Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, has become quite famous across the states ever since the landmark 2018 Farm Bill legalized the consumption and sale of CBD products on a federal level. CBD has proven anxiolytic and analgesic properties, which makes it a perfect product for people dealing with pain and anxiety disorders.
Though new users might wonder sometimes, how high does CBD make you feel? Well, the answer is no, zero-high. CBD doesn’t have intoxicating properties, which means it won’t give that high or stoned feeling. In fact, most of the cannabinoids present in hemp, other than THC, are non-intoxicating in nature.
But there’s more to it. You might come across rare cases of people reporting getting high on CBD on forums like Reddit. Through this article, explore why and how it might happen in certain cases.
Is it Possible to Get High on CBD?
No, you cannot get high by simply consuming CBD-infused products. CBD doesn’t have intoxicating properties; to get high, you’ll need to consume a substance that will directly alter the functioning of CB1 and CB2 receptors found in your endocannabinoid system.
This complex ECS is responsible for controlling a range of functions like mood, appetite, sleep, and memory. CBD works only by influencing these receptors; hence, there’s no hallucinatory or high effect on our perceptions. We just feel better and more relaxed.
Then why do some people report high feelings after consuming certain gummies and oils? The possible reason is that they might have consumed full-spectrum CBD products like full-spectrum CBD gummies or full-spectrum hemp oil.
All full-spectrum CBD products have trace amounts of THC in them; usually, it’s below 0.3%, which is simply not enough to get you high, but some people might be sensitive to THC even in such small quantities.
Or maybe they have consumed too many gummies or too much oil, which can make them a bit drowsy, and it can be confused with being high. But in normal day-to-day usage, the majority of people won’t get high by using full-spectrum CBD products.
If you are someone who is sensitive to THC usage or has an upcoming drug test but still wants to incorporate CBD products into your wellness routine for their therapeutic and healing effects, then products like Broad Spectrum Gummies and Oils from Colorado Botanicals are perfect choices for you. Besides THC, they have all the cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytonutrients in them, and they work in synergy to improve your overall wellness.
Why Does THC Make Us High? How Is It Different From CBD?
By definition, a psychoactive substance is something that can affect the workings of your brain and alter your mood, thoughts, feelings, awareness, or perception. Both CBD and THC are psychoactive in their own ways, but the difference lies in their ways of working.
Unlike CBD, THC works by directly altering the working of certain receptors present in our brain. By doing so, it activates the brain’s reward system, which is present in regions responsible for governing the pleasurable response when we are involved in healthy behaviors like sex and eating.
To put it more simply, THC affects the neuron reward system to increase the flow of dopamine without the presence of natural stimuli, which in turn makes us feel more pleasurable and motivated. THC also works by disrupting the section in the brain that is responsible for regulating our posture, balance, reaction time, and coordination. All such functions don’t take place when we take CBD; that’s why CBD cannot make us high, but THC can.
How Does the Effects of CBD Differ from Product to Product?
The effects of CBD will vary greatly depending on the CBD potency per dose and the form of the product. You can get CBD in topicals like cream and gels, edibles like gummies, softgels, oils, and even in the form of refreshers like drinks and mocktails. But the most common, convenient, and sought-after forms are gummies, oils, and topicals. Let’s take a look at how the effects will vary in them.
Gummies or Oils
Both gummies and oils are an efficient way of getting your daily dose of edibles, gummies come with a pre pre-measured quantity of CBD in every serving, and Oils usually come with a convenient dropper.
But the difference lies in the time they’ll take to show the calming effects, gummies provide a slow and sustained release as they have to go through your digestive tract first which results in a slow absorption and release rate. Typically it takes around 45 minutes an hour or even two, until CBD gummies show their effect.
Oils on the other hand start to show their effects within 10-15 minutes of consumption, why? Well, when placing the drops under your tongue, the cluster of capillaries present there absorbs the CBD right away and releases it directly in your bloodstream. This can give you a quick jolt of effects, perfect for dealing with sudden stressful situations.
Topicals and Vapes
CBD-infused creams and lotions are generally used to treat pain and inflammation in certain areas. For example, if you have soreness in your calves after a hard leg day gym session or some inflammation in joints and muscles.
You can apply the cream or gel on that particular affected spot, CBD absorption will take place through your skin pores and will be slow. Also, it won’t work as good as an oil or gummy in terms of mental effects, like mood improvement and calmness.
To Sum It Up
CBD alone will not make you high; a minority of people might feel a bit more stimulated due to the trace amount of THC in full-spectrum CBD products, but for the general public, it won’t cause any issues. But if you are still worried about it, then go for broad-spectrum CBD products from reputable brands like Colorado Botanicals , as they don’t have any THC in them. Yet they will still help you with anxiety, pain, appetite, focus, and sleep-related issues. Just make sure to start with a low dose, observe the effects over a period of time, and then adjust your dosage carefully.