Does CBD get you high?

If CBD is psychoactive, does CBD get you high?

"CBD is not psychoactive"

This assumption is false in two ways. In reality, CBD is psychoactive, just not psychotropic. Psychotropic substances affect the mind, altering your perception of reality - like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) does. Cannabidiol (CBD) is psychoactive, just like chocolate and many other substances, but non-intoxicating. This means: the so-called miracle stuff doesn’t get you high, stoned, or wasted - CBD keeps you ahead of the game.

CBD and THC Activate in the Brain Differently

CBD doesn’t create any psychotropic effects because it doesn’t affect the same neurological receptors in the brain as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Although CBD and THC are made up of the same carbon, oxygen and hydrogen atoms, there are a few slight differences in how the CBD and THC atoms are arranged. These slight differences are what creates different effects on the body. THC binds directly to the CB1 receptors in the brain while CBD makes only an indirect influence, meaning it is a weak binding.

The bond that THC makes with the brain’s CB1 receptors creates signals which are sent to the brain. `these are the signals that result in euphoric effects. As CBD does not directly bond with the CB1 receptors, it does not bring on those psychotropic effects. The good news about this is that CBD can also negate the bond THC creates and neutralise the feelings of euphoria, so if someone had too much THC, they can use CBD to “bring them down” from the high so to speak.

CBD Gets You High – & 4 Other Myths About Cannabidiol

1. Myth: CBD gets you high
2. Myth: All CBD is the same
3. Myth: The source of CBD makes no difference
4. Myth: I can’t feel anything, so CBD has no effect on me
5. Myth: CBD has no side effects

1. Myth: CBD oil gets you high

Many sources describe CBD as non-psychoactive. Why? Because it’s easier to distinguish its effects from the “high” associated with THC. THC on the other hand is psychotropic. The main difference: THC gets you high. It makes you laugh or cry. It exhilarates some, while making others anxious. Some use it to forget a bad day, while others might suddenly get a ravenous appetite. In short - it immediately and intensely alters your perception.

CBD is the other side of Cannabis – the mild one. CBD does not contain any of the properties that alter your perception. It has psychoactive effects. These feelings are subtle and indirect. To better understand the differences, we can distinguish between two terms that are often wrongly used synonymously: psychoactive and psychotropic.

THC has a psychotropic effect.

Psychotropic means that something directly affects the central nervous system. It intentionally stimulates the spiritual life, behaviour and mood. This term was initially used to describe psychedelic substances. Ergo: While THC is doing precisely that, CBD is doing the exact opposite. VAAY does not get you high. VAAY gets you on track without any psychotropic effects.

CBD has a psychoactive effect. In other words – the feeling is purely chill, with no effects.

Alternatively, psychoactive means any substance that intentionally affects your mind per se. This includes any anaesthetic, narcotic, tobacco, chocolate or caffeine. In other words: Psychoactive effects are mild and less intense than psychotropic effects.

CBD has a psychoactive effect, which balances your emotions and is perfect for relaxing! Incidentally, this applies to any form of CBD products. Various studies show that CBD may allow you to feel more relaxed or less anxious after consumption - which is a good thing and a desired therapeutic effect.

It is not without reason that the WHO has published reports claiming CBD as safe for human consumption. The bottom line - CBD is not toxic (1). Hemp has a good side.

2. Myth: all CBD is the same

Wrong – not all CBD products are created equal. Differences exist depending on the product composition, formula, dosage form, and type of CBD used.

Let’s start with full spectrum CBD products or CBD isolate. Full spectrum extract contains all the active compounds found in the hemp plant, including a variety of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Cannabidiol alone already has a variety of positive effects on the body. Incorporating the various other beneficial compounds found in full spectrum oil allows them to reinforce each other. This allows the body to process cannabinoids more effectively, resulting in the so-called “entourage effect”. This composition of numerous active substances is precisely what makes the plant so potent.

The more the merrier

As we said, that’s full spectrum hemp extract. CBD isolate, on the other hand, contains over 99% of pure CBD. No terpenes, no other cannabinoids, no flavonoids. CBD isolate is the pure, chemically isolated form of CBD. It is often more neutral in flavour, tastes less like the natural plant and is available in the form of crystals or clear oil. In other words: Less naturalness, less power and less taste.

