Cannabidiol (CBD) is a beneficial cannabinoid contained within the hemp plant. Hemp is a variety of the plant cannabis sativa that produces relatively low quantities of the compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the component found in cannabis that is often consumed for the purpose of intoxication. Despite the concentrations of THC in the hemp plant, it contains large concentrations of CBD. CBD has gained notoriety in the last decade due to its perceived health benefits. It is believed to help with pain, anxiety, seizures, and has many other practical applications. With so many proponents raving about the numerous health benefits of CBD, people wonder does CBD get you high? Before we learn the effects of CBD, it is important to understand the differences between the two main varieties of cannabis.
High CBD hemp
Does CBD get you high? It is important to understand the differences pertaining to the compounds found within the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids are compounds contained within the cannabis plant that interact with an intricate system of receptors throughout the body called the endocannabinoid system. This complex network of receptors helps maintain functions in the body such as regulating appetite, mood, sleep, pain tolerance, and several other functions. These cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant in particular are known as phytocannabinoids. They fit into the receptor sites contained in our body much like a key would fit into a lock. It is believed by scientists there are 100’s of cannabinoids, each with unique functions on the body.
The two most prevalent phytocannabinoids are CBD and THC. From a legal perspective, the concentrations of these two cannabinoids are what separates hemp from marijuana. Hemp typically contains under .3 % THC, and high amounts of CBD. The CBD in hemp is often around 10-25%. Marijuana on the other hand, contains more than .3% THC, but typically contains 10-30% THC. Marijuana contains relatively low levels of CBD. This is the key difference from a legal perspective. The unique chemical compositions of both varieties are responsible for the unique uses. Does the CBD in hemp get the user high? The short answer is no, CBD is considered a non-psychoactive cannabinoid.
Typically used for medical reasons, CBD will not create the euphoric high that is often associated with the cannabis plant. It does, however increase mood and relieve anxiety. This effect of CBD can be similar to the feelings induced when smoking THC, but it does not impair the user. Those suffering from anxiety who are suggested to use medical cannabis often benefit the most from strains that are high in CBD.
This close association and lack of clear distinction between the two varieties of the cannabis plant have led to the prohibition of the plant in its entirety for the greater part of the 20th century. This lack of knowledge and propaganda made it virtually impossible to have a commercially viable hemp farm in the United States. Only during brief periods were farmers encouraged to grow hemp to help the war effort. Hemp has many uses other than for its CBD production. Although the majority of industrial hemp is now allocated to CBD oil production, historically it was used predominately for textile production and rope. The production of rope is why during the Second World War, hemp for victory was a campaign encouraging farmers to grow hemp. After the war ended, the prohibition of hemp was again enforced.
It is thought by many that large companies with special interests had a large part in the prohibition of cannabis. Companies such as DuPont allegedly lobbied policy makers to ban the cannabis plant in its entirety. The reasoning behind this theory is cannabis was demonized due to the common use as an intoxicant. Although relatively harmless, propaganda pieces such as reefer madness were displayed to the masses to encourage the demonization of the cannabis plant. Hemp was lumped into marijuana because it is of the same species. Companies such as DuPont and other petroleum based companies stood to lose a massive profit at the hand of hemp. Hemp was a cheap, renewable resource that can be used for a variety of applications. This threat led these companies to lobby for its prohibition, and used its connection to marijuana to push their agenda. Harry Anslinger, the first drug czar of the United States, also stood to lose large amounts of federal funding after the prohibition of alcohol was lifted. This timing ended up working in all of these special interests benefit, making the campaign against cannabis effective. People during that time didn’t stop to ask questions like does CBD get you high. The individual constituents of cannabis were not well known until CBD wasn’t discovered until 1940. Roger Adams at the University of Illinois first discovered CBD during his research. It wasn’t until 1963 that Raphael Mechoulam discovered what made particular varieties of cannabis psychoactive. It was then that THC was discovered, and first synthesized in the lab. Until recently, THC received the majority of cannabinoid research that has taken place.
In an interview conducted by Vice News, Mechoulam stated “Who cared about our findings? No one!” says Raphael Mechoulam, frowning from his sofa. “And that’s despite many of the epilepsy patients being kids who have 20, 30, 40 seizures a day. And what did they do? Nothing! For 30 years, no one has used cannabis to treat epilepsy.”
This lack of concern for CBD has in part to do with the answer to does CBD get you high. It has been a common misconception that CBD gets the user high much like its cousin THC. This is now well known that this is not the case. CBD does not create a high, but is believed to have a large amount of health benefits.
As far as the psychoactive compound of cannabis, THC stands in a legal grey area in the United States. On a federal level, THC is considered a schedule one controlled substance. This means that it is deemed to have a high potential for abuse, and it unfortunately categorized with other illegal drugs. To the contrary, many states and even the nations capitol have passed state and local legislation to allow for the adult use of cannabis. Depending on the location, medicinal or recreational cannabis is often available in some form. We are far from full legalization on a federal level, but events like the 2018 farm bill prove we are well on our way.
In 2018, the hemp farm bill was passed. What this bill did was effectively remove CBD from the list of controlled substances, and approved a pharmaceutical version for a very specific form of epilepsy. Most CBD is not regulated by the FDA, however with continuing research this is appearing to not be the case for long. The farm bill encouraged farmers to grow hemp, and set up pilot programs in certain states to stimulate economic growth. This has been a huge success, and has made CBD much more accessible to the masses, therefore changing lives for the better. Hemp has officially been legally differentiated by regulators.
To summarize, CBD is not a psychoactive substance. Both CBD and THC are both from the cannabis plant, but both have unique benefits and properties. THC is the component in cannabis that people use to get high. CBD is often associated with its perceived medical value, and has become much more accessible to everyday people. When choosing a CBD company, it is always crucial to get it from a reliable source that offers third party lab testing. Transparency with cannabinoid content can be the difference between getting the relief you deserve, or having a product that is unclear about its effects. OC Wellness Solutions has been priding itself in manufacturing only the highest quality CBD products since the 2018 farm bill passed. Everyone can get different benefits from CBD, and it is always great to experiment with different products and dosages. CBD does not get you high, but it can sure get you healthy.
