Will CBD Oil Make You Feel High?

With all of the recent hype about CBD (short for cannabidiol), you might be wondering what the big deal is. Many people assume CBD gets you high. And if it doesn’t get you high, then what does it do?

Ongoing research suggests that CBD offers many wellness benefits. But if you’re looking to CBD as a means to get high, you’re out of luck.

You may, however, find a path to better overall health and well-being. Let’s explore what CBD does and how it may make you feel.

Can you get high from CBD oil?

Many people assume CBD causes the same effects as marijuana, because both are derived from cannabis plants. However, CBD alone is non-intoxicating. It’s a cannabinoid that is non-psychoactive, so it won’t get you high. Under U.S. federal law, CBD oil can contain no more than 0.3 percent of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical that makes you feel “high.”

Penguin’s CBD products have absolutely no THC, and therefore there is nothing in any of our products that would impact your cognitive abilities or keep you from functioning at your best.

It’s also important to note that not feeling high doesn’t mean that it’s not working. Some people describe the effects of CBD as being subtle, but giving them a feeling of wellness and calm.

How will CBD make me feel?

Taking too little CBD may have little to no effect on you. Additionally, the way it’s administered -- as a cream, oil, capsule or sublingually (under the tongue) -- can change how your body absorbs it and how it makes you feel.

Many consumers report positive effects after taking CBD, including feeling relaxed and calm. Some people describe the sensation of taking CBD as being akin to having a burden lifted from their shoulders, as if they had been carrying around a weight for so long that they forgot how heavy it was.

However, while a few people may get a strong feeling or effect from using CBD products, not all people get a definite result. It’s more likely that you’ll experience a sense of calm or relaxation. It also tends to work slowly and subtly.

Because some people use CBD to help them relax better at night, maybe you were expecting a hazy, nodding-off feeling similar to taking melatonin. But many people report that CBD simply relaxes the body, allowing tension to float away. You may notice that your heart stops pounding and you feel more at ease.

If using it before bed, you may be able to rest more quietly, without tossing or turning. Your mind will stop racing and you’ll be able to let go of the issues you were grappling with during the day.

Other people may find that their worries cause them to be less productive during the day. They may find they are constantly distracted by the onslaught of demands and information, and this ultimately impedes them from getting their work done.

CBD may help you feel calmer, and thus more focused on the task at hand, rather than constantly trying to multitask. With your worries eased, you may feel less frazzled and gain a renewed sense of calm, clarity and purpose.

Each person will experience the effects of CBD a little differently. How CBD affects you will depend on the dose and frequency with which you take CBD, your diet and what you have eaten before you take CBD, as well as your metabolism, weight and any other medical conditions you have.

How does CBD differ from marijuana?

There’s a lot of confusion over the differences between marijuana and CBD. The main difference starts with the chemical compositions of these substances and the effects they have on the mind and body. Marijuana is rich in THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component that makes you feel high. THC can account for as much as 40 percent of the total cannabinoid content.

Hemp is more abundant in CBD, and generally contains only 0.3 percent THC or less. CBD oils, which are processed from the hemp plant, are legal to possess under federal law as long as they contain no more than 0.3 percent THC. CBD is a nonintoxicating compound that is found in cannabis plants. Unlike marijuana, CBD doesn’t seem to have addictive qualities, according to the World Health Organization.

It’s important to note that there are different processes for producing CBD, which can further reduce the amount of THC found in some CBD products.

Penguin CBD uses broad-spectrum oils that completely remove all THC from our products while retaining the rest of the plant’s terpenes and natural compounds. This allows you to enjoy the “entourage effect,” or the full therapeutic benefit of the hemp plant, while avoiding the potential risks of THC.

People who use marijuana may experience a feeling of elation (a high) and giddiness, and the drug may also change how you perceive certain things. Colors and sounds may be altered, and emotions may be heightened. Some people report experiencing feelings of paranoia.

However, CBD is known to have the opposite effect. For example, one study found that while THC can increase anxiety, CBD seems to do the exact opposite and induce a state of calm.

Another issue is the legality of these compounds. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the production and sale of hemp and its extracts, including CBD, as long as it doesn’t contain more than 0.3 percent THC.

If it doesn’t get you high, how does CBD work?

There is growing interest and excitement in CBD as an effective management tool to help many people deal with different conditions. That’s due in part to the way CBD works. Scientists believe that CBD sends signals to the endocannabinoid system and serotonin receptors throughout the body, providing relief to its various systems as a result.

There’s no shortage of anecdotal reports that CBD helps decrease people’s physical discomfort. However, it should be noted that many medical researchers say more high-quality, controlled human studies are needed in this area.

Where does CBD stand legally?

Yes, CBD is legal. But it’s also complicated. CBD has become readily obtainable in most parts of the United States after the 2018 Farm Bill removed legal restrictions on CBD, provided it is derived from hemp plants with a THC level of 0.3 percent or less.

The Farm Bill also created regulations for hemp farmers, which means that “any cannabinoid -- a set of chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant -- that is derived from hemp will be legal, if and only if that hemp is produced in a manner consistent with the Farm Bill, associated federal regulations, association state regulations, and by a licensed grower," according to the Brookings Institute, a nonprofit public policy organization.

Because CBD is currently unregulated, it’s important to shop from reputable CBD brands that offer third-party laboratory results. Penguin works with one of the country’s leading independent third-party labs to make sure our products are free of harmful chemicals and have absolutely no THC in them. When you buy CBD oil from us, you can rest assured that it’s absolutely legal and safe to consume.

Is CBD safe to take?

Yes, CBD is considered safe. Individuals may experience CBD differently, but most people tolerate CBD very well and have few, if any, side effects. The side effects of CBD are rare and may include nausea, fatigue and irritability.

CBD may also interact with some types of medications, so it’s important to talk to your doctor before you start taking CBD. If you currently take a pharmaceutical drug that is processed by the cytochrome P450 enzyme (these medications often come with a warning that they should not be consumed with grapefruit), CBD may interfere with your body’s ability to process it.

It should be noted that much of the research on CBD is in the early stages, and scientists still don’t know a lot about it.

There’s a growing body of evidence suggesting that CBD can treat a variety of different illnesses and chronic conditions, but scientific research has been somewhat slowed in the United States by federal restrictions. Regardless, many researchers say that CBD shows a lot of promise.