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We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.
Our testers have found CBD helpful for anxiety, but it’s best when coupled with other methods. With that in mind, we chose these as the best CBD gummies for anxiety.
In a 2023 Healthline survey, 79% of those who reported being interested in trying CBD said they were specifically interested in CBD gummies. And while older adults are interested in CBD as a pain management tool, younger adults said they are drawn to CBD for its potential to reduce anxiety.
With that in mind, we’ve vetted over 150 gummies by more than 50 different brands. We’ve tested 20 of these gummies after they passed initial vetting (read: they have updated COAs and no misleading health or marketing claims).
In this article, you’ll find our picks for the best CBD gummies for anxiety — all expertly vetted by our team. Our editors have tested all the gummies in this article and provided feedback to help make shopping a little easier for you.
It’s worth noting that while promising evidence suggests CBD may be helpful for anxiety, research is limited. We’ve yet to see any studies about how CBD gummies specifically affect anxiety symptoms over tinctures or other forms.
Your experience may vary based on the intensity and cause of your anxiety. CBD certainly isn’t a cure-all, but it can be a helpful supplemental tool.
We also tested each of these products before recommending them, judging them on qualities such as taste and potency and what the experience is like using them. Learn more about how we test CBD products.
As of July 2024, we are currently retesting more than 11 CBD gummies for how they affect anxiety with more extended use.
More research is needed to better understand the relationship between CBD and anxiety, but what we know so far is promising. Research suggests that CBD may help reduce the symptoms of certain types of anxiety.
Both animal and human studies point to CBD’s benefits for:
Research from 2015 also suggests that CBD may help with panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.
More recently, a 2022 trial looked at the effects of CBD on treatment-resistant anxiety in young adults. The study involved 31 people 12 to 25 years old with diagnosed anxiety disorders. Researchers found consuming CBD effectively reduced anxiety symptoms.
However, more than half of the participants experienced mild side effects, like fatigue, hot flashes, and low mood.
It’s easy to purchase over the counter. However, that doesn’t mean it’s without risks.
If you’re taking medication for any type of anxiety disorder, don’t assume you can stop taking it and use CBD instead.
More research is needed before CBD can be considered an effective treatment alternative. And right now, it’s not an approved treatment for any mental health condition. There are also no studies on its potential long-term effects.
Another thing to keep in mind is that while CBD may help bring calm, THC has the potential to induce panic attacks in some people. That means people with anxiety might respond negatively to full-spectrum CBD, which contains both THC and CBD.
If you have anxiety and want to try CBD, make sure to talk with a clinician, doctor, or mental health professional before doing so.
All CBD products may contain trace THC
Since CBD products come from cannabis, they may include trace levels of THC. That’s true even for “THC-free” products.
If you undergo drug testing, you may want to avoid CBD products altogether.
If you’re not concerned with drug testing but still want to avoid THC, isolate products will be as close to THC-free as you can get.
Research from 2017 found that CBD is generally considered safe, though you shouldn’t take it if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. Additionally, you should know about a few potential side effects:
diarrhea
fatigue
changes in appetite and weight
CBD may interact with certain medications, including those with a grapefruit warning. It’s important to talk with a clinician before trying any kind of CBD product, especially if you take medications or supplements.
Be careful about what you eat when taking CBD. Taking a chew or gummy alongside a high fat meal can heighten your risk of experiencing side effects, according to a 2020 study.
Lastly, keep in mind that CBD gummies look a lot like candy, but they’re only intended for adults over 18 years old. Keep them out of reach of children and pets.
When to contact a doctor
CBD may lower anxiety, but more research on its effects is needed. CBD gummies are not fast-acting, so they may not be the right choice for acute symptoms or anxiety attacks. If you’re experiencing severe anxiety or persistent anxiety symptoms, you may want to visit a healthcare professional.
You may also want to visit a healthcare professional if:
you are worrying so much that it’s getting in the way of your daily life, including taking care of yourself, school, work, or your social life
your anxiety is upsetting to you and difficult for you to manage on your own
you feel depressed or have other mental health conditions besides anxiety
you feel as if your anxiety may be caused by an underlying mental health condition or another health issue
Check the product label for the manufacturer’s recommendation. However, the appropriate dosing for you will depend on your body chemistry, weight, and tolerance levels, which means some trial and error may be warranted.
If you’re new to CBD, it’s best to start with a low dose to assess the effects before increasing the dose. You might consider starting with half a gummy (depending on potency), waiting a few hours, and then taking the other half if needed.
Panic disorder is a form of anxiety. There are some animal studies that suggest CBD oil may help by reducing the flight-and-freeze response. However, more studies are needed to determine whether CBD, and specifically CBD gummies, can help with panic disorder.
CBD gummies may help if you have anxiety, though more research is needed to determine their risks and benefits.
Gummies are also a great way to try CBD for the first time. They’re easy to dose and don’t have the aftertaste of other cannabis-derived products.
Healthline has sole editorial control over this article. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. The information in this article is intended to be general in nature. It’s not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from a healthcare professional. Healthline encourages you to make any treatment decisions with your healthcare professional.
Is CBD legal? The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC legal at the federal level. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3% THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them illegal at the federal level. Some states have legalized CBD, so be sure to check state laws, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the FDA has not approved nonprescription CBD products, and some products may be inaccurately labeled.
Last medically reviewed on May 30, 2024
How we reviewed this article:
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
Crockett J, et al. (2020). A phase 1, randomized, pharmacokinetic trial of the effect of different meal compositions, whole milk, and alcohol on cannabidiol exposure and safety in healthy subjects. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/epi.16419
