Medically Reviewed by Dr. Saira Zulfiqar, PharmD
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Cannabidiol, known as CBD for short, is found in high concentrations in the hemp plant. CBD use has exploded in popularity recently due to its numerous and powerful effects. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), equally popular but the psychoactive cannabinoid found in marijuana, CBD doesn’t produce a “high.” As a result, CBD tends to be far less tightly regulated than the whole cannabis plant or extracts that contain THC.
THC produces the “high” that most cannabis enthusiasts seek. As such, farmers and growers have, over the past few decades, bred strains of marijuana with increasingly high levels of THC. More recently, as the benefits of CBD have become known, some growers have turned to hemp, another strain of the cannabis plant with negligible levels of THC, to make their CBD products. As CBD and THC both come from the same plant, you may be wondering if CBD gives the same “high” as consuming cannabis or, indeed if it has any psychoactive effects at all. Read on to find out more.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- CBD’s Subtle Sensation: Vaping CBD oil doesn’t produce a THC-like high. Its effects lean towards calmness.
- The Science Behind CBD: Our endocannabinoid system influences mood and pain. CBD interacts differently fromTHC in this system.
- Feeling the CBD Vibe: Vaping CBD oil commonly induces relaxation. Some products might produce a slight euphoria. [More on it later]
- CBD and Drug Tests: CBD isn’t usually tested on drug screens. Some products might contain trace THC.
Does CBD Get You High?
CBD is often touted as “non-psychoactive,” but this is untrue. For a substance to be deemed as psychoactive, it must affect the user’s mental state or impact how they feel. Psychoactive substances often, but not always, have an intoxicating effect.
THC and CBD are both psychoactive substances that alter how a person feels, but CBD, unlike THC, is not an intoxicant.
THC is mostly used recreationally. It has a profound effect on the way that the user feels and their overall mental state. Using THC can result in euphoria, relaxation, changes in thought, and an altering of the perception of space and time. The experiences of music, food, and conversation are often enhanced with THC use, but this compound sometimes has unintended side effects.
CBD, on the other hand, has a subtler, sometimes barely noticeable psychotropic effect. In addition to the therapeutic effects of CBD on insomnia, inflammation, and chronic pain, it also has some mood-altering effects and can increase calmness and overall relaxation.
So, does CBD get you “high”? Not exactly. Though they occur, its psychoactive effects are much milder than those of THC.
Drug screening programs tend not to test for CBD, so as long as you are cautious about where you source your CBD products, you can use them without fear of affecting your work life.
What is CBD’s Mechanism of Action?
Inside every one of us is an incredibly complex and finely tuned system of hormones, endocrines, nerves, and receptors that function together to produce every thought, feeling, and desire you will ever experience.
Different endocrine systems serve various respective functions. One of these, known as the endocannabinoid system, affects many physical operations in the human body, such as mood, pain, hunger, and more. The endocannabinoid system consists of two receptors, CB1 and CB2, endogenous cannabinoids (produced in our bodies), other neurotransmitters, and specific enzymes.
Cannabinoids such as CBD and THC partly mimic, the structure of our endogenous cannabinoids. As such, they bind differently to the CB1 and CB2 receptors. These exogenous (produced outside the body) cannabinoids cause various effects and modulate some of the physical processes that occur in our bodies.
Cannabis users often report the stereotypical “munchies” effect. The “munchies” refers to the state of intense hunger that regularly follows cannabis consumption and is one example of how these exogenous cannabinoids affect processes within us.
Both THC and CBD are effective analgesics, meaning that they reduce pain. CBD has been shown to have numerous other positive effects, which we shall look at in greater detail.
What effects does CBD have on the body?
Fortunately, the endocannabinoid system does not affect our vital, life-giving processes. Unlike opiates, cannabinoids such as THC and CBD will never signal your heart or lungs to stop; therefore, it is nearly impossible to overdose.
To even approach a lethal dose of THC, you would have to consume a whopping 53 grams1A. R. Turner, B. C. Spurling, and S. Agrawal, “Marijuana Toxicity,” in StatPearls [Internet], StatPearls Publishing, Treasure Island (FL), 2023. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430823/ of the stuff (pure, which even the most expensive shatter is not), all at the same time – A feat even the most dedicated of stoners would find impossible.
