It often feels like trying to learn about cannabidiol (CBD) is like tackling a mountain of information. However, there is no need to be overwhelmed with trying to figure it out on you own. Here at Nature Blend, we want to be sure that you’re fully informed about CBD and what it can and cannot do. So, we wanted to give you some guides about this compound. Let’s get going by going over a common question that comes up all the time: can CBD get you high?
Some of the basic information about CBD
Before we get going answering that question, it is best that we cover some of the basics of CBD. This will help you understand its effects a bit better.
CBD is a kind of chemical compound called a cannabinoid that is found in cannabis plants. You probably already knew that. But did you know that those cannabinoids are very similar to a kind of chemical compound in the human body? They are called endocannabinoids. They are made to trigger a system called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). It is made up of receptors that are help trigger particular reactions in the body. These reactions can be things like appetite and mood. Because CBD is a cannabinoid and cannabinoids are so similar to endocannabinoids, CBD can interact with the ECS. That is why it and other cannabinoids are as famous as they are. In fact, there is another cannabinoid that you may have already heard of. It is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). But we will go into more detail about this cannabinoid later.
You may or may not know this, but cannabis isn’t just cannabis. There are actually two main kinds of cannabis that you can find. They are marijuana and hemp. Each is defined by how much THC and CBD they have. Hemp is the cannabis variation that generally has a set amount of both of the compounds. It has very high levels of CBD and only 0.3% THC. Marijuana is kind of the opposite. It has varying levels of CBD and incredibly high levels of THC. For these reasons, it is much easier for CBD manufacturers to use hemp to make their products than it is for them to use marijuana. These levels also are the reason why hemp is considered to be federally legal in the United States, but marijuana is not.
There are quite a few potential benefits that CBD may have. These potential effects are still being studied, and we can’t say for sure that they actually work in the way that we hope. However, the research that has been done so far is showing very promising results. Some of these effects are things like soothing inflammation, calming anxiety, and fighting acne. As more research is completed and published, the better we will understand whether or not these effects will truly help people.
Can CBD cause a high?
To put it simply, no. CBD cannot cause a high. But let’s talk a little bit about why that is.
We’ve briefly been over the fact that cannabinoids have an effect on the ECS. We’ve also mentioned that THC is a bit more famous than CBD because of its effect on the ECS. This is because THC binds pretty tightly with the receptors. This leads to a psychoactive intoxication that is more commonly thought of as a high. This effect is only caused by THC. There is no other cannabinoid that can cause an effect quite like that. CBD especially can’t cause a high. Even if the CBD that you’re using is extracted from hemp and contains that little 0.3% THC, that is not enough to cause a high.
What about side effects?
So, CBD can’t cause a high. But that doesn’t mean that every effect it has is a good one. There are some potential side effects that you may experience with CBD. They aren’t exactly the most terrible side effects out there, but they still aren’t fun.
You’ll want to avoid those side effects, but in order to explain how to do that, we need to tell you what to look out for. As mentioned, the side effects of CBD are not the most intense, but still aren’t fun. They are usually things along the lines of nausea, dizziness, and loss of appetite. So, not awful, but not pleasant. Most people on experience these side effects if they take too much CBD. This means that the best way to avoid them is by finding the right dose of CBD for you. But how do you do that?
The best way to figure out your CBD dose is through some careful experimentation. Because CBD is as new as it is to the holistic health world, we have yet to figure out a good formula for dosing it. This means that when starting out with CBD, you need to go low and slow. Start out with the smallest dose possible and wait to see how it sits with you. If you aren’t getting any kind of effect, good or bad, then you can try upping the dose by a small amount. You can keep increasing it in small increments until you get the positive effects without any negative ones.
There have been a few reports of CBD cause issues with the liver. However, those effects are not common. It should also be noted that CBD interacts with certain medications in the same way that grapefruit does. Some medications come with what’s known as a “grapefruit warning.” These warnings mean that grapefruit may cause the medication to stop working. CBD has a similar effect. So, if you are taking a medication that warns against eating grapefruit, you should avoid CBD as well.
CBD may be able to have many effects on people, but a high is not one of them. Unless the CBD product you’re using has much more than 0.3% THC in it, it is unlikely to cause any sort of psychoactive effect. However, if you have any concern about how CBD will sit with you, be sure to talk to your doctor before giving it a try. Check out some CBD gummies too!
