16 Jun Does CBD Make You “High”? How Does it Make You Feel?
Reviewed by our qualified expert, Moyra Cosgrove, Head of Nutrition at Naturecan, SENR Registered Nutritionist and DProf candidate at LJMU
SUMMARY:
- CBD is one of 140 similar cannabinoids in hemp, alongside THC, CBG, CBC, and CBN.
- A CBD high doesn’t exist. Unlike THC, CBD is non-intoxicating and doesn’t cause mental impairment.
- Studies show CBD can support people with various health conditions, such as pain, inflammation, anxiety, depression, and troubled sleep.
- Side effects are often subtle and mild (dry mouth, tiredness, reduced appetite).
As CBD’s popularity continues to soar across the UK and the rest of the world, many are concerned about what it does, how it affects your body, how it makes you feel, and whether or not it causes a high.
These thoughts are perfectly valid, to be honest. CBD in the UK is derived from hemp, which is a form of cannabis. When you throw the word “cannabis” into the mix, people immediately think you’re talking about getting stoned and walking around like a zombie.
This isn’t the case here. CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid with potential health benefits.
So, can CBD make you high? Does CBD oil make you high? How does CBD make you feel? Does CBD contain THC? Let’s take a look.
CBD is an abbreviation of cannabidiol and one of over 140 similar chemical compounds (cannabinoids) present in varieties of cannabis, which include hemp and marijuana.
CBD is the primary active cannabinoid in hemp, a specially-bred strain of the cannabis plant, abundant in CBD and very low in THC (the cannabinoid associated with a “high”).
How does CBD interact with the body?
CBD influences your endocannabinoid system (ECS), a complex network of cannabinoid receptors, endocannabinoids, and enzymes.
Your ECS network regulates several core functions such as sleep, mood, stress, pain, inflammatory response, and immune response (amongst others).
Regulation of these core functions contributes to physiological balance and equilibrium, otherwise known as homeostasis.
How does CBD help your endocannabinoid system?
When daily stresses, physical injury, poor diet, or an irregular sleep pattern send your ECS out of balance, CBD might help restore the balance.
While researchers are still unclear about how CBD rebalances your endocannabinoid system, some studies suggest it prevents enzymes from breaking down valuable endocannabinoids.
Endocannabinoids are neurotransmitter molecules produced inside your body that bind to cannabinoid receptors (CB1 & 2) located in your brain, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system and immune system.
Endocannabinoid binding activity at cannabinoid receptors is believed to trigger several therapeutic benefits.
For example, if you have knee pain, endocannabinoids target specific receptors to reduce the pain you’re experiencing.
Does CBD make you high?
No. CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid and does not get you high. It also doesn’t impair your thinking, judgement, memory, or behaviour. CBD is also non-addictive and won’t cause withdrawal symptoms if you cease using it.
Is CBD psychoactive?
Contrary to common belief, CBD is psychoactive, so effects have been reported on anxiety and stress. However, CBD is not “psychoactive” in the same way as its intoxicating cousin, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It doesn’t cause intoxication or a euphoric high.
Does CBD oil make you “high”?
No. CBD oil does not make you high. However, when choosing a CBD brand, always check its products are independently tested by accredited laboratories specialising in cannabis testing. You should also make sure the company has applied for a Novel Food License from the UK Government Food Standards Agency (as is the case with Naturecan). This ensures safe CBD products carrying non-detectable levels of THC.
The only time a CBD high occurs when consuming CBD oils is if they contain more than the legal limit of THC. This happens if the product is derived from illegal marijuana or it’s mislabeled and not tested correctly.
All of Naturecan’s broad-spectrum CBD oils are derived solely from the highest quality legal hemp with non-detectable levels of THC.
We also put our products through a six-stage testing process to ensure they’re completely safe, free from contaminants, and ready for you to enjoy.
You can check our Certificates of Analysis here.
How does CBD make you feel?
Since a CBD high doesn’t exist, you might be thinking about how this cannabinoid makes you feel. Well, here’s a brief rundown for you.
CBD is the gentle giant of cannabinoids. Its subtle power soothes and reinvigorates your body by activating serotonin (5-HT) and vanilloid (TRPV1) receptors, providing you with a sense of internal balance and wellbeing.
Preclinical research shows activation of serotonin receptors induces anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects. Likewise, activation of vanilloid receptors helps you manage pain and pain perception.
Everyone has a different physiological makeup and CBD affects people in different ways.
Why do people think CBD makes you high?
The reason why people think CBD makes you high is it’s sourced from hemp, a variety of cannabis. The problem here is the word “cannabis”.
Thanks to the historical negative perception about cannabis, people associate all parts of cannabis with getting high. This simply isn’t true. There’s so much more to it than getting stoned.
Cannabis is a multifaceted plant with over 500 individual compounds, each with its own unique effects and benefits. THC and its variants such as delta-8 and delta-10 are intoxicating. Other cannabinoids including CBD, CBG, and CBC are not associated with causing a high.
Thankfully, as cannabis education and acceptance continues to grow across the world, people are beginning to see CBD as an exceptional cannabinoid with the potential to change people’s lives for the better.
What is THC?
THC is short for delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol and is the primary intoxicating cannabinoid present in varieties of cannabis.
When consumed, THC causes mental impairment, euphoria, and intense physical sensations, commonly referred to as a “high”.
THC is most abundant in marijuana. Marijuana plants can carry up to 35% THC, but you’re more likely to see percentages averaging 15-25%. These percentages will induce a pretty strong high.
Specially-bred hemp plants, on the other hand, carry significantly less THC.
How does THC interact with your body?
THC interacts with your endocannabinoid system by binding directly to cannabinoid receptors located in various regions of your brain and central nervous system.
