Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is very popular these days. It seems like you can find it in all kinds of products, in any number of stores.
Despite CBD’s popularity, there are still many misconceptions about it. For example, many people believe that CBD can get you high, when in reality it cannot. The worry about CBD and psychogenic effects has kept many people from trying something that may be able to help them. It is important to understand that CBD does not make people high. Let’s talk about how the myth came to be and why CBD does not create the euphoric high associated with Cannabis use.
What is up with CBD oil?
In order to understand the effect that CBD has on people, it is best to start with understanding what exactly CBD is.
CBD is a chemical compound called a cannabinoid. These are compounds found in cannabis plants. You have likely heard of the two main kinds of Cannabis plants: hemp and marijuana. CBD is found in both of these plants along with over 113 other cannabinoids. Other compounds like terpenes are what give Cannabis plants their distinctive smell and flavor. There is another very well-known cannabinoid you may be familiar with, but we will cover that later. For now, it is important to know that CBD is a cannabinoid.
When CBD is extracted from the plant it is normally then converted into an oil. That oil can be made into any number of products. As a result, there are lotions, snacks, and hand sanitizers, made with CBD oil. Some people even prefer to take the oil just as it is. No need to mix it in with other products.
This is just the basics of what CBD is. We will cover a lot more about it in just a little while.
Why do people think that CBD oil can cause a high?
You are likely wondering, what causes the mix-up that makes so many people think that CBD can get you high? The answer is pretty simple. It is because of a chemical cousin of CBD.
As mentioned before, there is another cannabinoid that CBD often gets lumped together with. It is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC does create a high and CBD does not.
THC is psychoactive. This means that at a certain concentration, it will intoxicate users. It does this by interacting with specific receptors in the Endocannabinoid System. This is a series of receptors and enzymes in the body that can be regulated by cannabinoids. It has an effect on a number of functions, including things like memory and appetite.
THC actually blocks a number of these receptors in the brain having various effects on behavior. For example, THC can negatively affect our memory and can make your appetite more active than normal. This is how you get the stereotype of a Cannabis user who wants to eat all the time and has a poor memory.
What it really comes down to is that THC affects your cognitive functions. It may make things that are done easily while sober very difficult to do. That is what it is about THC that creates a high. Something that CBD does not do.
Does CBD cause a high?
As stated before; no, CBD does not create a high. Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive.
Because CBD is a cannabinoid, it does interact with the Endocannabinoid System. However, it does not do it in the same way that THC does. CBD interacts with a different set of receptors in the ECS resulting in diverse responses compared to THC such as increases in the release of dopamine and serotonin. This means that CBD may be able to positively influence your state of mind. It does not, however, intoxicate. It does not cause any issues that could make cognitive functions difficult like THC may.
When using CBD oil or a product made with it, you are still going to be able to do everything that you do normally. It is not likely that you will feel intoxicated in anyway.
There are some CBD oils that do have THC in them. These are known as full-spectrum CBD oils. Full Spectrum oils contain very low concentrations of THC, less than 0.3% THC content (for reasons that will be explained in a little later). This low level of THC is not likely to get anyone high. However, if you are concerned about the potential of the THC getting you high, there are other CBD options. CBD products made with broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate have no THC in them. They will not get anyone high.
Is CBD oil legal?
This is an understandable question as CBD does come from Cannabis and in the United States the legality of cannabis is a little up in the air. When approaching this question, it is important to remember that hemp and marijuana are two different kinds of Cannabis. The difference between them depends on the level of THC in the plant.
Hemp is defined as Cannabis with less than 0.3% THC content. Marijuana is Cannabis with more than 0.3% THC. It just so happens that the CBD content is also different between marijuana and hemp. Marijuana has low levels of CBD, while hemp has much higher levels.
In December of 2018, the United States Legislature passed a bill known as the Farm Bill. This is a law that needs to be reviewed, revised and passed every five years. It sets regulations for all kinds of things to do with agriculture. The 2018 version of the Farm Bill included a new provision that changed things for many people; it legalized industrial hemp.
