Does CBD Oil Get You High?

You’ve probably come across cannabidiol (CBD) by now, whether on the news or the shelves of your local store. The therapeutic compound has become increasingly popular as people tune in to its curative properties. 

Maybe you’ve heard about how great it is for inflammation, or how it’s helped some people get a better night’s sleep. But if you’re new to CBD, you probably still have some questions about how it works. 

One of the most common concerns is the question, can CBD oil get you high? 

We’ll take a look at this in-depth to clear up any confusion.

CBD oil: Can it get you high?

The short and simple answer is no. 

One of the reasons CBD is so sought after these days is because it is non-intoxicating, meaning it won’t get users high, despite being part of the cannabis plant. This makes it a promising alternative for people who do not want to use cannabis medically because they don’t want to be intoxicated. 

CBD is a cannabinoid found in cannabis, and it acts on our own bodies cannabinoid receptors. That’s right, humans have their own system of cannabinoid receptors in various locations throughout the body as part of an endocannabinoid system (ECS.) 

When CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, it helps the body find homeostasis. Keeping the ECS in balance can help with prevention or management of chronic conditions. 

When people ask, “does CBD Oil get you high?”, they’re sometimes met with the common misconception that CBD is non-psychoactive. This is not true, because a psychoactive substance is any kind that affects the brain. 

Since CBD can affect mood, cognition, behavior, and more, it is a psychoactive substance. This does not mean it gets users intoxicated like what would happen if they consumed THC from the same plant. 

The cannabis plant is loaded with hundreds of different cannabinoids, and THC and CBD are some of the most well-known and understood. THC is the only cannabinoid responsible for getting users “stoned”, whereas other compounds have more therapeutic effects. 

If you’re still confused how the answer to the question, “can CBD oil get you high?” could be no, let’s break down how THC and CBD differ:

THC vs. CBD What’s the Difference?

There are two main cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system: CB1 and CB2. When THC enters the body, it activates CB1 receptors, the very receptor responsible for the intoxicating effects of cannabis. When CBD enters the body however, it does not activate the CB1 receptor. Instead, it works as an antagonist and even suppresses CB1 activation. 

Suppressing the activation of the CB1 receptor is what prevents users from getting high, and is the reason CBD is suggested to actually protect against adverse effects from THC. In cases where THC users get “too high”, CBD may be able to bring them back down from the uncomfortable experience.

How CBD makes you feel

CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids are known as phytocannabinoids, while cannabinoids produced inside the human body are referred to as endocannabinoids. 

Instead of binding directly to receptors like THC, CBD acts indirectly, encouraging the natural production of endocannabinoids in the body. A common response to consuming CBD is a feeling of calm or relaxation. 

This sensation is mild though, and not calming or relaxing enough to interfere with daily life. In fact, many find taking CBD helps them go about their daily routines with less stress and anxiety. 

This is because CBD has anxiolytic effects. According to a report titled Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders, CBD acts on a serotonin receptor called 5-HT1A. Activation of this receptor is a key part of some anti-anxiety medications. 

The effects are subtle, and depending on how you use CBD, can come on within minutes or within an hour or so. While you won’t experience anything extreme, you may notice a sense of well-being, lessened perception of pain, boosted mood, or relief from anxiety. 

It’s difficult to lay out all of the possible ways CBD may make you feel, as it acts in different ways depending on your body. The endocannabinoid system exists to create balance throughout the body, and taking CBD can help give an extra boost to areas that need it the most. 

A good example of this is how CBD helps users with inflammation. It is widely accepted that CBD is a powerful anti-inflammatory compound, and its ability to target inflammation makes it a good tool for a number of conditions. 

Relief can be found for acute or chronic pain with CBD, from relieving a headache to offering relief from intractable pain. Inflammation is also linked to depression, and CBD can help the brain fire new connections over time to rebuild.

How Can CBD Oil Help Depression

Will CBD help me?

CBD has a good safety profile and fewer side effects than many prescription drugs. If you’re considering using it to optimize your overall health or target a specific condition, there are a few things to consider. 

Now that you know the answer to the whole, “will CBD make you high thing”, you can move on to consider other factors. 

There is no universally-accepted dosage for CBD, so you will have to try it out for yourself. Start with small doses and increase them over the course of a couple of weeks until you have found an optimal dose for your body. 

CBD is biphasic, meaning it can opposite effects at high and low doses. That’s why experimenting with its effects on your body in small doses is the best way to go. 

Be sure to look for quality CBD over the hoards of new marketers trying to get their share of CBD profits from poor-quality products and unsuspecting customers. Some companies use cheap extraction methods that leave toxins in the final product or source from polluted soils laden with heavy metals. 

Looking to try CBD oil get you high for yourself but don’t know what to begin with or who to trust?

“Representations regarding the efficacy and safety of [CBD Oil] have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA only evaluates foods and drugs, not supplements like these products. These products are not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease. Click here [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/] to find evidence of a test, analysis, research, or study describing the benefits, performance or efficacy of [CBD Oil] based on the expertise of relevant professionals.”