CBD marketing has hit a peak even though research is still in its infancy.
But despite all the colorful advertorials and brazen promotions, customers are often at wits end trying to understand how these products will affect them.
At the forefront, is the confusion over the supposed psychoactive effects of CBD.
A lot of first-timers believe that since CBD is derived from the Cannabis plant, it can produce the same high as a joint of recreational marijuana does.
But can it?
Can CBD oil really get you high, if you ingest it? Or even if you topically apply it on your skin?
Let’s find out.
What is CBD oil?
CBD Oil is a popular nutraceutical product that is being touted as a potential remedy to a wide range of common ailments (and a few uncommon ones).
It is made by extracting CBD from industrial hemp and mixing it with a carrier oil like Olive oil, coconut oil or hemp seed oil.
CBD stands for Cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid produced by the Cannabis Sativa L plant. To know more about CBD, click here.
The resultant product is a clear, golden-liquid that contains a high concentration of CBD and a negligible amount of THC.
In simple terms, it does not make you stoned.
It does contain almost all the other beneficial cannabinoids like CBDA, CBC, CBGA, CBN, and CBCA.
However, cannabis oil, which is sourced from the Marijuana plan (a distant cousin of Industrial hemp) can also contain CBD and that’s where some of the confusion stems from.
The difference between Industrial Hemp and Marijuana
At first glance, a Hemp plant can easily pass off for Marijuana and vice-a-versa.
Both plants look identical.
In fact, many growers find it impossible to distinguish between the two, until the plant has grown bigger, given that both have the 7-leaf pattern that has generally come to be associated with Marijuana.
A botanist or an expert though would be quick to point out the differences.
- Hemp has large, tall stalks with lean, shiny leaves that are clustered around the top of the stalk. The plant can be as high as 20-feet and is fibrous.
- Marijuana, on the other hand, is a much shorter, denser shrub with broad leaves. Generally, only the female plant is bred, which produces flowering buds that have a hairy appearance.
The most important difference though lies in the chemical composition of these plants.
- Industrial hemp, as described by the Farm Bill of 2018, is a non-psychoactive strain of the Cannabis Sativa L plant that produces less than 0.3% Tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-9 THC) on a dry weight basis. So, even if Hemp or hemp-derived products like CBD Oil or Vape, are smoked or ingested, they do not produce the psychoactive effect.
- Marijuana, on the other hand, is another variant of the same Cannabis plant, that is selectively bred to produce flowering buds that contain a high concentration of Delta-9 THC, the cannabinoid that produces the high that Marijuana is associated with. Some strains available in the market can contain 25% of THC. When smoked or ingested, products containing THC will produce the famed euphoric, psychoactive effect that Marijuana is so famous for.
Why CBD oil doesn’t get you high
While there are 108 cannabinoids produced by the Cannabis plant, research has centered primarily around just two of these.
The first one is THC which interacts with the CB1R cannabinoid receptor in the brain and the central nervous system. It triggers the release of certain neurotransmitters and limits the release of a few others. The collective windfall effects of this, is felt as the high that one experiences when Marijuana is smoked or ingested.
CBD or Cannabidiol is the other cannabinoid that interacts with the CB2R receptor and works via pathways that remain undiscovered. It completely spares the CB1R receptor, or at least does not interfere with neurotransmitters that can affect cognitive behavior.
As a result, it does not cause the high.
Marijuana Oil vs. CBD Oil
Marijuana oil, which may also be known as weed oil or Cannabis oil is sourced from the Marijuana plant or any strain of cannabis that contains more than 0.3% of THC.
It may also contain a high concentration of CBD. But as long as it contains more than 0.3% of THC which is the legal, federally-regulated limit, it cannot be called CBD oil.
It is illegal to produce, own and distribute in most parts of the world, barring a few places where medical marijuana laws have loosened up recently.
If you are unsure whether the product you are buying is pure CBD, then check the product label for the concentration of THC.
If the product label is unclear, reach out to the manufacturer to confirm the same.
If the THC levels are more than 0.3%, you’d want to confirm whether you are committing a felony.
Can cannabis oil get you high?
Yes, it can. Despite containing CBD, Marijuana oil will produce the mind-altering effect of Cannabis.
But that’s precisely why a lot of people prefer it in place of CBD oil.
Certain conditions like depression, insomnia, stress, nausea caused due to chemotherapy and pain relief can benefit from the high that Cannabis oil produces.
Also, there are certain other conditions that are better treated with a combination of THC and CBD, which may make Marijuana oil better suited for these applications.
A lot of users these days, micro-dose cannabis oil at timed intervals throughout the day.
The micro-dosing helps limit the euphoric effect and allows the person to get the therapeutic benefits.
New users may feel a little inebriated in the beginning but that will taper down as they build a tolerance towards it.
Why do some people use CBD Oil then?
Not everybody who seeks therapeutic relief wishes to experience the cognitive-impairment that comes with using Marijuana oil.
Like someone who’s using CBD for chronic pain relief, or for inflammatory conditions that demands everyday use.
Marijuana oil can interfere with their cognitive abilities and normal functioning in day to day activities, while CBD will only provide the therapeutic relief with no psychoactive effect.
It is non-habit forming and there are some therapeutic benefits that are exclusive to CBD.
For example, it is known to help reduce the anxiety and paranoia that some users experience with repeated, long term use of THC.
It is also known to help reduce the severity and frequency of epileptic seizures in some severe forms of epilepsy.
How do you feel when you ingest CBD oil?
Since it does not make you feel tipsy or disoriented, how do you feel when you ingest or use CBD oil?
Will you feel something right away? Or does it take a while to get absorbed and kick-in?
How do you know that CBD is at work?
According to some experts, that depends on a lot of factors.
Your experience with CBD for example.
Your age, your body fat percentage, the concentration of CBD in the oil that you are using, the condition that you are using it for, the dosage and of course, your endocannabinoid system’s response to the product.
Everybody has a unique response, but it is best described as a sudden rush of endorphins that improves focus, reduces anxiety and makes you feel good.
Some people who use CBD for anxiety, report feeling the anxiety just melt away slowly.
Some who use it for insomnia, report a calmness that precedes sound sleep.
Users who use it for stress relief say that it better copes them to deal with daily stressors.
CBD is believed to stimulate the release of anandamide, an endocannabinoid that helps improve mood and reduce pain as well.
The delivery method is another factor that can affect how soon you begin to feel these effects.
Vaping generally produces the fastest effects, which is why CBD vapes have risen in popularity recently.
Sublingual-ingestion comes a close second since it is able to bypass the digestive system entirely.
Ingested CBD edibles take the longest to get absorbed and take effect.