What Do You Feel When You Take CBD?

What Do You Feel When You Take CBD?

One of the most common concerns among would-be cannabis users is how extracts from the herb make them feel. Over the past few years, cannabis has received widespread popularity for its ability to treat a wide range of medical conditions. Regardless, the plant remains illegal in various countries around the world, primarily due to its psychoactive effects. 

But as you shall find, not all cannabis extracts contain psychoactive properties. Many of the compounds in the plant are more therapeutic than they are psychotropic. Cannabidiol (CBD) is considered the most popular non-psychoactive compound of cannabis. 

Since CBD doesn’t cause any euphoria or intoxication, you could be wondering how consuming this substance makes you feel. Read on for more insights on cannabidiol and its overall effects.

How Does CBD Make You Feel?

CBD is best known for its calming and sedating effects. So, it generally makes you feel relaxed and mellow. 

The calming effects of CBD are often contrasted with the stimulating effects of psychoactive compounds of cannabis, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). 

Why Doesn’t CBD Make You High? 

Cannabidiol, like all other compounds of the cannabis plant, interacts with your body through the endocannabinoid system

The endocannabinoid system is a complex cell-signalling system found in all animals, whose core function is regulating homeostatic balance. It comprises three main components, including endocannabinoids, endocannabinoid receptors, and certain chemicals that affect how the endocannabinoids bind to endocannabinoid receptors. 

The ability to experience a high depends on the kinds of endocannabinoid receptors that a substance interacts with. The closer those receptors are to your brain and central nervous system, the more likely it is for the substance to alter your state of mind. 

CBD interacts with CB2 receptors, which are expressed throughout the body’s peripheral organs and tissues. That’s in contrast to psychotropic compounds like THC that bind to CB1 receptors, which are prevalent around the brain and central nervous system. It is why taking CBD products like CBD Oil gummies, CBD gummies are a safer option without having to experience psychoactive effects.

Are All CBD-based Products Non-psychoactive?

We’ve already mentioned that cannabidiol is non-psychoactive. But while CBD isn’t psychoactive or intoxicating on its own, the same cannot always be said about the other ingredients in a CBD-based product. 

As you shall find, CBD products fall under three main categories, depending on the cannabinoids that they contain. 

We have CBD isolates, which are products that contain no other compound except CBD. Such products are ideal for people who simply want to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of CBD. However, as isolates contain reasonably high concentrations of CBD, they often present risks of overdose. And if the isolates are formulated from hemp-derived CBD, they could leave you with the bitter hemp aftertaste. 

The next category of CBD products is known as broad-spectrum CBD. Broad-spectrum products contain CBD and several other compounds, except the mind-altering THC. If you’re looking to enjoy the medicinal benefits of CBD as well as other cannabinoids and terpenes without getting high, then broad-spectrum CBD edibles are your best bet. 

Lastly, we have full-spectrum CBD products, which feature CBD, THC, and as many other compounds as possible. Full-spectrum CBD products are excellent for seasoned cannabis users who are already acquainted with the plant’s euphoric effects. The cannabinoids and terpenes in full-spectrum CBD products work synergistically to produce compounded therapeutic effects known as the entourage effect

 

How Fast Does CBD Enter My System And How Long Does It Stay There?

The time it takes for CBD to take effect and how long those effects last depends on various factors. Some of those factors include your age, metabolic rate, the strength of CBD in a substance, and method of delivery. 

  • Age

As you might expect, it takes a relatively shorter duration for CBD to take effect in children compared to adults. The same applies to people with smaller or shorter bodies. 

  • Metabolic rate

The higher the metabolic rate, the shorter the time it takes for CBD to take effect. On the flip side, the effects of CBD are relatively short-lasting for people with a high metabolism.

  • Strength of CBD

CBD products come with varying strengths. The higher the concentration of cannabidiol in a product, the faster the onset time. However, a product with low CBD concentration might also take effect much faster and last in your system longer if you up your dose.

  • Delivery method

There are numerous ways to consume CBD, including vaping CBD-based e-juices, smoking hemp flower, oral administration of tinctures, CBD edibles, encapsulated CBD, and CBD-enriched topicals. The first three methods can take effect in as little as 5 to 30 minutes. However, their effects wear off much faster. Edibles may take up to 2 hours to deliver CBD to your system. But it’s worth the wait, as those effects last over a couple more hours. That’s because not all the CBD is absorbed from your stomach at once.

CBD causes calming and relaxing effects. It doesn’t induce euphoria. However, certain CBD products like full-spectrum CBD might contain psychoactive properties, thanks to the inclusion of THC in such products. Also, remember that while CBD generally won’t make you high, that’s not enough justification to overdose the substance. Research suggests that CBD is counterproductive at very high doses. Plus, high doses could present side effects like fatigue, dry mouth, etc.