There is a lot of information available regarding CBD products, however much of it is contradictory. It can leave you feeling overwhelmed or more confused than when you started.
Much of the disagreement comes over CBD’s ability to make you feel high. People confuse THC and CBD products. Yes, they both come from the same plant. However, their origins are where most of the similarities end.
In this blog post, we set the record straight once and for all. We explain what CBD is, the manufacturing process, and how CBD makes you feel.
If you still have questions after this, please reach out to the SUPA Naturals team. We are here to support you through every phase of your CBD journey, from deciding if it’s the best supplement for you to experiencing a happy, healthy future.
CBD is short for cannabidiol. It is a non-intoxicating and non-psychoactive compound derived from cannabis plants.
Your body naturally produces cannabinoids as part of the endocannabinoid system. This system sends and receives cannabinoids throughout the body. When you use a CBD product, you support your hard-working endocannabinoid system to reduce pain and inflammation or relax the body.
The other popular cannabis-based compound is Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. THC affects the neurotransmitters in your brain by attaching to the CB1 receptor. When THC lodges itself in your brain, it can affect your memory, ability to focus, sense of time, emotions, and movement patterns.
Most CBD products come from the hemp plant. Hemp plants are primarily CBD. On the other hand, marijuana plants are generally around 40% THC. Hemp plants have no more than 0.3% THC.
This difference in the way CBD and THC work and the plants they come from explains why they feel dramatically different within the body.
To make a CBD product, manufacturers take parts of the hemp plant and process them into CBD oil. CBD oil can be either full spectrum or broad spectrum. The effects and results are similar, but each process has notable differences from the other.
Full-spectrum CBD includes most of the compounds from the hemp plant, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and up to 0.3% THC. Manufacturers do not remove any part of the plant during production.
Early research shows that CBD works best when terpenes, flavonoids, and THC are present. The benefits of this powerhouse combination of compounds are called the entourage effect. Many experts consider full-spectrum CBD products to be the most potent and best available.
During broad-spectrum CBD processing, manufacturers further reduce the presence of THC in the compound. Instead of allowing up to 0.3%, they remove all THC from the final product completely. The CBD and other beneficial parts of the hemp plant remain.
Some researchers think that you still experience the plant’s entourage without any THC in your system. However, we need more information to know for sure if this is true.
When possible, choose full-spectrum CBD products. If your job requires drug tests, then broad-spectrum oils, edibles, or lotions might be better options.
The answer to that common question is a resounding, “No!” No product sold legally in the United States as a CBD supplement will make you feel any of the intoxicating effects known to come from THC.
In the United States, a product sold and advertised as CBD can only have 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Because your CBD product is at least 99.7% CBD, you will only experience the non-intoxicating, non-psychoactive properties of cannabidiol. There is not enough THC for even the most sensitive person to feel its effects.
Instead of experiencing any high that might come from THC products, most CBD users report opposite sensations. Many people describe a sense of calm or having an overall feeling of health and wellness.
Keep in mind you do not have to get high to experience the health benefits of the cannabis plant. The terpenes, flavonoids, and CBD make a healthy combination that helps users to feel better.
CBD takes time to build up in the system and create results. You may feel nothing for the first few weeks or months that you use CBD products regularly. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t working!
The benefits might be subtle and grow over time. Sometimes, people don’t even notice how much their reality changes until they stop taking CBD and return to their original condition, or someone else points it out to them.
Most people report at least one of the following positive side effects when taking CBD supplements regularly.
Individuals often feel lighter, like a weight has been lifted off of their shoulders, and they feel freer. This sensation is often the result of reduced anxieties and stress.
Most research shows that CBD takes the edge off of anxiety and stress. When you are not worried about your daily life, it’s easier to relax.
Pain relief is a common reason people turn to CBD products. If you have arthritis, chronic diseases, or gastrointestinal issues, relief can be hard to find. High-quality CBD can help to reduce or eliminate symptoms of these common conditions.
When they take their supplements regularly, most CBD consumers sleep better at night. They find it easier to stop their mind from racing while they fall asleep. Once in dreamland, they find themselves tossing and turning less than before.
When CBD products calm your mind, it helps to prevent overwhelming feelings and information overload. When you are more focused, it’s easier to get your work done more efficiently without trying to multitask or becoming distracted quickly.
Like chronic pain diseases, patients with neurological disorders like Epilepsy, Lupus, and Multiple Sclerosis often struggle to find relief. CBD products seem to reduce spasticity in MS patients, seizures in those with Epilepsy, and neuropathy in people who have Lupus.
Most people experience zero adverse side effects with regular CBD use. However, as with most supplements, negative experiences are possible.
