What are the Effects of CBD? Does it Get You High?

Wait a second? Cannabis that doesn’t get you stoned? Yep. Sounds crazy but it’s true. There are many cannabinoids found in cannabis—not just CBD or our favorite, THC—the high-causer. There are other cannabinoids known as CBN and CBG as well as several others that all have various effects on the body other than causing a high. Nowadays instead of breeders just creating special strains that have huge amounts of THC there are many that specialize in creating the opposite—strains without much THC at all and a whopping amount of CBD that magic cannabinoid that doesn’t get you high.

In fact, believe it or not, CBD actually counteractacts the high caused by THC. Many studies support this claim. The same report also concludes that CBD can also reduce the high as well as memory impairment and paranoia sometimes caused by weed. CBD also counteracts the sleep-inducing effects of THC which may explain why some strains of cannabis are known to increase alertness

Hemp plants are particularly rich in CBD and low in THC (below 0.3% to be exact). With the recent passage of the farm bill legalizing hemp CBD-containing products are now more available than ever before. Their high concentration to CBD and minuscule amounts of THC make these hemp-based products highly effective, non-psychoactive and virtually ubiquitous. But they don’t come without their dangers. We’ll get to those soon.

But first the bottom line on CBD vs THC. Cannabis plants contain many cannabinoids not just the popular heavyweights. With cannabis becoming increasingly acceptable so will research into the effects of individual cannabinoids. Currently we only know of one that produces the traditional high or body stone. And that’s THC. The second most prevalent cannabinoid is CBD and it’s the non-psychoactive kind of cannabinoid that does not deliver any kind of high or body stone at all.

What does CBD feel like?

Well then how does CBD make you feel? You’re probably wondering that if this CBD stuff doesn’t get you stoned or high then what does it feel like? Also why would anyone take it then? You can probably get more accurate insight into this by diving into the science behind CBD. We’re not doctors or anything but have tried CBD many times. Erik, who writes all this stuff for us, judged more than 30 different CBD edibles at the last High Times Cannabis Cup in Santa Rosa—meaning he ate a ton of CBD over a few days and wrote about its effects. Anyhow enough about us, let’s talk about how CBD feels.

CBD effects multiple sets of receptors in the body. However unlike THC which binds directly with cannabinoid receptors all throughout the body CBD exhibits an indirect influence on these very same receptors. It actually increases the levels of endocannabinoids produced naturally by your body. Yes, dude, your body produces cannabinoids! They’re called endocannabinoids. The ones produced by pot plants are called phytocannabinoids. It’s not like your 7th grade science teacher was going to say anything about this stuff—they’re not trying to promote pot use—so don’t worry if you didn’t know this stuff.

CBD may cause you to feel:

• Calm
• Relaxed
• Free of pain   
• Comfortable
• Happy
• In a good mood

CBD feels like pain-relief. Its causes relaxation when it’s ingested, smoked or vaporized. If you’re really high, smoking CBD could help you come down from it. Seems odd but light up a CBD joint or smoke a bowl of CBD weed and you’ll find yourself a lot less high.

When applied topically in a cream or lotion CBD can cause quick pain relief or reduced swelling and discomfort. It’s not a miracle cure however and it’s not over-the-top. CBD effects are mild and subtle. Edibles and tinctures containing CBD, when ingested, usually take about an hour before they kick in. Unlike edibles containing THC, which you can pretty much tell when the effects are stating to come on, CBD typically delivers a calm relaxation that comes on gradually.

Why do take CBD? According to a review published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, studies have found that CBD:

• Reduces nausea and vomiting
• Suppresses seizure activity
• Combats psychosis disorders
• Combats inflammatory disorders
• Combats neurodegenerative disorders
• Combats tumor and cancer cells
• Combats anxiety and depression disorders

This is just a small list of the healing benefits of CBD. Consumers claim that CBD-infused products help them with anxiety, pain, insomnia, inflammation, skin conditions and other health concerns. We’ve touched on how it can help with blood pressure. We also wrote about how it can help with depression and also how it could be used to possibly treat opioid addiction.

