Does CBD Get You High?

Plenty of potential CBD users want to know, “What does CBD feel like?” and “Can CBD get you high?” After decades of hemp’s vilification as a close relative of the marijuana plant, concern and confusion are understandable. While both hemp and marijuana fall under the category of Cannabis sativa plants, there is a big difference between the two, and that difference affects how they make you feel. If you’ve been curious about the potential health benefits of cannabis but didn’t want to risk intoxicating effects, hemp-derived CBD may be the right choice for you.

The Complicated History Of Hemp

Cannabis plants have existed alongside humans for thousands of years. It has long been a source of fiber, beneficial oil, and a botanical touted for its curative properties (in large part because of what CBD does feel like and how it affects the body). At one point an important cash crop, as industrial hemp's popularity grew, threatening the paper, textile, and nascent plastics industry, it was targeted in a campaign to associate it with its more psychoactive relative, marijuana.

From the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 onward, all cannabis plants were taxed and treated as the same. This was still the case when the Controlled Substances act of 1970 was passed, effectively banning the use of all cannabis plants and their derivatives. This not only halted hemp’s trade but severely stifled research into the benefits of CBD that were, even then, becoming apparent.

As research elsewhere continued to explore and break down arguments that CBD does get users high, they simultaneously bolstered arguments that cannabis could dramatically improve the health and wellness of users. It wasn’t long before pressure began to increase on legislators to legalize cannabis. Though cannabis is not legal in many US states, the 2018 Farm Bill allowed industrial hemp (plants with a THC concentration of less than 0.3%) to be defined as a separate plant and, therefore, legalized at a federal level.

Not All Cannabis Is Created Equal

Industrial hemp offers a plentiful supply of CBD, other key cannabinoids, and terpenes. CBD can NOT, however, get you high. The amount of THC -- the primary psychoactive component in cannabis -- is just too low in CBD derived from industrial hemp. As a comparison to hemp-derived CBD’s 0.3% maximum concentration, marijuana can have over a 30% concentration with marijuana-derived products pushing those numbers over twice as high in some concentrates. So while CBD does feel like what a supported endocannabinoid system should feel like, it won’t feel the same as a marijuana product -- no intoxication or empty Dorito bags here.

That is not to say, however, that CBD does not affect your mental state. One of the reasons people seek out CBD is the potential it offers for supporting a calmer demeanor and a more positive worldview. Users of hemp-derived CBD, however, won’t get “high” or experience the psychoactive sensations common with the use of THC-heavy cannabis. It also means you don’t have to worry about testing positive on a drug screening when using CBD.

What Does CBD Feel Like?

So how, exactly, does CBD oil work on the body?

CBD can have a range of different effects, and, because of this, every CBD user has their own unique experience. CBD works by supporting a healthier endocannabinoid system. Composed of receptor sites throughout the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and the body, the endocannabinoid system acts as a regulatory mechanism that plays a part in controlling many of your body’s functions. From how we perceive pain to the management of anxiety and our appetites, the endocannabinoid system is far-reaching and, so, CBD’s effects are, too.

Scientifically speaking, CBD has several mechanisms of action on the body, depending on how it’s used.

• Supporting Proper Endocannabinoid System Function - CBD doesn’t directly bind with endocannabinoid system receptors. Instead, it works to support the optimal production of your body’s own natural active compounds that bind to those receptor sites. This may help address deficiencies you may normally have that affect your endocannabinoid system and how you feel daily.
• May Be An Analog For Other Neurotransmitter Chemicals - While it may not bond directly with endocannabinoid receptors, that isn’t true of other receptors in the body. Part of the reason for what CBD does feel like is that it can mimic some other compounds, such as serotonin. This important compound helps you regulate your mood, and when there’s more of it, you feel more positive about the world around you. Some serotonin receptors have shown a willingness to bond with CBD, causing a change in brain chemistry that causes some to think CBD does get you high, when really it just may help lift your spirits.
• Helps Keep Skin Nourished, Moisturized, and Healthy - CBD is a specifically formulated and concentrated type of hemp oil. Hemp oil is already well-known in the beauty industry for being rich in Omega Fatty Acids and holding naturally moisturizing properties. Add CBD into the mix, and you have a skincare powerhouse! Some studies have shown that CBD has the potential to regulate sebum production, which could help with acne outbreaks. It also readily absorbs into the skin, penetrating the tissues underneath, which is handy for localized endocannabinoid support.

Getting the CBD You Need

Ready to answer the question, “what does CBD feel like?” for yourself? Make sure you’re giving your body the best CBD products built to support you. At EndoCoast, we use only non-GMO industrial hemp to create our ultra-pure, high-quality CBD oil. Uncontaminated by chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides, this all-natural oil serves as the base for all of our products built on the latest in cannabis research and nutraceutical science. With organic and vegan ingredients, no THC, and lab results that prove its potency, purity, and safety, you’ll know you’re getting a product you can trust and that your CBD can’t get you high.

Take charge of your health and wellness. Find out what CBD does feel like to you by getting the endocannabinoid support you need from EndoCoast today.