You’ve probably heard of CBD oils in the news because of its many acclaimed medical uses, especially for kids and adults battling chronic pain, anxiety and disease. Many people have indeed found relief from the therapeutic use this natural oil, but one of the most common questions we still get asked is “Does CBD oil get you high?”

Before going into the details, let’s first review what CBD actually is…

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What is CDB Oil?

Cannabis sativa is recognized as one of the world’s oldest cultivated plants, with written records of its use dating back to the 6th century B.C. (ca. 2,600 cal BP) and evidence of its use as far back as 8000 years ago.

The two primary species of Cannabis family of plants, are referred to as hemp and marijuana. Each have crucial differences in the chemical composition.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is just one of at least 104 unique components (phytocannabinoids) present in the cannabis plant.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has received the most attention given that it is responsible for the intoxicated state or the ‘high’ that recreational users may be after. THC is the main principal psychoactive constituent in the cannabis plant.

• Hemp contains a very low THC concentration of around 3% or less.
• Marijuana has very high THC concentrations of around 15% to 40%.

Other important cannabinoids include cannabicitran (CBT), cannabicyclol (CBL) and cannabigerol (CBG). These are considered to be the main building blocks that make up the chemical composition of a cannabis plant.

Cannabinoids can either be consumed or naturally produced by the body via the endocannabinoid system. They interact with the body’s central regulatory system by managing homeostasis and affecting sleep, mood, and appetite.

Even if our bodies can naturally produce our own endocannabinoids to bind with receptors in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, the use of phytocannabinoids present in commercially produced cannabinoids can help kick-start the body system to heightened CBD benefits.

Extraction of CBD separates it from other varieties of cannabinoids. It represents the 2^nd largest percentage (40%) of the cannabis extracts.

The Two Types of CBD Oil

You can find CBD as both:

• Psychoactive (Marijuana CBD Oil); and
• Non-psychoactive (Hemp CBD Oil).

The one that you commonly see in the market, and the ones reviewed on this site (Organic CBD Oil Review) are extracts from hemp – so are non-psychoactive.

Though more researches are still being conducted to conclude the exact benefits and CBD oil effects, the US Department of Health and Human Services already own a patent with the title ‘Cannabinoids as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants.’

Many people now recognize that non-psychoactive cannabinoids, which includes CBD Oil, are advantageous for therapeutic use because they avoid the side effects that may be present with psychoactive cannabinoid use at large doses.

Why is CBD Oil so Popular?

There has now been a vast amount of research completed on cannabinoids. It is only recently with the legalization of hemp farming in the U.S., that CBD has been thrust into the spotlight of its many acclaimed medicinal benefits and lack of inebriating effects.

A recent review by the World Health Organization suggests that CBD can help reduce seizure attacks with refractory epilepsy experience. It is also reported that CBD has been very helpful for children suffering from Dravet syndrome.

Another recent study published in the ‘Frontiers in Pharmacology’ journal, suggests that CBD may help to reduce anxiety, including reducing the fear of speaking to a large crowd and lowering the intensity of bad memories linked with PTSD. It has likewise shown positive effects against panic disorder, a severe anxiety condition that causes panic attacks. Other investigations have likewise indicated that CBD may also be useful for Schizophrenic patients, though more studies are still underway.

Aside from its use in behavioral and mental health, CBD is also becoming popular in other fields of medicine. It is believed to be effective in lowering blood pressure among healthy people and map help to heal liver damage brought about by heavy drinking.

Now, getting back to the question at hand…

Does CBD Oil Get You High?

CBD is often confused with another variety of cannabinoids – in particular tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This is understandable because, they both come from the cannabis plant (the same plant species that brings us marijuana).

THC is the cannabinoid responsible for marijuana’s psychoactive effects, however, there are only trace concentrations (<0.3%) of THC in CBD Oil and some brands are even THC-free.

As CBD is non-psychoactive, consuming CBD oil will not give you the ‘high’ that recreational users of marijuana seek out…

A review published in 2011, suggests that CBD does not affect several psychological and psychomotor functions. Even smoking CBD from industrial hemp plants will not cause you to get ‘high’ as it only contain very minute amounts of THC (<0.3%).

Is CBD Oil Legal?

The U.S. has approved the use of CBD oils made from ‘industrial hemp' plants (defined as cannabis sativa plants containing 0.3% or less THC).

Unlike marijuana, the federal law approves the cultivation, production, and selling of hemp products through the Farm Bill, which was signed by the President in 2014.

The bill does not broadly legalize all CBD products, but rather those that contain CBD derived from legally produced industrial hemp. These products contain <0.3% THC and can be shipped to most states in the U.S. and even some countries internationally. Some states require a prescription to legally use CBD, while other states allow CBD use for anyone

Does CBD Oil Show Up On Drug Tests?

It cannot be guaranteed if a consumer of CBD products will pass a drug test. The details below are based on a third-party interpretation. It is recommended that all consumers to do their own research before making a decision to use any CBD products. This is very important especially if they must pass a drug test.

Most drug screening tests target delta-9-THC and do not detect CBD and other natural hemp-based components. Non-psychoactive cannabinoids do not usually cross-react with THC in a drug screening test. But, in rare events, those who are taking in high doses of CBD (i.e. 1000-2000 mg) may have a false positive result in urine and blood specimens.

How is Hemp CBD Oil Made? Is it Different from Marijuana CBD oil?

Hemp plants being used for the production of CBD oils are purposely bred to contain high amounts of CBD while keeping THC (the psychoactive component) at very low levels.

You can differentiate hemp CBD oil from marijuana CBD oil by measuring the THC level the oil contains. Marijuana CBD oil contains a high level of THC, approximately 15-40%. On the other hand, hemp CBD oil generally has THC percentages that are two orders of magnitude less (i.e. <0.3%), which is negligible.

THC is highly concentrated in the buds of a cannabis plant, but hemp is bred to grow even with the absence of these buds. Its height has been proven helpful as oils are harvested from the stalks.

CBD oils are extracted using different techniques. One can push carbon dioxide (CO₂) through the plant at high pressures or use a carrier oil or ethanol.

All of these techniques rely on harvesting CBD as pure as possible with zero to a negligible trace of THC. Most of the time, the CO₂ technique is preferred because it is clean and does not leave any nasty residues, which you may get from using carrier oils or ethanol.

The Wrap

With the many advances in the way we understand cannabis and its components, we can be hopeful that the medicinal CBD oil effects can help many people therapeutically and change their lives in a positive way.

In Conclusion: ‘Does CBD Oil get you high?’ – due to the lack of non-psychoactive components in cannabidiol – the answer is ‘No’.

It may, however, provide you with a whole host of important medicinal and therapeutic benefits…

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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Organic CBD Oil Review or its staff.