a product for free.
Reputation
Reputable brands share a few common things. Most of the time (but not always), they’ve been around for some time. They have a community of dedicated customers — you can check this by reading the review sections of their websites.
Their product selection and formulas, and prices are creative, which indicates their commitment and responsiveness to customer needs. They also have a caring customer service, which you can also tell by looking at their reviews.
User Reviews
There was a time where hemp companies could write hundreds, if not thousands, of reviews over a joint on a Friday night. But those times are long gone. The market has matured, as has customer awareness.
Most reputable CBD companies use certified third-party review systems with real user feedback.
Can I Use CBD Gummies for Pain?
CBD gummies contain the same active ingredient as oils — cannabidiol — which has a long list of documented benefits for easing pain and inflammation.
Long story short, yes, you can use CBD gummies for pain relief, but the efficacy of your product will depend on the following parameters:
- Potency
- Cannabinoid spectrum
- Additional ingredients
Pain and inflammation are symptoms that can dramatically deteriorate one’s quality of life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, a little over 20% of the U.S. population suffered from chronic pain in 2016 — accounting for 50 million people when the report was issued.
Related: Best Natural Pain Relievers
The side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have made many people turn to natural alternatives, such as CBD.
Let’s look at the mechanisms that CBD uses to interact with our internal pain management system.
How CBD Works
CBD’s diverse therapeutic effects don’t just come out of the blue. CBD uses a complex network of receptors and neurotransmitters to maintain the chemical balance throughout the body.
This network is known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
The ECS produces its own CBD-like molecules (endocannabinoids), which are responsible for modulating the activity of the other systems and organs in your body.
The presence of cannabinoid receptors in nearly all body tissues makes the ECS responsible for controlling a wide range of important functions, such as inflammation, anxiety and stress response, pain signaling, sleep cycles, fertility, body temperature, appetite, mood, memory, and more.
CBD interacts with CB2 receptors in the immune system, improving the communication between its cells and supporting a healthy immune response. This interaction can also lower inflammation and thus reduce the pain that comes with it.
Another way CBD can influence our pain perception is through acting on pain transmission. CBD interacts with certain receptors in the body that control pain signals, mitigating them and making the discomfort more manageable.
On top of that, CBD levels endocannabinoid deficiencies, associated with lower pain threshold on top of being the potential underlying cause of many pain, such as fibromyalgia, migraines, and irritable bowel syndrome, to name a few.
If you are struggling with insomnia or wanted to improve your sleep cycle, head over to our Best CBD Gummies for Sleep Guide here.
What Studies Are Saying About Using CBD for Pain Relief
- A 2016 study published in the European Journal of Pain found that the topical use of CBD reduced pain and inflammation in subjects with no side effects.
- A 2020 study on humans that tested CBD on patients with chronic pain concluded that the painkilling properties of CBD are promising but not conclusive. In some cases, the subjects didn’t report a significant change in their pain levels, while other patients experienced high levels of pain relief.
- A 2018 study posted in Frontiers in Veterinary Science found that 2mg of CBD for every kg of body weight was beneficial for dogs with osteoarthritis. They used this treatment for 4 weeks, then evaluated the results. It was clear that the dogs felt more comfortable, showing increased activity, mobility, and improved mood. Although humans are not the same as dogs, they share the same endocannabinoid system, not to mention common ailments associated with pain.
- A 2009 publication assessed the anti-inflammatory effects of CBD on the gastrointestinal tract. The authors concluded that CBD helped with certain conditions caused by GI inflammation, such as IBS.
- Another study has found that administering CBD to mice reduced inflammation in their pancreas, lowering their pain markers too.
- According to a 2015 publication from Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, CBD exerts a wide range of anti-inflammatory actions through its interaction with the endocannabinoid system.
Why CBD Gummies Are Great for Pain
In essence, CBD gummies are great for pain relief because they contain the same active ingredient as all CBD products. But beyond this obvious reason, there are a few more factors that make CBD gummies a decent choice for managing pain.
Convenience
CBD gummies are about function and fashion. They taste great, but they are also super convenient and easy to carry. You can keep them in your pocket, bag, or lunch box, and there you go!
There’s also no mess, unlike with oils. Despite their popularity, CBD Oils aren’t traveler’s best friends, not to mention that they can turn some heads when you take out a dropper and put an oily liquid under the tongue in public.
Ease of Use
Dosing can be difficult with some methods. A right dose of CBD can make a significant difference in one’s experience; it can actually make it or break it. Although the dosing should be gradual and take time so that you can precisely evaluate its effectiveness, gummies make that process easier because they contain a predetermined amount of CBD in each piece.
Hemp companies also include their own serving and dosage recommendations; you can find them on the product label.
Low-Profile
As mentioned, using CBD oil can be inconvenient when you’re around people. With CBD gummies, it’s a different story. Since they resemble normal gummy bears, nobody will care that you’re having a sweet snack; at first glance, it’s not a ‘novel’ product like CBD oil.
Long-Lasting Effects
CBD gummies need more time to kick in than oils, but since the CBD is gradually released from the liver into the bloodstream, the effects also last longer than from other consumption methods — around 8 hours.
How Many CBD Gummies Should I Take for Pain?
Many factors affect one’s optimal dosage — weight, metabolism, age, sex, tolerance, and more — we can’t provide a one-size-fits-all amount of CBD. Finding the best dose for your situation will take some trial and error, so the best approach is the classic “low-and-slow” method.
