Ariana Losch
It was the question heard ‘round the Sporked pitch meeting table: “What if we ranked CBD gummies?” Specifically, CBD sleep gummies—because those are really having a moment right now. We knew going in that this ranking might be a little more subjective than usual (everyone’s body reacts differently to CBD), but we really wanted to do it anyway. And while we can’t speak for every single person’s sleep experience, there’s one thing we can report on with some authority: taste. That ended up playing a big role in how we ranked the best CBD gummies.
How we sourced the CBD sleep gummies
When we set out to find the best CBD gummies for sleep, we focused specifically on products marketed for sleep support, not just general-purpose CBD. We mainly ordered directly from the brands’ websites, pulling recommendations from trusted corners of the internet like Reddit, as well as personal suggestions from friends and coworkers. We wanted a good variety of flavors and ingredients. (Not all of the best CBD gummies for sleep and anxiety have melatonin, believe it or not.)
How we conducted the taste test of the best CBD gummies for sleep
So a little bit about me: I rarely take anything for sleep. My go-to sleep hack is playing word games on my phone until I drift off. Something about mentally sorting through letters triggers my shut-down sequence. (Is that a writer thing?) So I went into this taste test as a pretty blank slate. Added bonus: I also have unmedicated generalized anxiety disorder! So you could say I was the ideal test subject for something like this.
To make the test fair, I spaced out each gummy by a few days (sometimes even a week) before trying the next one. I didn’t want any lingering effects from previous gummy to mess up my research. In a couple of cases, I tried the same gummy more than once just to double-check the results.
Now it’s important I fully disclose this: I only took half the recommended serving size of each gummy. I am, as they say, a delicate flower. I have no tolerance for substances.
What we looked for in the best CBD gummies for sleep
Every gummy I tried was evaluated based on three factors: flavor, ingredients, and overall effect. The biggest variable here is the effect. You could try one and have a completely different experience than I did, simply because our body chemistry is different. Still, I’ve noted what ingredients seemed to work for me in hopes it’ll help guide your own sleepy-time shopping.
Best CBD gummies for sleep
- CBDfx Sleep Gummies
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Ingredients: The serving size is two gummies, with 105mg of broad spectrum CBD (hemp extract and cannabidiol) and 5mg of melatonin per serving. 5mg of melatonin per serving might not seem like a lot, but it’s actually a pretty hefty dose. (Melatonin pills can range from 1-5 mg.) These also have passion flower extract, chamomile extract, lemon balm extract, and magnesium for added calming and sleep benefits. Of all the best CBD sleep gummies we tried, these were the most packed with other ingredients.
Flavor: 0/10 for flavor, guys. These are pretty gross, I’m sorry. They’re super bitter and a little sour and just taste like weed. “Then why are you recommending it, Ariana?!” Well, for once, not everything comes down to flavor.
Effect: Let’s talk about my two diametrically opposed experiences trying CBDfx. The first night I took it, I actually woke up around 3 a.m. from the sound of a loud bang outside my apartment complex (serenade me, Los Angeles) and then proceeded to stay awake for three hours. I could not fall back asleep, because it actually felt like I had mental clarity. At 3 a.m. So that’s…good, I guess? My second time trying it, I was absolutely dead to the world. Knocked clean out. And I felt pretty refreshed the next day. If you need serious help falling asleep, these might be the best CBD gummies to buy. Consider yourselves warned about the taste, though.
Credit: Liv Averett / CBDfx
- Charlotte’s Web CBN Gummies
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Ingredients: Technically, this isn’t a CBD gummy. Charlotte’s Web only uses CBN. I’m not a medical professional, so I can’t speak to the limited research conducted on CBN and its alleged sedative properties. All you really need to know: these have 20mg of CBN. No melatonin, no CBD.
Flavor: These have a more fresh, potent cannabis flavor that might actually appeal to you if you regularly smoke or take edibles. The huckleberry is bitter and tart, but it sort of complements the overall flavor. Also, these were by far my favorite gummy texture. CBD and CBN gummies are not pleasurably chewy; they’re more like soft mush. But these have a slightly firmer texture that still dissolves in your mouth quickly, so you get through the experience faster.
Effect: Charlotte’s Web (which, cute name) isn’t a tranquilizer like CBDfx, but it had a gentle relaxing effect on me that worked pretty well as a sleep aid. I definitely didn’t feel out of it, which was my concern about taking a CBN product, since some people report more psychoactive effects. I took this hours ahead of when I actually planned to fall asleep, and it really just relaxed me. Otherwise, nothing in particular stood out.
Credit: Liv Averett / Charlotte’s Web
- Strawberry Mango Canna River CBD Sleep Gummies
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Ingredients: These CBD sleep gummies from Canna River have 50mg CBD, 50mg CBN, and 3mg D9 THC per gummy. And the serving size is actually only one gummy! That’s a good value, folks. (I took half.)
Flavor: Finally, we’re starting to see some improvement in taste. The smooth mango and lightly sweet strawberry does a pretty good job masking the bitter cannabis flavor. Did I immediately have to drink water and brush the lingering sourness off my tongue? You bet. But it’s pretty tolerable—next time, I’d like to try their other flavors, too.
Effect: No drama here. I slept pretty soundly with this and woke up alert. For context: I never wake up alert. So that’s a feat in and of itself.
Credit: Liv Averett / Canna River
- Elderberry Wyld CBD + CBN
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Ingredients: Before you yell at us, let’s get ahead of this: Yes, these are the weakest CBD sleep gummies of the bunch. Each gummy has only 25mg of CBD and 5mg of CBN. (No melatonin, either.)
Flavor: For something that looks like a cube of hardened purple slime, I really went into this expecting the worst. My roommate and I went back and forth just roasting the gummy’s appearance. “That’s a dark academia Starburst.” “Did the parasite from Venom infect it?” “It’s like someone left a Jell-O shot out for ten years.” But wow, Elderberry Wyld CBD is miles above every CBD sleep gummy I tried in terms of taste. It’s actually yummy. It has a tangy, slightly sweet elderberry flavor—which is a little bitter in and of itself, so it completely masks any bitterness. And yes, we can totally blame the lower CBD content in each gummy for its amazing flavor, but I don’t care. These are still the best CBD gummies I had, hands down.
Effect: I tried this on a night I was already feeling pretty anxious, and it worked pretty well. I fell asleep and stayed asleep without any problems. It’s extremely gentle—I totally forgot I even took something, but that’s how I prefer it anyway! If you’re looking for a supplement that’s light and calming, this is the best CBD gummy to buy.
Credit: Liv Averett / Wyld CBD
Best to Knock You Out
Best CBN Sleep Gummies
Runner Up
Best of the Best
Other CBD Gummies we tried:
Lazarus Naturals CBD Sleep Gummies, Charlotte’s Web Raspberry CBD Sleep Gummies
Hebba Gouda
Jordan Myrick
