Does CBD Get You High?
CBD does not get you high.
End of story, right?
Well, maybe not...
Cannabidiol (CBD) itself is not psychoactive at all, meaning CBD alone does not get people high, at all. However; CBD is only one of more than 80 naturally occurring cannabinoids found in Cannabis Sativa. Several of these cannabinoids are present in Immortal Tortoise full spectrum hemp products.
The main cannabinoid that gets people “high” tetrahydrocannabinol aka THC.
Hemp and Marijuana are the same plant species and genus, yet they are considered two different substances depending on how much THC is in the plant on a dry weight basis.
CBD and THC sort of compete for real estate in the cannabis plant, so when there is more of one there is usually less of the other. Amounts and concentrations really depends on the strain. (You can think of strains of cannabis plants like varieties of apples – there are different qualities and they can even look very different but they are still apples.)
In recent years, cannabis farmers and cultivators have been able to dramatically increase the quantities of both of these cannabinoids in cannabis plants. Today’s cannabis is 57-67% more potent than samples from the 1970s.
When a plant contains mostly CBD and less than .3% is THC then, by law, it is a hemp plant and not marijuana. Hemp is perfectly legal to farm and sell including as a medicinal supplement.
Immortal Tortoise sources plants grown with organic farming practices and medical marijuana techniques to produce the highest quality CBD supplements on the market. Our product is completely free from pesticides, heavy metals, molds, or industrial solvent residue. Smoking our dried cannabis flowers would not get you high.
If it Doesn’t Get You High… Why are People Taking CBD?
One of the most common misconceptions about cannabis sativa is that you need to get high in order to reap the medicinal benefits. The good news for people who don’t want to get high is that this is completely false.
Of the dozen or so cannabinoids that have been scientifically studied it turns out that CBD has shown the most medicinal benefits.
THC is mainly known to stimulate appetite, suppress nausea, and be soothing in small doses. It can relieve pain at almost any doses but at high doses it is no longer soothing but can cause acute anxiety.
CBD on the other hand has been shown to relieve pain, halt seizures, inhibit cancer growth, calm people with psychosis or anxiety, guard against nervous system degradation, reduce inflammation, and more. You cannot take too much CBD as it is completely nontoxic.
The effects of CBD are profound, real, and well researched.
For example, according to research done by the University of Mississippi’s Department of Biomolecular Sciences and School of Pharmacy “CBD possesses several pharmacologic activities that give it a high potential for therapeutic use. CBD exhibits neuroprotective, antiepileptic, anxiolytic, antipsychotic, and antiinflammatory properties.” Whether you are vaping, smoking, or ingesting CBD in gummies or a tincture it seems there are many possible benefits!
Does CBD Give You a Body High?
CBD has a profound effect on body functions and some people have taken to calling it a “body high.” However, consumers might misunderstand what “body high” refers to with CBD products.
CBD is a non-psychoactive substance so this is not the euphoric high caused by marijuana or THC. However, CBD provides relief for common aches, pains, and digestive problems.
CBD can help relax extra tension in your muscles caused by anxiety or stress. This is especially helpful for those who suffer from stress-related lower back pain and tension headaches.
CBD can also offer relief to those who suffer from chronic pain and pain caused by nerve injury without diminishing nervous system functioning or causing brain fog.
CBD lowers inflammation and combats oxidative stress.
All of these effects feel soothing and comforting to the body which results in what many people are referring to as a “body high.”
Will CBD Oil Get You High?
Cannabidiol is a lipid soluble compound which means it dissolves in oil. This simple fact is why CBD is often sold as an oil or tincture. These CBD tinctures may contain up to .3% THC by law.
Although .3% is the legal maximum hemp CBD products usually contain far less and often 0%.
The percentage of THC can be seen on lab results for every Immortal Tortoise product. A true full spectrum CBD oil tincture will contain trace amounts of THC because it supports the medicinal benefits of the CBD as part of a whole plant extract. Bottles below 350mg CBD have so little THC that it does not show up on mass spectrometer testing and for all intents and purposes is 0%
An oil with .3% THC would be an incredibly high dose oil. You wouldn’t see this much THC content until you got upwards of 2500mg of CBD in a bottle, which we do not carry.
At .3% THC 1ML of CBD oil contains about 3mg of THC. Reports of microdosing 5mg of THC show no detectable psychoactive effects.
To put the amount of THC in a full spectrum CBD oil in perspective keep in mind that 1 gram of high quality marijuana usually contains around 18% THC or 180mg.
It is unlikely that you could get high from CBD oil even if you exceeded the recommended dose.
Does CBD Show up on a Drug Test?
Not necessarily, since full spectrum oil has very low amounts of THC comparable to the amount of alcohol in apple cider vinegar. However you can have trace amounts of THC from a full spectrum oil which might show up on test results. It is recommended to stop taking CBD if you plan on taking a drug test soon.
Can You Get High From CBD?
To recap: the chemical compound cannabidiol cannot get you high.
The psychoactive effects found in cannabis are from a different cannabinoid called tetrahydrocannabinol. Although quality full spectrum CBD oils and vape products contain trace amounts of THC it is not enough to cause psychoactive effects.
At extremely high doses you may experience intense physical relaxation and peace of mind but at ordinary doses of a CBD oil you won’t feel anything except better!
Citation
Pharmacotherapy. 2016 Jul;36(7):781-96. doi: 10.1002/phar.1780.
Current Status and Prospects for Cannabidiol Preparations as New Therapeutic Agents.
Fasinu PS, Phillips S, ElSohly MA, Walker LA.