Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice. All statements are merely the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to THC use.
Five CBD is a brand that sells combined CBD and THC supplements. The brand sells supplements for sleep, relaxation, pain relief and more.
But are CBD and THC supplements a better option than CBD alone? What is Delta 9 and why is it included in these products? What's actually in Five CBD? And what was our Product Tester's honest experience purchasing and trying Five CBD?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we review clinical studies on CBD and THC to determine whether or not this is a safe and effective combo.
We’ll discuss Delta 9, share our concerns about the ingredient disclosures (or lack thereof) published by Five CBD, and feature our Product Tester's honest experience trying this supplement for a month.
Key takeaways:
- Five CBD may have psychoactive effects
- Brand previously failed to publish Supplement Facts panels
- We do not currently recommend Five CBD
Is CBD + THC Better Than CBD Alone?
Whether Five CBD is a better choice than other CBD brands mostly comes down to the goal of the consumer.
If the goal is to have a psychoactive experience, then Five CBD is probably a better option than a CBD supplement.
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-9-THC, commonly referred to as Delta 9) is clinically shown to have psychoactive effects, and may induce feelings of euphoria, relaxation, altered sense of time or anxiety depending on the individual.
Delta-9-THC may also support pain relief and promote appetite, according to a medical review published in the Toxicon journal.
While side effects from Delta-9 use appear to be rare, a 2009 clinical trial reported that this compound increased anxiety in some users.
We can’t find any convincing medical evidence that THC improves sleep or anxiety, and a 2021 medical review suggested that long-term THC use may even reduce total sleep time.
CBD alone has been clinically shown to support sleep (source) and to support relaxation and anxiety relief (source).
For consumers seeking sleep or relaxation benefits, we believe CBD alone may be a better option than CBD + THC. For consumers seeking pain relief, CBD + THC may be a better option with the approval of a doctor.
We Tested Five CBD
One of our product testers named Jodie Steinberg tried the Red Razz flavor of Five CBD. Here's her experience:
The product was easy to open and use. You simply press down on the cap and turn it to open it. It was not difficult. Then there is a foil covering you can remove easily to access the gummies.
The gummies tasted very good. They taste sweet but not overly sweet and have a berry flavor. They smelled good too. The flavor was called red razz:
I tried the hybrid blend. It had 10 mg THC, 10 mg CBD and 2 mg CBG per gummy.
I definitely experienced a "high" from these. If you are new to edibles, I would start with half a gummy, as they are pretty strong.
I felt relaxed but awake and not lazy at the same time which was nice. I think it has a balanced effect on the body and mind. I have an Oura ring which stated I was in a calm restorative state after taking these.
I would not say it made me feel less anxious though on one of the days I took one to see if it would help with the anxiety. You do have to wait about an hour for these to kick in which is normal for an edible. I am now interested in trying their other gummies.
This brand is very good compared to other CBD products I've tried. It had its intended effect.
I did not experience any side effects.
Overall, I would rate Five CBD 10/10 and I would purchase from the brand again.
What’s Actually in Five CBD?
At the time of updating this article, Five CBD fails to publish a full ingredient list or Supplement Facts panel on the product page for their CBD gummies and CBD oil.
We very strongly recommend avoiding supplement brands that fail to publish full ingredient lists, and this is especially concerning for a supplement brand selling psychoactive compounds.
The brand doesn’t even publish a full ingredient list in their FAQ section, and we can’t find ingredient lists or Supplement Facts labels anywhere on Five’s website.
We have never before come across a CBD supplement brand that failed to publish full ingredient lists for their products in an Illuminate Health review, and we consider this a serious red flag for consumer safety.
We hope that in the near future, Five rectifies this issue and publishes a comprehensive Supplement Facts label either in their product images at the top of the page, or in a hyperlink above-the-fold on their product pages. This is information that consumers deserve to have.
Update: the brand appears to have fixed this since our article called this practice out.
Our Clean CBD Picks
Cornbread CBD Oil is our top overall CBD oil pick.
It has a clean formulation of organic hemp extract and organic coconut medium-chain triglycerides, and the brand publishes lab testing on every product page.
Cornbread CBD Gummies is our top CBD gummy pick.
This is the healthiest CBD gummy formulation we've come across, because the brand uses organic flavoring and organic beetroot for color.
Five CBD Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Great packaging/branding
- THC is psychoactive which can benefit some individuals
- THC may support pain relief
- May be more potent than CBD alone
Cons:
- THC may increase risk of side effects
- Long-term THC use may negatively impact sleep
- Brand fails to publish full ingredient lists
- Delta-9 may increase anxiety in some individuals
- No formulations appear to be clinically tested
