Does CBD Oil Make You High? The Sober Truth About Cannabidiol's Remarkable Mental Effects?

Does CBD oil make you high? The short answer is no.

Although CBD comes from the same plant as marijuana, it does not cause the “stoned” feeling that other popular cannabinoid THC does. How can this be? Read on to find out.

CBD will not affect your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery.

Is CBD oil psychoactive?

Many media sources claim that CBD is not psychoactive, and this is why it does not produce a stoned feeling or “high.” This is not exactly true. While it is valid that CBD is not an intoxicating substance, it is indeed psychoactive. What’s the difference?

An intoxicating substance, in a large enough quantity, can cause one to lose control of their physical or mental faculties. Alcohol and THC, while their effects are quite different, are both intoxicating substances. CBD is not an intoxicating substance.
A psychoactive substance acts upon the brain and central nervous system and can alter mood, consciousness, and behavior. CBD interacts with the CB1 receptors in your brain and nervous system and can affect your mood and perception. CBD is indeed psychoactive, though it is not intoxicating.

One way CBD affects mood is by interacting with the endocannabinoid system in the brain. CBD indirectly interacts with CB1 receptors, blocks enzymes that break down the endocannabinoid anandamide, and impedes the dissipation of adenosine, another important neurotransmitter. Boosting these brain chemicals can help improve mood and decrease anxiety. ¹ But CBD doesn’t just interact with the endocannabinoid system. It is also able to bind with other receptors in the nervous system that can have an effect on mood and overall well-being.

CBD connects to the serotonin 5HT1A receptor, which “can impact anxiety, appetite, sleep, perception of pain, mood, nausea and vomiting, and sexual behavior, to name a few.”²
CBD also interacts with the TRPV1 receptor, a known regulator of pain signals and inflammation.³

As you can see, cannabidiol is clearly psychoactive, as it acts upon many different receptors throughout the brain and the endocannabinoid and nervous systems. However, while CBD may boost your mood and/or limit your anxiety and pain, it does not cause intoxication or impairment of any kind.

Many CBD users report improved mood and better focus at work.

How does CBD oil make you feel?

So if CBD acts upon your brain and nervous system, but isn’t intoxicating, then what does it feel like exactly? As with any substance, and any person, the answer is “it depends.”

CBD impacts the brain in a variety of ways, which can affect individuals in different ways.

Project CBD, a California-based nonprofit, conducted a wide-reaching survey among CBD users who described CBD as having multiple benefits, including having helped with their mental outlook in various ways.

People report that CBD relieves their pain. Ninety percent of respondents confirmed that CBD provided some relief from pain, while 60% of them replied that CBD made pain “much better.”
It appears that CBD improves sleep quality. Seventy-five percent of respondents reported that they woke up tired before trying CBD, compared with only 9% who report waking up tired while taking CBD.
CBD seems to minimize symptoms of anxiety. Ninety-two percent of survey respondents experienced “some” reduction in nervous feelings while using CBD, while 68% found their anxiety to be “much better.”
CBD seems to reduce distractibility and increase focus for those respondents with ADD and ADHD.

So while CBD does not cause a euphoric or inebriating effect, a majority of users report that cannabidiol can affect their mental state in a variety of positive ways, including pain relief, improved sleep, lessened anxiety, and increased focus.⁴

Many CBD users report waking up feeling more refreshed.

CBD oil side effects

So intoxication is not a side effect of CBD. However, CBD can have some side effects that you should be aware of.

Scientific research into the side effects of cannabidiol is still scarce. However, clinical studies focusing on CBD therapy for seizures have indicated the most common side effects to be “tiredness, diarrhea, and changes of appetite/weight.”⁵

In Project CBD’s survey of CBD users, the most common side effects reported were dry mouth, tiredness, and bloodshot eyes. Side effects were typically mild.

While it is important to be cognizant of possible CBD side effects, it is also important to know that many of the reported side effects of CBD could very well be adverse reactions to the carrier oils, chemicals used in the extraction process, or other elements of the cannabis plant that were not removed during extraction.

The best way to avoid possible side effects from your CBD supplement is to be sure that you are using an organic, full-spectrum CBD with no byproducts, as confirmed by lab reports from a third-party tester. Palmetto Harmony CBD is always guaranteed to be pure and quality-sourced.

Many CBD users report waking up feeling more refreshed.

Healing without the high

It is no wonder so many people are trying and getting results with CBD. There is no risk of intoxication with cannabidiol, so most folks feel safe giving it a try. Many of these people are finding that CBD helps their mood and focus, without making them feel high or uncomfortable in any way (check out our reviews!).

So what are you waiting for? Join our club of happy customers who are enjoying the healing mental effects of CBD with no high.

Citations:

1. Eileen Konieczny, RN, Healing with CBD (Berkeley: Ulysses Press, 2018), 90.

2. Konieczny, Healing with CBD, 90

3. Konieczny, Healing with CBD, 90

4. https://www.projectcbd.org/reports/cultivating-wellness/summary

5. Konieczny, Healing with CBD,100