CBD has many purported beneficial effects, many of which have been confirmed by scientific studies. CBD is effective in mitigating pain2P. G. Fine and M. J. Rosenfeld, “The Endocannabinoid System, Cannabinoids, and Pain,” in Rambam Maimonides Med J, vol. 4, no. 4, Oct. 2013. [Online]. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3820295/, battling treatment-resistant seizures3U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “FDA Approves First Drug Comprised of an Active Ingredient Derived from Marijuana to Treat Rare, Severe Forms of Epilepsy,” FDA News Release, June 25, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-drug-comprised-active-ingredient-derived-marijuana-treat-rare-severe-forms, alleviating anxiety4S. Shannon, N. Lewis, H. Lee, and S. Hughes, “Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series,” Perm J, vol. 23, 2019. [Online]. Available: PubMed Central (PMC), and improving sleep5S. Shannon, N. Lewis, H. Lee, and S. Hughes, “Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series,” Perm J, vol. 23, 2019. [Online]. Available: PubMed Central (PMC).
Is CBD Psychoactive
You may often hear people claim that CBD isn’t psychoactive, but even a superficial examination shows this isn’t true. Of the many conditions and disorders that people take CBD for, anxiety and insomnia are two of the most common.
Both insomnia and anxiety are mental experiences. For CBD to be able to treat these two disorders of the mind, it must, by definition, be psychoactive.
Today’s high-THC powered weed strains have, in comparison to their cousin strains that people smoked 30, 40 years ago, a much higher THC to CBD ratio and overall THC concentration.
Strains of cannabis that have a more even amount of CBD and THC are far less likely to create side effects in the user, such as paranoia, anxiety, and a racing heart. It appears that both cannabinoids compete for the same receptors and dilute each other’s effect.
What does using CBD feel like?
People report a sense of relaxation as the most common experience with CBD.
Pains can feel lessened, as can mental stresses and anxieties. For other people, the feeling can be as simple as an absence of the negative things that were in their conscious awareness previously.
CBD has a proven anti-inflammatory effect, and this may, in part, contribute to the pleasant subjective feelings commonly described in people who consume it.
Generally, CBD extracts contain less than 0.3% THC. Contrast this with CBD flower, a type of hemp grown to maximize CBD and minimize THC, that can still contain enough of the more intoxicating compound to produce a notable euphoric high. Users who want to avoid any intoxicating effect should be mindful of the type of CBD product they consume.
How do you take CBD?
There are many ways of consuming CBD, each with varying levels of bioavailability and speed of absorption. Both smoking and vaping CBD products get them into the bloodstream and over the blood-brain barrier much faster than other methods, and more of the consumed product is absorbed.
We can learn more about CBD vaping and CBD vape oil effects in our article “10 essential facts for vaping CBD“. A slightly slower but still practical and controllable way to take CBD is by letting it pass through the mucosal membranes of the mouth. This involves dropping CBD oil or CBD tincture under your tongue and holding it there for as long as possible. Sublingual dosing in this way isn’t as quick to act as smoking or vaping, but it is still reasonably swift. Taking CBD orally in capsules or edibles is the method with the slowest onset.
Will CBD show up on a drug test?
CBD, a legal and non-intoxicating substance, is seldom tested on standard drug tests. However, that doesn’t mean you can ingest every CBD product without risk.
There are many different types of CBD products available. Some of these are “isolates,” meaning they contain little to no CBD at all. Other products, sometimes marketed as “full-spectrum,” can contain traces of THC and other cannabinoids that could, in theory, give a positive drug test.
As long as you buy your CBD from a reputable source and check the third-party laboratory tests (which should be displayed on the manufacturer’s website), you shouldn’t run into any issues with drug testing.
The legality of THC and CBD and the severity of penalties if you are found to be using these substances varies drastically from country to country. To avoid falling foul of the law, read up correctly on the regulations regarding CBD, THC, and cannabis products for your jurisdiction.
Summary
CBD offers a unique experience that differs from the high induced by THC. It interacts with the endocannabinoid system to provide therapeutic benefits like pain relief and relaxation without intoxication.
If you’re looking for the calming effects of cannabis without the high, vaping CBD is a viable option. Just be sure to choose products from reputable sources to ensure quality and legality.