This means that hemp could be grown and sold across the country including products made from hemp. As a result, CBD products derived from hemp, with less than 0.3% THC content are officially legal. Most CBD manufacturers prefer to use hemp rather than marijuana anyway, because, as stated above, it has higher levels of CBD.
We have a blog that covers the 2018 Farm Bill in greater detail here.
CBD products that are made from marijuana and/or have THC levels higher than 0.3% are not legal federally. However, they may be legal in some states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana products. If you are interested in products like these, it is best to first look into your state’s laws on marijuana.
How will CBD benefit me?
There has been a fair amount of research on CBD in the past few years. It has covered a number of different areas, as it seems that CBD holds a lot of promise.
One of the biggest draws of CBD is its calming properties. Naturally, this has made many researchers curious about how much it can help a user’s state of mind. One of these studies did this by having some people take some CBD before participating in public speaking. The researchers found that those who took the CBD seemed much calmer than those who did not.
Another area of CBD often looked at is its effect on inflammation. There are a multitude of studies on this subject, but let’s just focus on one for now. This study done in 2013 looked at how CBD may be able to help with pancreatitis and the inflammation associated with it in mice. They found that CBD was able to help greatly reduce the inflammation, making the mice much more comfortable.
One particularly exciting area of CBD is its potential ability to help calm epileptic seizures. There is much research that has been done on this particular area. So much so, in fact, that there is now a CBD-based epilepsy medication that has been approved by the FDA.
Can I take too much CBD oil?
What this is really asking, is can you overdose on CBD? The answer is no, not really.
However, there is a right amount of CBD for everyone and there are some not very fun side effects if you do take very high quantities. These side effects are along the lines of things like diarrhea and fatigue. These are not life-threatening side effects but they still can be unpleasant.
Unwanted side effects of CBD can be avoided by carefully controlling how much you take. This means starting your initial serving low. Try taking a little bit of CBD oil then wait a little while and see how it sits with you. If you do not have any negative side effects, you can up the amount you take. This process takes time. You will need to be patient to make sure that you do not have a bad experience with the oil.
Despite the fact that CBD appears to be safe overall, it may not mix well with all medications. If you take any prescription medications, please consult with a healthcare professional before starting to take any CBD oil. The CBD may change the effect of the medicine.
What kind of CBD product is right for me?
The answer to this question depends on you and what you are looking for from the CBD.
One of the most popular forms of CBD is as an edible. People tend to like these because they are easy to take, are easy to control the amount they take and are delicious. Oral products like these are better if you are looking for an overall effect. They will not work as localized as some other products. They may also take a little while to start working. This is because the food that the CBD is in has to digest.
Other popular oral CBD products include soft gels and tablets. These are good if you prefer oral products but want them to work faster than an edible. Soft gels are like pills that are easier to swallow and digest much more quickly. Tablets tend to be something that you dissolve under your tongue. The CBD enters your blood stream much more quickly sublingually.
Of course, there are also the basic CBD oils and tinctures. They are CBD extract mixed with a carrier oil like palm or coconut oil. These are also considered oral CBD products. This is because you can either drop a couple of drops under your tongue, having them enter your blood stream in a way similar to dissolvable tablets, or you can mix them in with food or a drink.
Then there are topical products. This includes things like lotions and cremes. They are better for helping with more localized issues. For example, they are helpful with skin health and inflammation. The CBD in these products does not move too far beyond where it is used. So, topicals will likely not provide as much of an overall effect as the oral products.
Among topical products there is also an emerging product, CBD hand sanitizers. These are hand sanitizers that not only clean your hands, but also give you the potential benefits of CBD. These are just a handful of the products out there. It is worth keeping an eye out to see what other products may pop up over time. Who knows, you may find something that is the perfect product for you.
Hopefully, this article has provided you with some peace of mind regarding CBD. As outlined in this blog, CBD will not get you high. It may do a number of things to improve your life, but it will not intoxicate you. Now that you know this, why not try it out?
If you are curious about CBD, feel free to check out the rest of Panacea Life Sciences’ website. On here you can find great CBD products for you, your dog, even your horse. Plus, there are several interesting articles about the world of CBD. You can also contact a member of our team on this site. Or you can email us at [email protected].