Start with a very low dose — 2.5 to 5 mg — and gradually increase it every few days to see how your body responds to different amounts of CBD. Just don’t go all-in and take a large dose from the start. Large doses of CBD may not be necessary for your pain levels so that you might be overdoing it.
One study found that 6.2 mg of CBD per day worked just as well at reducing arthritis pain as 62.3 mg per day.
Starting with smaller doses gives your body time to adapt and ensures greater precision.
What Is the Bioavailability of CBD Gummies?
Bioavailability refers to the amount of CBD available for your body to use after being processed by the lungs, digestive system, or skin.
Oral CBD products — including gummies — have the lowest bioavailability of all consumption methods, locking in at around 20%. This means that if you take 100 mg, you’ll end up using up to 20 mg. This is an unfortunate result of CBD passing through the liver and gut.
When Should I Take CBD Gummies for Pain?
The short answer is — when you need it. When it hurts, take CBD gummies immediately. If you live with chronic pain, take CBD throughout the day, starting from the morning. That way, you may be able to prevent the pain or, at least, ease the discomfort. Some CBD gummies are specifically formulated to target pain-related problems, so if you have a chronic ailment, such products may be better than regular CBD gummies.
Will CBD Gummies Get Me High?
No, unless you eat marijuana-derived CBD gummies. Hemp-derived products contain less than 0.3% of THC. Such trace amounts won’t produce an intoxicating effect. Broad-spectrum and isolate-based CBD gummies have no THC at all, so the high shouldn’t be of your concern.
Final Thoughts: Should You Buy CBD Gummies for Pain?
Many people live with chronic pain, which prevents them from partaking in their favorite activities; for some, the discomfort is so intense that it causes other health problems, such as depression and insomnia.
If pain is your everyday companion, you’ll be desperately looking for anything that can alleviate your discomfort, even to a small extent. CBD seems to be able to ease pain beyond these modest expectations. In fact, numerous studies have highlighted the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of CBD.
If you dislike the taste of natural CBD oil, CBD gummies may be a great alternative for pain management. They’re convenient, discrete, easy to carry around, and they make dosing CBD simple.
The health benefits of CBD combined with a joyous form of consumption make CBD gummies a trending product among health-conscious consumers. They are so effective at managing and controlling daily aches — that they put the user back into their socks.
This isn’t just our opinion. Everywhere you listen, people are telling stories of how CBD had helped them use fewer medications and live a better life than before they had CBD gummies in their health cabinet.
The CBD market, by all standards, is still young. And new products are being developed constantly. Who knows what kind of CBD products we’ll see in the future!
But one is for sure — CBD gummies have already become a popular remedy for pain, a lifestyle supplement, and a fantastic health enhancer.
Reference links:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics. (2020). Chronic Pain and High-impact Chronic Pain Among U.S. Adults, 2019. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db390.htm
- Nagarkatti, P., Pandey, R., Rieder, S. A., Hegde, V. L., & Nagarkatti, M. (2009). Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs. Future medicinal chemistry, 1(7), 1333–1349. https://doi.org/10.4155/fmc.09.93
- Muller, C., Morales, P., & Reggio, P. H. (2019). Cannabinoid Ligands Targeting TRP Channels. Frontiers in molecular neuroscience, 11, 487. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2018.00487
- Leweke, F. M., Piomelli, D., Pahlisch, F., Muhl, D., Gerth, C. W., Hoyer, C., Klosterkötter, J., Hellmich, M., & Koethe, D. (2012). Cannabidiol enhances anandamide signaling and alleviates psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia. Translational psychiatry, 2(3), e94. https://doi.org/10.1038/tp.2012.15
- Hammell, D. C., Zhang, L. P., Ma, F., Abshire, S. M., McIlwrath, S. L., Stinchcomb, A. L., & Westlund, K. N. (2016). Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis. European journal of pain (London, England), 20(6), 936–948. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.818
- Argueta, D. A., Ventura, C. M., Kiven, S., Sagi, V., & Gupta, K. (2020). A Balanced Approach for Cannabidiol Use in Chronic Pain. Frontiers in pharmacology, 11, 561. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.00561
- Gamble, L. J., Boesch, J. M., Frye, C. W., Schwark, W. S., Mann, S., Wolfe, L., Brown, H., Berthelsen, E. S., & Wakshlag, J. J. (2018). Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Clinical Efficacy of Cannabidiol Treatment in Osteoarthritic Dogs. Frontiers in veterinary science, 5, 165. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00165
- Al-Ghezi, Z. Z., Busbee, P. B., Alghetaa, H., Nagarkatti, P. S., & Nagarkatti, M. (2019). Combination of cannabinoids, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), mitigates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by altering the gut microbiome. Brain, behavior, and immunity, 82, 25–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2019.07.028
- Lehmann, C., Fisher, N. B., Tugwell, B., Szczesniak, A., Kelly, M., & Zhou, J. (2016). Experimental cannabidiol treatment reduces early pancreatic inflammation in type 1 diabetes. Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation, 64(4), 655–662. https://doi.org/10.3233/CH-168021
- Burstein S. (2015). Cannabidiol (CBD) and its analogs: a review of their effects on inflammation. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, 23(7), 1377–1385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2015.01.059
