If you’re new to CBD, you may be confused about the difference between CBD and other products from the cannabis plant which can get you high.
And to add to the confusion, even some CBD products CAN get you high.
Worry not my friend…
In this
Let’s get started…
What is CBD?
CBD is derived from the stalks and leaves of the cannabis and hemp plants.
However, most CBD products come from hemp since hemp is specifically grown to contain little to no THC.
The cannabis plants (the ones that marijuana buds come from) on the other hand are grown to maximize the THC content.
So while CBD CAN come from cannabis plants, it’s usually NOT taken from them.
Since these plants have higher THC, manufacturers and growers will generally use the THC from stalks and leaves to create edible products which get you high.
Industrial hemp
Since the plants are bred to contain little to no THC, it cuts down on the need for THC extraction and therefore doesn’t require the solvents or extra processing to separate the two from each other.
There’s also a big difference in what the two chemicals are used for. THC is typically used to get a buzz and relax.
CBD, on the other hand, is used by many people who don’t enjoy getting buzzed and just want to relax.
This could be a soccer mom who’s totally stressed out or a grandpa with arthritis pain and everyone in between.
Some of the most common things CBD oil is used for include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Chronic pain
- Skin conditions
- Cancer and tumors
- Epilepsy
- And for pets with the same conditions
Those are just a few of the things CBD’s used for. CBD is also often taken as a general health supplement since it has so many benefits.
What does CBD Do?
CBD interacts with your body’s natural endocannabinoid systems which regulate appetite, mood, digestion, inflammation and many other important bodily functions (source).
It’s a highly important system for regulating homeostasis in your body.
This is one of the reasons CBD can wake you up if you’re tired during the day while calming you down and making you sleepy at the end of the night.
Essentially, CBD helps your body achieve what it wants to achieve, naturally.
CBD has also been used for kids with epilepsy to help treat seizures and had impressive results.
Many of these kids were taking very high doses of powerful drugs with no luck before taking CBD.
Some of these kids were having more than 100+ seizures a month and CBD took them down to less than a handful.
So why isn’t CBD fully legal and sold in every wellness store?
Since marijuana is federally illegal, and CBD comes from the same species of plant, CBD was grouped in with the same class as marijuana is therefore not legal in every state.
It’s an old law that needs to be updated but it hasn’t been yet.
However, CBD from hemp which contains 0% THC is legal in all states. CBD containing up to 0.3% THC is legal in 46 of the 50 states.
Our CBD products contain 0% THC, are legal in all 50 states, and produce no high feelings.
There are also CBD oil products with varying dilutions of CBD to THC.
For example, if you walk into a cannabis dispensary you may see bottles of CBD that say things like:
- 1:1 CBD:THC
- 2:1 CBD:THC
- 4:1 CBD:THC
- 8:1 CBD:THC
- 13:1 CBD:THC
- 18:1 CBD:THC
- 28:1 CBD:THC
The higher the THC ratio, the more likely you are to get high from the product.
For example, anything from the 1:1 THC
What does CBD oil feel like?
CBD doesn’t get you high so you’re probably wondering how you’ll know when its working. After taking CBD, you’ll feel a distinct relaxing feeling.
Now, if you’re just starting with CBD, you should start with a small amount (like 5 mg) and then work your way up each day until you’re getting relief.
For example, if you’re taking CBD for anxiety, you’ll start at 5 mg. Then you’ll increase it daily until your anxiety is manageable or gone entirely.
Another factor that affects how you feel with CBD is how it’s consumed.
CBD vape products allow you to feel the effects of CBD faster but often you won’t get as much CBD from a vape.
You may get a few milligrams which will kick in fast (5-10 minutes) and wear off within 2-3 hours.
Capsules and tinctures on the other hand take longer to kick in (30-60 minutes) but last up to 6-8 hours and allow you to take higher doses of CBD.
If you don’t feel relaxed or relieved, you’ve almost definitely taken too little.
It’s important that you play with the amount of CBD you’re taking and take it consistently.
Once you’ve found your ideal dose, continue taking it each day. CBD builds up in your system over time and reaches its maximum effective levels in about 2-4 weeks.
CBD vs THC
What’s the difference between CBD and THC?
THC is found in marijuana buds or “flowers”, gummies, edibles, candies, vape pens, etc.
CBD on the other hand is found in gummies and edibles as well but also tinctures, capsules, and more health food style supplements.
There’s also a difference between where you get THC and CBD.
You can’t order THC online for example.
You can have it delivered to your house by a live person if you live somewhere that it’s legal but you can’t just order it and have it shipped to you.
CBD on the other hand can be purchased online (just look at our store) as long as it doesn’t contain THC.
These two chemical compounds also act differently on your body.
THC produces a “high” feeling which can be uplifting or sedating. It’s not great for those who just want a supplement to help them relax and improve productivity.
CBD produces no high feelings or head changes.
It’s used by small children all the way to elderly individuals. It won’t interfere with your thinking, cause you to get a DUI, and it helps with productivity.
Those are just a few of the primary differences between THC and CBD.
If you want to learn more about the differences between hemp and marijuana – check out this post: Hemp vs Marijuana | Their Differences & All You Need To Know
Full Spectrum vs cbd isolate
Another question we often hear is “should I get full spectrum or CBD isolate?”
The answer is that it depends and nobody’s totally sure yet.
Here’s the difference between the two and the science we currently have…
Full Spectrum:
This form of CBD has all the cannabinoids that are present in the hemp plant (except THC).
This includes all phytonutrients and terpenes which are thought to work together to produce better results. After all, would they be in the plant if they weren’t supposed to work together?
It’s also been shown that full spectrum CBD is more effective than isolate even when taken in higher doses (source).
Isolate tends to work on a “bell curve” meaning its effects diminish when given in higher doses.
With that said, I’m inclined to say
Isolate:
CBD isolate has had all of the other plant compounds removed except for CBD. This type of CBD tends to taste better when its unflavored since it’s not quite as earthy as a full spectrum.
What ingredients should be in your cbd oil?
When choosing a CBD oil, I recommend you stay away from anything with vegetable glycerine and other fillers that tend to indicate an inferior product.
When it comes to our PCR CBD oil
Its pure and has only one ingredient – which is the one you want.
Our primary tinctures are also full spectrum which means they contain all cannabinoids (except THC). They’re unflavored though so they do have an earthy taste.
If you mix it in juice, smoothies or food though you can’t even taste it.
We also have Blackhawk CBD Isolate which is peppermint flavored and more palatable if you prefer to go that route. They’re both pure CBD hemp oil with no other ingredients except the flavoring if you choose our flavored products.
Some CBD oils will contain coconut or MCT oil, olive oil, or other natural food oils which are also okay.
Your CBD oil should also clearly state how many milligrams of CBD is contained in the bottle and in each serving size.
It may say “XXX milligrams of CBD per serving” or “XXX milligrams of Phyto-Cannabinoid Hemp Oil per serving”. They both mean the same thing.
Summary
In closing, CBD that’s pure CBD oil won’t get you high.
There are many CBD products which are mixed with THC that can produce a high but as long as you stick with pure CBD, you’ll never get high.
CBD like this is ideal for those who like to stay on their game but need relief from pain, anxiety, stress and other similar conditions.
If you have questions or you’re unsure, feel free to drop us a line or comment and we’ll answer your questions.