3. Myth: The CBD source makes no difference

Speaking of cannabis products, the source of CBD oil is also crucial. The majority of products come from the cannabis plant, specifically from full spectrum hemp extract. There are also a few synthetic products that use bacteria, yeast, or various other plants to synthesise the CBD. However, this process is not equivalent to the classic extraction process, and as a result, the product does not have the same level of efficiency. It was, so to speak, grown in a test tube. Like with a blouse made of silk versus polyester - the natural version wins hands down in visual appearance, quality and wear properties.

Likewise, there are differences in the quality of the plants used for extraction. Like with beef from intensive livestock farming versus Organic Angus beef - there’s a huge difference between industrial and organic cannabis cultivation, and between the different strains of hemp or cannabis.

Many industrially cultivated hemp plants (“industrial hemp”) grow stalky. They were historically grown for their fibres, seeds and oil. They are not characterised by green splendour, but by their few blossoms. What’s more, these are often male cannabis plants. They contain little CBD, few other cannabinoids and equally few beneficial compounds and terpenes. This leads us to: What are terpenes?

By contrast, other strains and organically grown versions appear blooming, female, rich in CBD and full of healthy components.

What’s more, plants are bioaccumulators. This means that they absorb pesticides and heavy metals from the soil in which they grow. During the extraction of CBD and the other components, these contaminants sneak their way into the final product. As industrial cannabis is less potent, more raw material is used, which increases the risk of impurities.

4. Myth: CBD has no effect on me, because I can’t feel anything

Well, this may be because you inadvertently took CBD oil of inferior quality. With the internet, anything is possible. There are already documented cases where a “CBD oil” sold did not contain any CBD at all!

Low quality is the first reason you can’t feel anything. For this reason, have a close look at the online shop you’re considering. And yes, cheap often means compromising on quality.

Second reason: You simply haven’t taken enough. Sometimes people make the wrong assumption that just because CBD comes from the cannabis plant, when you take a little you should feel something. As mentioned earlier,THC and CBD work with the brain in different ways, and those who are expecting a high feeling or anything close to it won't get that feeling. Surely, you've heard about the stories of people taking too much THC because they did not feel the effect immediately, well with CBD this is not the case. Don't be afraid to take another dose if you feel the first dose was not enough for you. Each body and every endocannabinoid system reacts differently. The required and effective amount of cannabis varies remarkably from person to person.

Third reason: You don’t feel all effective remedies for your body. Do you actually notice something when you take Vitamin C, D or zinc?

For those who have major health deficits, it’s often advisable to try higher doses right off the bat. Correspondingly, these people also feel more dramatic effects, while people with an average state of health are more likely to maintain a lower level that provides subtle support. Whether you get ill less often is something you’ll only notice after a year or so, when your illness record has improved.

Apart from that, many therapeutic effects develop gradually and in the background. It has been shown that CBD works incredibly diversely and supports homeostasis. It regulates the system and has a balancing effect. It gets you on track. Even if you don’t feel anything, CBD has positive effects on the body.

5. Myth: CBD has no side effects

No effect without side effects! Sounds like a fortune cookie message, but it’s also confirmed in the case of cannabidiol.

First tip: if you want to be on the safe side, don’t take any CBD together with pharmaceutical products.

Yes, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other supervisory authorities classify CBD as a safe substance with low risk. It’s not intoxicating, not toxic and not addictive.

However, even cannabidiol has side effects you should be familiar with. Although this doesn’t replace consulting a doctor, here are some scientific facts.

For instance, the beneficial oil reduces blood pressure and the body’s need for insulin. That sounds good. However, people already taking such medication should potentially adjust their CBD dosage.

Furthermore, it is recommended not to take CBD with other medication. Why? Because cannabinoids have an effect on certain metabolic enzymes that are responsible for the breakdown of drugs. Therefore, you should take cannabidiol separately from your meds.

If you would like to know more, have a look at this: Project CBD. You can download a free guide on interactions here. Caution: This does of course not replace a visit to the doctor.

Other possible side effects of CBD:

• Dryness of mouth
• Reduced blood pressure
• Reduced appetite
• Drowsiness
• Sleep problems and difficulty falling asleep

Now that you’re an expert on CBD, have a look at our products. They’re rich in CBD as well as other substances, don’t contain any health risks that warrant concern and therefore justify the hype surrounding CBD.