Is CBD Psychoactive?

Because CBD is non-intoxicating, it doesn’t cause euphoric feelings. Here we explore further the question: Is CBD psychoactive?

Although the use of cannabis and cannabinoids is growing in the U.S. and around the world, you might be among the many who are interested in taking advantage of the benefits of cannabinoids but are hesitant because of marijuana’s potential intoxicating psychoactive effects.

Is CBD Intoxicating?

You may have heard of CBD products that are federally legal and asked yourself, “Is CBD Psychoactive?”

Perhaps the better question is whether CBD is intoxicating or not. CBD alone is not intoxicating.

Both CBD and THC are cannabinoids, the active compounds that provide the effects from ingesting cannabis. One of the key differences between CBD and THC is that CBD (cannabidiol) is non-intoxicating. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the chemical compound in cannabis that is responsible for producing euphoric effects. While THC is most plentiful in marijuana, CBD is present in higher quantities in hemp.

Some users report feeling increased relaxation when taking CBD. While this may be misperceived as being intoxicated, it is simply an effect of the CBD and shouldn’t be confused with the impairing psychoactive effects of THC.

Read more below about the differences between CBD and THC as well as those between the cannabis plants hemp and marijuana to decide if non-psychoactive CBD is right for you.

CBD vs. THC

As mentioned above, both CBD and THC are cannabinoids – more specifically, since they are plant based, they are phytocannabinoids. Even though both THC and CBD are cannabinoids, they interact with and affect the body in different ways.

This has to do with the ways CBD and THC interact with the body. Both CBD and THC interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system through specialized cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2 receptors) to provide their effects, mimicking our own naturally occurring cannabinoids.

THC directly interacts with CB1 receptors, which are found within the brain and central nervous system. It is this activation of CB1 receptors by THC that is responsible for marijuana’s well known psychoactive effects. CBD doesn’t bind directly to CB1 receptors. Instead it works indirectly as an antagonist and can even work to block cannabinoids like THC from binding to cannabinoid receptors to cause a high.

It is through this interaction with various receptors within the body that these cannabinoids promote balance in our lives. Although they interact with the body in different ways, both CBD and THC are tied to maintaining homeostasis through interactions with the ECS.

Hemp vs. Marijuana

CBD’s distinct effects on the human body, including being non-intoxicating, are also easier to understand when you consider where your CBD may be coming from: the hemp plant or the marijuana plant. 

It’s important to first understand that hemp and marijuana are both members of the same species of plant, Cannabis sativa L. However, the two plants are unique in their chemical makeup, resulting in their being used for very different purposes. Despite these differences, hemp is often wrongly lumped in with its illicit cousin marijuana in prohibition. We explore the important distinctions between these two members of the cannabis family next.

What is Hemp?

Hemp is a cannabis plant harvested commercially for its seeds and stalks, which are used to produce a number of products including:

• Food
• Nutritional supplements
• Medicine
• Body care products
• Paper
• Textiles
• Building materials
• Plastic composites
• Biofuels

For cannabis to be considered hemp, it must contain no more than 0.3% THC per dry weight. This level of THC in hemp is far too low for hemp products to get a user intoxicated. Hemp products are federally legal in the U.S. However, hemp is often cultivated to produce a much higher concentration of CBD.

What is Marijuana?

Marijuana is a cannabis plant most frequently harvested for its euphoric, intoxicating properties, which are responsible for marijuana’s euphoric effects. The fibers and stalks of marijuana are not used commercially. Instead, the marijuana plant is cultivated specifically for its flowers, which contain the highest levels of THC in the plant.

Through selective breeding, varieties or strains of marijuana can contain THC concentrations that range from 10 percent to 30 percent. Marijuana is also naturally lower in CBD than THC.

Because it contains high levels of THC, use and possession of marijuana remains federally illegal in the U.S., although more than half the states in the country have passed laws that have legalized marijuana for regulated use.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. CBD Oil Products

All Medical Marijuana, Inc. CBD oil products are made using hemp, rather than marijuana. Our CBD hemp oil is available as daily supplements like pure hemp oil oral applicators, tinctures, liquids, capsules, and CBD topicals such as lotions and topical salves. We even sell CBD for pets!

Hemp oil contains high levels of CBD and only trace levels of THC – far too little to be psychoactive at suggested serving sizes, even in Medical Marijuana, Inc.’s most concentrated products.

As such, because CBD produces no side effects, CBD hemp oil is regarded as safe for use by anyone in your family.

However, if you are looking to eliminate concern over THC in your CBD supplement, we also offer THC-free options like CBD Isolate and RSHO-X.

To learn more, here are 5 questions you should be asking about your CBD oil.

THC-Free Products

If you want to avoid THC in your products, Medical Marijuana, Inc. sells products that are THC-free as well. By formulating with CBD isolate, we are able to offer all the benefits of CBD without the worry of THC.

CBD Isolate – Buy Here

CBD isolate is not a synthetic or lab-made cannabinoid. Instead, it is an all-natural product, extracted from the hemp plant and refined down to an incredible purity. The effects of CBD isolate are immediately felt, and the powder allows for easy dosing.

Like RSHO hemp oil, Real Scientific Hemp Oil CBD isolate is extracted from non-GMO hemp using supercritical CO2. The extraction produces a botanical concentrate that includes the cannabinoids and other plant material found naturally in hemp plants.

The CBD hemp oil is then purified using a proprietary process that filters plant material and removes excess waxes, producing a pure isolate powder that is 99% CBD. The CBD isolate powder has no taste or smell to it and can be integrated into a number of products, like edibles and vape oils.

RSHO-X – Buy Here

The first CBD hemp oil product of its kind, RSHO-X is a THC-free version of our customer favorite Real Scientific Hemp Oil Liquid. Since RSHO-X contains no detectable levels of THC, it has become the CBD supplement of choice for many, including:

• Parents of small children
• First responders
• Competitive athletes

RSHO-X provides safe, non-psychoactive delivery of CBD to the body by combining our CBD isolate with healthy MCT oil. With virtually no taste at all, RSHO-X can be taken as is or added to foods or beverages.

How to Start a CBD Oil Supplement

You can get started adding CBD oil to your day by visiting Medical Marijuana, Inc.’s online store, or visit our CBD oil education page to learn more.

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Originally posted on Is CBD Psychoactive? via Vic Neufeld Medical Marijuana News