The marijuana industry has witnessed tremendous growth over the past couple of years. That’s mainly due to the increasing number of studies citing the cannabis plant for its potent therapeutic effects.
But while there has been a considerable change in perception about marijuana and its extracts, millions of people still treat the plant with disdain. Cannabis is still criminalized in numerous countries all over the world.
One primary reason cited by marijuana opponents is the plant’s ability to induce euphoria; the feeling is known across the cannabis community as a ‘high.’ However, such people don’t realize that the cannabis plant produces hundreds of compounds. Only a few of them induce a ‘high.’
In this post, we narrow down our focus to one specific cannabis compound known as CBD and investigate whether this substance can induce a high or not.
What Is CBD And Does It Get You High?
CBD, which shorts for cannabidiol, is a household term in the medical marijuana sector. CBD is considered alongside tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as the two most abundant cannabis compounds. The two make up nearly 40% of all marijuana extracts.
CBD is also the main pharmacologically useful extract obtained from the cannabis plant. The compound is mostly recommended for pain alleviation. It may also help relieve inflammation, nausea, seizures, and various mental problems like stress, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
CBD also contains potent antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. That makes it potentially effective against bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, respectively.
And like most cannabis extracts, cannabidiol boasts potent antioxidant compounds like polyphenols. When consumed, these compounds help to boost immunity by offsetting cell damage occasioned by oxidative stress.
But here’s the best part. Regardless of its numerous health benefits, it’s reassuring to know that CBD doesn’t get you high. That means you can use CBD-based supplements to manage a host of medical conditions without having to worry about getting intoxicated in the process.
The following sections expound further on what it feels like to be high on marijuana and why CBD doesn’t’ induce this feeling.
What Does Cannabis High Feel Like?
Before we highlight what it feels like to be high on marijuana, it’s important to demystify a few grey areas regarding this topic.
You’ll stumble upon numerous cannabis-related publications suggesting that CBD is non-psychoactive. Presently, there’s no consensus on what constitutes a psychoactive compound.
Some researchers believe that psychoactive substances include anything that alters a user’s state of mind. If you analyze cannabidiol from this school of thought, you’ll realize that it qualifies as a psychoactive compound. Note that mood elevation and anxiety relief are some of the significant therapeutic benefits of CBD.
By elevating your mood and clearing your mind of racing thoughts, CBD does alter your mental state. However, one fact that stands out here is that CBD’s mind-altering effects are less powerful compared to those induced by conventional psychoactive drugs.
Another group of researchers opines that a psychoactive substance induces a ‘high.’ If we expressly go by this school of thought, it would mean that CBD doesn’t qualify to be called a psychoactive compound.
Fortunately, in the interest of clearing these confusions, researchers have come up with a list of tell-tale signs to know that you’re high on marijuana.
They include;
- Hallucinations, as manifested by a distorted sense of time and space
- Paranoia and psychosis
- Sensitivity to light, colour, taste, smell, sound, and touch
- Poor muscle coordination
- Reduced hand-eye coordination, usually marked by delayed response time
- Euphoria, which normally presents as abnormal surges of physical and mental energy
- Amusement, usually characterized by uncontrolled giggling even without apparent reasons
- Mood oscillations, where you’re depressed this minute but ecstatic the next minute
Other common symptoms of a person high on marijuana include bloodshot eyes, increased appetite, and a feeling of heightened creativity.
Why Doesn’t CBD Make You High
To understand why cannabidiol doesn’t make you high, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the body’s complex cell-signalling system known as the endocannabinoid system and if you like to buy CBD online also.
The endocannabinoid system is responsible for several physiological functions. Examples include:
- Maintaining endocrine balance.
- Transmission of pain signals.
- Maintaining natural circadian rhythms.
- Boosting overall immunity.
To function effectively, the endocannabinoid system uses its receptors known as endocannabinoid (short for endogenous cannabinoid) receptors and neurotransmitters called endocannabinoids. It also contains chemicals that modulate neurotransmitters’ reuptake and degradation, such as fatty acid amylase hydrolase (FAAH).
CBD, as with other cannabis compounds, interacts with the body through the endocannabinoid system. However, the real reason CBD doesn’t get you high is that the compound mainly interacts with CB2 receptors, which are located further from the brain and central nervous system (CNS). That’s in contrast to marijuana compounds like tetrahydrocannabinol, which bind directly to receptors closer to the brain and CNS and for more info you can visit Vitaleaf Naturals
Generally, all cannabis compounds that begin with the prefix CB- won’t get you high. On the other hand, cannabinoids that start with the prefix TH- are both psychoactive and intoxicating.
Summary
CBD doesn’t induce a high. The compound produces negligible mind-altering effects compared to other cannabinoids like THC and even non-cannabis compounds like psilocin.
However, remember that CBD overdose may trigger a host of side effects. So, moderation is key.