How does it help with all these different conditions? From what we understand, keep in mind that we’re stoners not doctors, is that the body’s endocannabinoid system is in place to help the body maintain homeostasis. Or in other words cannabis, it’s receptors and the entire endocannabinoid system is used to maintain the bodies equilibrium allowing you optimal health.

Different Forms of CBD

If you’re interested in different forms of CBD products here are a few really popular and really interesting formats that we’ve come across recently in the marketplace.

CBD Tinctures

CBD tinctures are taken orally typically placed under the tongue for about a minute. As a result relief from them is pretty quick. They’re super portable and easy to use. Some taste better than others so shop around if flavor or taste is important to you.

CBD Gummies/Edibles

CBD Gummies are the most popular edibles. Gummies and other CBD edibles aka foods are individually dosed making them super easy to use and portable. The only real drawback to these things is that sometimes you’re not in the mood for a snack let alone something sweet and probably full of calories.

CBD Vape Oil

Vape oils work extremely quick. You’ll typically find vape oil in the form of a cartridge that screws on a 510-threaded battery. Many of the ecigarette components have been tweaked to work with cannabis and cbd oils. You can also smoke vape oil as well, smear them on a joint or drop them on a bowl—but we all know that vaporizing it is safer. Along with oil you can also find high CBD waxes and butters just like you’d find with THC. You can consume these things with a dab rig if you’ve got one. Or them smear it or a joint filled with CBD weed.

CBD Flowers

Speaking of joints and CBD weed—we’ve seen high CBD low THC weed floating around at a few dispensaries. Actually the guys over at Bhang sent us a pack of CBD weed joints or what they call pre-roll straights. They’re 100% pure CBD flowers (meaning zero TCH), flavored with terpenes and looked a lot like a cigarette. These things seem like they would be great for anyone who has consumed too much THC and wants to come down quickly.

CBD Lotions and Creams

For people that need pain relief just at or below the body’s surface lotions and creams are perfect. There are formulations out there that are manufactured to target various skin issues as well as ailments like arthritis or sore muscles. Many are non-greasy and smell great so down be afraid to shop around. For localized pain and discomfort issues CBD lotions and creams are the way to go.

Dangers of CBD

Just how safe is CBD? It’s widely known that marijuana is often used to treat glaucoma. However an Indiana University study published in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science last year found that pure CBD alone appears to make glaucoma worse. CBD actually causes a rise in pressure inside the eye.

“This study raises important questions about the relationship between the primary ingredients in cannabis and their effect on the eye,” Alex Straiker an associate scientist in the IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences who led the study, told Science Daily. “It also suggests the need to understand more about the potential undesirable side effects of CBD, especially due to its use in children.”

CBD use could also lead to undesirable side effects in adults too. High levels of isolated CBD could lead to negative interactions with drugs like steroids, anesthetics, antiepileptics, beta-blockers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), says says Brain Murphy, the Director of Patience Without Time.

“I wish everyone would take a step back and understand that when it comes to the medical and health values of cannabis—it’s all about the Entourage Effect,” says the long-time activist, “You cannot just pull out things like CBD and get the true medical and health benefits of cannabis. What you end up doing is creating a product that is guaranteed not to work and can actually do damage.”

Unlike cannabis which is heavily regulated in the legal market CBD is being produced without regulations. This results in products that vary widely in quality, says Marcel Bonn-Miller, an adjunct assistant professor of psychology in psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

So when reading labels don’t just look for the amounts of active ingredients but also look for crazy outlandish claims as well. If it seems fishy—it probably is.

Does CBD make you high? Of course not. But that doesn’t mean we’re not interested in learning who it does make you feel and what you use it for. Please let us know your experience with using CBD in the comments section below.