Does CBD Get You High? [What to Expect From Taking CBD]

Does CBD oil get you high?

No, CBD won’t get you high. But there is more to understand than just yes or no when wondering if it will or could even get you high. What you can expect from taking cannabidiol (CBD) is more of a calming, relaxed feeling than a high feeling. The reason for this is our CBD products are derived from hemp and not marijuana.

The Difference Between CBD Derived From Hemp vs Marijuana

Hemp and marijuana are the same in almost every way. They are both considered Cannabis Sativa plants and looking at both of them, most wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. Hemp and marijuana differ because of the compounds naturally occurring in each plant.

Cannabinoids

Cannabis plants [hemp and marijuana] contain compounds called cannabinoids. The most famous cannabinoid is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is famous (or infamous) for the “high” effect people feel when they smoke the ganj. Cannabidiol is also a cannabinoid. However, CBD does not have the same intoxicating effect as THC.

Before we get into the effects of CBD, let’s finish talking about hemp and marijuana and what makes them different. Marijuana is high in THC and low in CBD. Hemp, on the other hand, contains a high CBD content and low THC content, which is why CBD oil [derived from hemp] will not get you high.

For more information on the differences between these two cannabinoids and what to look for when buying CBD products, see our post: CBD vs THC What’s the Difference?

The Effects (and Side Effects) of CBD

Cannabidiol is touted for many different reasons but one of the most well known is its pain-relieving effects, according to Harvard. It interacts with our body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS) which is a series of receptors in the immune system, brain, nervous and more. This interaction is what could reduce inflammation and ease soreness.

Another reason CBD is so popular is it has not shown any adverse side effects for pain management. This is huge in the pain management community as more and more people are realizing how addicting opioids can be.

Cannabidiol isn’t just good for pain and physical conditions though. Many people are turning to CBD for help with their mental health as well. Anxiety and depression are at the top of the list as to why people are giving CBD a go these days. There have been many studies around marijuana for help with anxiety and depression, and studies show it to be promising, but what many of those studies don’t show is that THC can also cause anxiety, especially when overconsumed. This is one of the main reasons why we suggest CBD only products to avoid much of the confusion and potential overconsumption of THC.

A study in 2010 found CBD could reduce symptoms of social anxiety in people with Social Anxiety Disorder. The participant’s brain scans found changes in blood flow to the regions of the brain linked to feelings of anxiety.

Possible CBD Side Effects

Though they are much less than those of prescription drugs, opiates, and more, there are, of course, possible side effects of CBD to keep an eye out for. Many of these are anecdotal at this time and we know much more research will come out in the next few years to help us better understand the side effects of CBD. For now, though, we’ll share with you the side effects we’ve noticed… and believe us, we’ve tested A TON of CBD products.

First, is dry mouth aka “cottonmouth.” Which seems to be a pretty stereotypical side effect for all cannabis products regardless of CBD or THC. CBD does seem to cause some sort of cottonmouth, though it doesn’t’ appear to be as bad as if you were smoking a marijuana joint or similar.

The second can be an upset stomach. This usually comes when taking too much of a CBD oil product like a tincture or similar. Typically CBD tinctures have carrier oils like MCT oil, olive oil, and similar. For many people, getting too much oil in their stomach can cause an upset feeling regardless if there is CBD in it or not, but nonetheless, still something to keep an eye out for.

Lastly, drowsiness. Are you going to get drowsy when taking CBD? Sometimes. Again, there has not been enough studies as it relates to CBD and sleep, but about every single one of our Third Coast team members has had times where they’ve taken too much CBD during the day and feel a bit sleepy when they needed to get things done. We’re really looking at this though as a cause-and-effect sort of situation where many of the times it was because they didn’t get enough sleep the night before, and took their CBD in the morning or mid-day and then found themselves drowsy because their body was already tired, and the added CBD helped them relax even more and then were too tired.

Regardless of the side effects of CBD, getting high is not one of them.

We’re Here to Help

Third Coast Health is committed to teaching and sharing practical ways to manage stress and aid in muscle recovery through our own experiences or ones we have read about from trusted resources. We believe from the bottom of our hearts the CBD oil for sale on our site can help people in a variety of ways. Though we believe this, we are also not naive. We understand there are other components involved in managing stress, pain, anxiety and other issues outside of supplements, and we are committed to sharing that information with you as well.

Join our Third Coast tribe newsletter for practical ways to relax, de-stress, and even get a great workout in!