THC’s binding activity at your cannabinoid receptors causes an influx of arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), an endocannabinoid with a similar shape to THC.
The influx of 2-AG paired with THC overwhelms your endocannabinoid system, throwing it completely off-balance. As a result, your cognitive and physical abilities are reduced, as are your inhibitions.
CBD vs THC
*However, CBD at recommended dosages is not classed as grounds to fail a drug test in the workplace or when driving, providing the CBD brand does not contain detectable THC.
Effects of CBD
Since CBD is able to stimulate the endocannabinoid system, central nervous system and other biological systems present within your body, you might experience some positive effects.
Research and anecdotal evidence suggests CBD’s effects and benefits may help with the following:
Side effects of CBD
Whilst CBD is considered safe and isn’t known to cause any short or long-term adverse effects, as with most supplements and drugs, side effects are possible. They are uncommon, and if they do occur, they are usually mild and transient;
- Dry mouth
- Reduced appetite
- Diarrhoea
- Drowsiness
- Tiredness and sedation
- Nausea (rare)
How is CBD oil made?
CBD oil is made by extracting CBD and all other beneficial plant compounds from hemp plants. The resulting extract is then infused in a carrier such as medium-chain triglyceride (MCT), hempseed, vegetable, or olive oil.
Naturecan sources its CBD extracts from high-quality hemp grown on nutrient-rich volcanic soil in Oregon, which is considered one of the best US states for hemp cultivation.
Our extracts are put through a three-stage extraction process utilizing advanced CO2 extraction, Rotachrom’s Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC), and distillation. This three-stage extraction process ensures all extracts are highly pure, clean, safe, and effective.
Does CBD contain THC?
No, CBD does not contain THC. They’re two separate cannabinoids with different effects within your body.
However, CBD products can carry trace quantities of THC if the extract used is full-spectrum. While some brands choose to include trace levels of THC in their CBD products, Naturecan doesn’t. We believe the power of our premium, broad-spectrum products comes from CBD and other valuable plant compounds.
Each of our extracts is approximately 88-95% CBD, 5% minor cannabinoids such as CBG, CBC, and CBDA, and non-detectable levels of THC.
You can read more about how our CBD oil is made here.
Is CBD safe?
Good news! The World Health Organization (WHO) considers CBD well-tolerated and safe to use, with no effects exhibiting the potential for abuse or dependence.
Concerns over negative drug-drug interactions
The WHO gives precautionary advice on potential interactions between CBD and prescription drugs.
CBD is metabolised by cytochrome P450, a group of special liver enzymes responsible for breaking down and metabolizing drugs, medications, and other substances.
Specifically, CBD is metabolized by enzymes CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4, which are also responsible for metabolizing 70-80% of clinical drugs.
This is one reason why it is always recommended to speak with your doctor before consuming any CBD product if you’re taking prescription medications.
How to choose a safe CBD product
Choosing safe and effective CBD products is easy if you follow simple principles before pressing the all-important “buy” button. There are thousands of brands out there, each promising to help soothe and nourish your endocannabinoid system and bring your body back to a state of healthy equilibrium.
Unfortunately, not all brands deliver on this promise.
At Naturecan, we believe in the power of plant-based CBD. We’re dedicated to delivering you safe, transparent, and effective CBD products from the day our hemp is cultivated in Oregon to the time it reaches your doorstep.
Here’s what we offer:
- Pure, clean, and uncontaminated hemp grown in Oregon, a US state known for cultivating some of the best hemp plants in the world.
- An advanced three-stage extraction process that removes all unnecessary compounds, impurities, and THC. What’s left is an extract with 88-95% CBD and 5% minor cannabinoids such as CBG, CBC, and CBDA.
- A six-stage testing process to ensure safety at every level.
- A generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
- One tree is planted for every order you place with us.
You can find out more about Naturecan and our products here.
Can CBD make you fail a drug test?
If you’re a CBD user and have an upcoming drug test, you can breathe a sigh of relief. CBD is not an illegal substance and shouldn’t cause you to fail a workplace or roadside drug test.
Urine, blood, saliva, and hair tests are not designed to detect CBD or its metabolites. Drug tests screen for THC and its metabolites (11-OH-THC and THCCOOH). CBD isn’t THC and it doesn’t metabolize into 11-OH-THC or THCCOOH.
Of course, it’s very important you choose a brand that’s going through the Novel Food Licensing process and prioritises third-party testing to ensure non-detectable levels of THC. Naturecan meets these requirements.
Takeaway
Now you’re aware a CBD high isn’t something for you to worry about, especially when it comes to Naturecan’s CBD products, have you thought about taking the plunge and giving it a go?
Our extensive range of premium, high-quality broad-spectrum CBD products, all sourced from the finest Oregon-grown hemp, carries non-detectable THC, so you won’t ever have to worry about experiencing an unwanted high.
Jumping into the CBD world is an exciting adventure and we’re here with you every step of the way. If you have any questions, queries, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our friendly customer service representatives.
References
- https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fpha0000465
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851925/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24923339/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6482919/
- https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/prp2.682
- https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(19)30007-2/fulltext
- https://www.jyi.org/2018-june/2018/6/1/the-endocannabinoid-system-our-universal-regulator
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23598399/
- https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rstb.2011.0392
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326553/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24923339/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27094344/
- https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.18101191
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425767/
- https://www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled-substances/CannabidiolCriticalReview.pdf
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26651971/
Disclaimer: There is currently insufficient evidence to support the use of CBD in the condition(s) mentioned above and this text by no means reflects recommended uses. Always seek the advice of your healthcare professional if you are taking prescribed medication or are thinking of using CBD for your condition.
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