There
are a lot of people out there who confuse CBD with THC. That is, when users
vape, smoke or eat CBD products, others mistakenly believe they’re simply
consuming THC – and getting high; possibly illegally. In an awful lot of cases,
this absolutely isn’t so.
The
truth of the matter is that cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical derived from the
cannabis/ hemp plant, just as is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). However, it’s
truly the latter that’s psychoactive and so gets you ‘high’ (or, if you prefer,
intoxicated); not the former.
This
is fundamentally why people don’t turn to consumable CBD products (i.e. CBD
vape juice and CBD
flower) to get recreationally high – but do
turn to them, entirely legally, for quite a different reason…
What
does CBD do when it’s consumed?
As
a cannabinoid, CBD – just as does THC – naturally interacts with specific
receptors in the body to generate, to varying degrees, a number of different
processes. The receptors we’re talking about here are part of a network in the
body’s central and peripheral systems, referred to as the endocannabinoid
system. When called into action by cannabinoids, the receptors are tasked with releasing
neurotransmitters, such as glutamate and dopamine, thereby affecting the
aforementioned processes – these include the likes of pain management, mood, memory,
thought and appetite.
In
particular, THC is notorious for affecting mood, thought, memory and appetite;
plus, it can relieve nausea, too. Additionally, both THC and CBD (but
especially CBD) are effective for pain relief and pain management.
Furthermore, it should be pointed out that CBD possesses both anti-inflammatory
and antioxidant properties – and it’s proved to be capable of treating specific
seizure disorders, too.
Is
CBD psychoactive – can it intoxicate you?
In
addition to its efficacy at treating and managing pain, CBD is known to help alleviate
symptoms of anxiety and insomnia. Indeed, it’s probably fair to say that the
positive benefits for anxiety, stress and sleep issues are the most prominent
reasons why people vape and ingest CBD.
Now,
it’s certainly true that, for some people, CBD has the capacity to alter their
mood – that is, it can induce a tangible or even deep sensation of calm and/ or
relaxation – yet it doesn’t have the capacity to alter people’s sensory
perception or their spatial awareness; nor can it generate euphoria. Basically,
it doesn’t induce the extreme psychoactive sensations that THC does. So,
although it’s technically true that both these kinds of cannabinoid are
psychoactive, only THC is so psychoactive that it can actually intoxicate someone.
How
does CBD leave you feeling?
As
mentioned above, CBD’s primary sensation is one of relaxation. Users of CBD
tend to describe a neutralisation of both discomfort and pain – and a decrease
or even removal of stress and anxiety (for a limited period of time, it ought
to be noted). These effects may, indeed, feel like experiencing a particular –
almost psychoactive – sensation. However, for other people, this may go
further; in that it can feel like an exaggerated calmness, sense of being at
peace and loss of negativity – again, for a limited period of time.
It’s
worth noting, too, that for those who vape or consume CBD-rich hemp
flowers (or CBD
buds UK, if you prefer to call them that), a
tinge of THC-like psychoactive effects might be experienced. This would most
likely be because CBD flowers/ buds comprise a slightly higher volume of THC
than do other CBD consumables.
One
further point, though; when buying CBD products, you’re highly advised to be
careful of the THC content – if the product claims to contain more than 0.2%
THC, it won’t be legal in the UK.
