The Best CBD Products for Energy and Focus

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.

Some people may want to take cannabidiol (CBD) for energy and focus, but can it really help? In short, more research is needed, but some early studies show it may promote wakefulness and help ease symptoms related to sleep issues.

Research is limited. However, in an 2008 study, researchers administered CBD to certain parts of the brain responsible for waking and found that it did enhance wakefulness.

A review from 2014 looked at existing research and concluded that while more studies are needed, CBD may promote wakefulness for some people.

There’s also promising research that suggests CBD can improve other issues that may affect energy levels, sleep quality and the ability to concentrate.

CBD for anxiety and stress symptoms

Anxiety disorders might cause you to feel fatigued and have difficulty concentrating.

CBD might reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a small 2019 study. Other research indicates CBD may also help with social anxiety disorders. So, if symptoms related to PTSD, social anxiety, or both cause you to lose focus and feel fatigued, CBD might help.

CBD for sleep issues

If you’re experiencing sleep issues, you might feel tired and lack focus the next day.

CBD might be able to help with certain sleep disorders so that you can get a good night’s sleep and feel more energetic and focused.

CBD for pain

CBD might also help with pain, which can affect your sleep quality. And if you get better quality sleep, you might have better concentration and less fatigue during the day.

But it’s important to note that CBD hasn’t been proven to “cure” any of the above conditions. More research is needed.

For this article, we chose CBD products that might be able to help with sleep issues, pain, and anxiety, all of which might hinder your ability to feel energized and focused.

We selected products based on criteria we think are good indicators of safety, quality, and transparency.

As a part of our vetting process, we consider:

• the product’s composition, ingredients, and overall quality
• any third-party certifications
• the company’s reputation and business practices
• any lab test results
• marketing claims

We have also tested all of the products we recommend here and provided feedback on how they impacted our sleep quality and daily pains that tend to sap our energy and ability to focus.

While shopping for CBD products, you might notice some of the following terms. Here’s what they mean:

• Terpenes are compounds found in cannabis and hemp plants that give them a flavor and aroma. It’s believed that terpenes might be able to enhance the benefits of CBD.
• CBD isolate is pure CBD, with no other cannabinoids or terpenes included in the product.
• Broad-spectrum CBD contains most cannabinoids, but some are purposefully removed (usually tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC — the cannabinoid that produces the “high” effect). It often contains terpenes and other cannabinoids, like cannabigerol (CBG) or cannabinol (CBN).
• Full-spectrum CBD contains all cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, including THC. It usually contains terpenes, too. If the product is made from hemp and is federally legal, it should contain less than 0.3% THC.

Before making a purchase, it’s important to read CBD product labels. This will help you figure out whether you’re buying a high quality product.

The FDA doesn’t test CBD products for quality, which means there are many low quality products out there.

Check the packaging

The packaging must specify that it contains CBD (or it might use the full word “cannabidiol”). If the ingredients list only includes hemp or hempseed oil, it probably doesn’t contain CBD. CBD is only found in the stalks, stems, leaves, and flowers of the hemp plant. It isn’t found in the seeds.

Look for lab-tested products

CBD products must be tested by an independent and compliant lab. The lab results — also known as a certificate of analysis (COA) — are usually available on the company’s website.

Some companies provide a QR code on the packaging that leads to a COA. The COA should ideally be recent and dated within the past year.

COAs are important because they confirm the contents of the product. A COA should specify the amount of CBD in the product. COAs often test for other cannabinoids, terpenes, and harmful toxins like molds and traces of pesticide.

Consider the extra ingredients

CBD oils use carrier oils like:

They sometimes use flavorings too.

CBD edibles and topicals can contain numerous ingredients. Pay attention to these ingredients in case of allergies.

Consider marketing claims

CBD companies might also make other claims about their products. However, it’s difficult to verify these claims.

For example, some companies claim that their products are created from organic and U.S.-grown hemp. However, just because the product was grown using organic farming methods doesn’t mean it’s certified organic. Check the USDA’s Organic Integrity Database to figure out if a product is truly certified organic.

Some companies might label their items as vegan. CBD items seldom contain animal products, although some gummies contain gelatin, and edibles may contain eggs and dairy.

However, if you’re vegan, it’s a good idea to look for the “vegan” label for peace of mind.

When it comes to CBD dosage, it’s a good idea to start with a small amount every day. After a while, reassess how you feel. If you think you need a higher dosage, increase it gradually.

It might be a good idea to track your dosage and your symptoms. You can do so in a paper journal or a notes app on your phone.

When in doubt, speak with a healthcare professional who is knowledgeable about CBD. They might be able to advise you on how much CBD to take.

Research suggests that CBD is safe for human consumption. There are a handful of potential side effects, though, including:

• fatigue
• diarrhea
• changes in appetite
• changes in weight

Some research suggests that consuming CBD with high fat meals could drastically increase CBD blood concentrations. This can increase your chances of experiencing side effects.

CBD might interact with certain medications. If you’re using a medication that carries a grapefruit warning, avoid taking CBD without a healthcare professional’s approval. This is because CBD and grapefruit change the way the liver metabolizes certain substances.

To be on the safe side, it’s always best to talk with a healthcare professional before using CBD, regardless of whether you’re taking any medications or supplements.

There are many other ways to build stamina, boost energy, and increase focus.

Some natural ways to increase your energy include:

If you’re constantly dealing with fatigue and concentration, it might be a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional. They could help pinpoint the cause and talk about remedies.

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.