For some people, these undesirable side effects will disappear the longer you use a CBD product. However, if they continue or become worse, you should stop using the supplement and talk to your doctor.
CBD causes your body to relax and minimizes the fight or flight response in your body. If you’re used to living on elevated adrenaline levels or increased cortisol, a reduction may make you unable to stay awake. Your body forgets how to exist without being extremely stressed.
With time, your body will adjust to its new, more relaxed existence. As a result, you likely won’t feel the need to sleep every time you take CBD products.
Steroids, antihistamines, antibiotics, antidepressants, beta-blockers, NSAIDs, and blood thinners can cause dangerous interactions with CBD products. You should not use CBD if you’re taking any of these medicines.
You should never start a supplement regimen without first discussing the decision with your doctor. These known interactions make it even more important to talk to your doctor before beginning the regular use of CBD products.
Some people wonder, if CBD doesn’t make you feel high, then why use it? As we’ve shared throughout this article, you receive all of the beneficial medicine from the hemp plant when you use CBD products. You’re likely to feel more relaxed, less stressed, and to sleep better.
To get more technical, CBD works with your endocannabinoid system and the serotonin receptors in your body. Your endocannabinoid system controls your immune system, ability to remember information, metabolism and appetite, stress and moods, how you handle pain, and even your reproduction. Serotonin regulates your understanding and learning of facts, mood, and other body processes like vomiting.
Anecdotal evidence and preliminary studies indicate that more people have issues with these systems than we realize. Even people who appear healthy and highly functioning can have underlying problems with their endocannabinoid system or serotonin levels. That’s part of why almost everyone can improve their life by using CBD products.
Scientific research on CBD, its effectiveness, and how it works remains in its early phases. We still need large-scale, controlled human studies to confirm this anecdotal data and our informed assumptions further. We expect that with these research projects, we’ll discover even more benefits to CBD than those we’ve already begun to recognize.
CBD is completely legal thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill that removed restrictions on hemp plants with less than 0.3% THC. Before 2018, there was no differentiation between hemp cannabis plants, with almost no THC, and marijuana cannabis plants, with nearly half THC. The farm bill loosened restrictions on the hemp plants and legally separated the two versions of the plant.
Marijuana plants remain illegal at the federal level. Even though some states legalized the growth and use of THC-based substances, they remain classified as a Schedule I substance by the United States.
Schedule I substances have no accepted medical uses and a high potential for abuse. Hemp-based CBD is a Schedule V drug. It is not restricted, but sellers must keep their invoices for two years.
The hemp growing and CBD production industries remain highly regulated by the federal government. There remain many grey areas surrounding some of the legal rules, sourcing for scientific research, and governmental oversights. However, as a consumer, you are safe to purchase and use CBD products. Only manufacturers are at risk of breaking the law.
Enough research exists to say confidently that CBD itself is an incredibly safe compound. Most people experience no negative repercussions of CBD use. Those who do experience side effects to CBD products have the short-term nausea, fatigue, and irritability described above.
CBD is contraindicated for some diseases because it can interact with medications. We recommend always checking with your doctor before beginning or altering your CBD regimen.
The primary danger of using CBD comes from untested or contaminated products. Manufacturers might use harmful chemicals to process the plant. Sometimes, a pesticide or contaminant passes from the growing field to the processing plant. When you ingest these disease-causing chemicals, you are at risk of long-term health issues or even death.
Third-party testing reduces the risk of illness or death from contaminated CBD products. The outside lab prevents these issues by checking every single batch of a product for unhealthy or unintended compounds. This process protects both you as the consumer and also prevents the manufacturer from causing unnecessary harm to others.
When you choose your CBD products, be sure to buy only high-quality, third-party tested CBD products like those we create at SUPA Naturals. This decision guarantees your safety and increases the likelihood of improving your life with CBD.
At SUPA Naturals, our mission is to help you live a SUPA life. We truly believe that high-quality, high-potency CBD products have the potential to elevate your well-being.
Susan is living proof of a SUPA life. CBD helped her get her Lyme disease and co-infections under control. After years of suffering, she is living her best life as a fun-loving mother, friend, and partner. Now, Susan and her husband, Paul, are increasing access to quality CBD products so that others can experience the same life-changing healing.
Don’t forget, scientists are in the early stages of CBD research. It is not an FDA approved treatment for any disease. However, anecdotal evidence and preliminary studies indicate the existence of healing properties. We advise you to make all supplement decisions with your doctor.
When living with chronic pain, stress, or disease, it can be easy to lose hope. We’re here to remind you that a different future is possible and to provide tools that might help along the way. If you have more questions about how CBD makes you feel or which product is best for you, leave us a comment below or send us an email.
Want to find out which CBD product is best for you? Take our SUPA CBD Quiz! Dismiss