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With the growing widespread popularity of hemp-derived CBD products, there is a ton of misinformation floating around about how CBD and other cannabinoids actually work. The media (and 99% of CBD companies) love to use the buzzwords “CBD is not psychoactive”. This is perhaps the most over-used (and misinformed) statement in the entire industry. CBD is non-intoxicating, but it 100% IS psychoactive, and we are here to help you understand why.
Date Published
10.25.22
Journal Author
Al Puig & Max Hofert
Hemp CBD Actually is Psychoactive
Intro
With the growing widespread popularity of hemp-derived CBD products, there is a ton of misinformation floating around about how CBD and other cannabinoids actually work. The media (and 99% of CBD companies) love to use the buzzwords “CBD is not psychoactive”. This is perhaps the most over-used (and misinformed) statement in the entire industry. CBD is non-intoxicating, but it 100% IS psychoactive, and we are here to help you understand why.
The Science
When a chemical is classified as psychoactive it acts mostly on the central nervous system and even affects brain function. The result is changes in perception, mood, consciousness, and behavior. After all, that’s the reason certain substances have higher therapeutic qualities, right?
In contrast to THC, CBD does not have an intoxicating effect and does not alter cognitive abilities. But CBD does cross the blood-brain barrier and directly engages the central nervous system. When taken sublingually in tincture form, CBD usually takes about 15 minutes to begin working throughout the body, and it typically lasts 4-6 hours. When CBD is taken in capsule form, it can take roughly 30 minutes to an hour to kick in, and can last between 6-8 hours depending on the dosage. In contrast to the majority of CBD companies out there, you can actually feel our products working in your body. You won’t be hung out to dry in the dreaded CBD Purgatory.
As discussed in a previous Cannabis 101 - the cannabis plant contains dozens of cannabinoids that bind with endocannabinoid receptors. This array of therapeutic cannabinoids is where the term “full spectrum” comes from. CBD products that are labeled “THC-free” or “CBD isolate” do not contain the highly beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes that full spectrum products contain. Coincidentally, these products are usually the ones that claim that CBD is not psychoactive. Hmmm! The two primary receptors for cannabinoids are called the CB1 and CB2. The CB1 receptors are located primarily in the brain and central nervous system. Oddly, CBD has little binding affinity for CB1 and CB2 receptors, but it is capable of antagonizing them in the presence of THC. Yet again, another reason THC-free CBD products are missing the mark and under delivering when it comes to effectiveness.
Compared to THC, CBD has a more mild modulating effect on the endocannabinoid receptors. CBD acts like a control valve that can amplify or decrease the receptor’s
ability to transmit signals, similar to a dimmer switch.
Cannabinoids (both plant-derived and endogenous) act simultaneously on multiple pain targets within the peripheral and central nervous system. Furthermore, CBD modulates other receptors in the body, including those involved with serotonin, which affects mood, and opioid receptors, which provide pain relief. It is thought that CBD may reduce pain by mimicking endorphins without suppressing them. Science is cool, huh?
When a chemical is classified as psychoactive it acts mostly on the central nervous system and even affects brain function. The result is changes in perception, mood, consciousness, and behavior. After all, that’s the reason certain substances have higher therapeutic qualities, right?
In contrast to THC, CBD does not have an intoxicating effect and does not alter cognitive abilities. But CBD does cross the blood-brain barrier and directly engages the central nervous system. When taken sublingually in tincture form, CBD usually takes about 15 minutes to begin working throughout the body, and it typically lasts 4-6 hours. When CBD is taken in capsule form, it can take roughly 30 minutes to an hour to kick in, and can last between 6-8 hours depending on the dosage. In contrast to the majority of CBD companies out there, you can actually feel our products working in your body. You won’t be hung out to dry in the dreaded CBD Purgatory.
As discussed in a previous Cannabis 101 - the cannabis plant contains dozens of cannabinoids that bind with endocannabinoid receptors. This array of therapeutic cannabinoids is where the term “full spectrum” comes from. CBD products that are labeled “THC-free” or “CBD isolate” do not contain the highly beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes that full spectrum products contain. Coincidentally, these products are usually the ones that claim that CBD is not psychoactive. Hmmm! The two primary receptors for cannabinoids are called the CB1 and CB2. The CB1 receptors are located primarily in the brain and central nervous system. Oddly, CBD has little binding affinity for CB1 and CB2 receptors, but it is capable of antagonizing them in the presence of THC. Yet again, another reason THC-free CBD products are missing the mark and under delivering when it comes to effectiveness.
Compared to THC, CBD has a more mild modulating effect on the endocannabinoid receptors. CBD acts like a control valve that can amplify or decrease the receptor’s
ability to transmit signals, similar to a dimmer switch.
Cannabinoids (both plant-derived and endogenous) act simultaneously on multiple pain targets within the peripheral and central nervous system. Furthermore, CBD modulates other receptors in the body, including those involved with serotonin, which affects mood, and opioid receptors, which provide pain relief. It is thought that CBD may reduce pain by mimicking endorphins without suppressing them. Science is cool, huh?
Conclusion
It’s important to view these cannabinoids as compounds that piggyback one another, rather than one versus the other - like CBD vs THC. THC and CBD work in tandem with one another to provide synergistic therapeutic effects. CBD modulates the CB1 receptor only in the presence of THC or another cannabinoid that also binds to the receptor.
This “entourage effect” reiterates our point that pure CBD without THC is not as effective therapeutically as CBD in the presence of THC. There’s no doubt that CBD is certainly a mood-altering substance. After all, that’s why we love it, right!?
CBD has been shown to have moderating effects on anxiety, psychosis, depression, pain, appetite, memory, seizures and other brain activity. In addition, many report outstanding results when taking CBD for inflammation. CBD does not result in intoxication, but to say that it is “non-psychoactive” is scientifically inaccurate and misleading to the patient and consumer.
It’s important to view these cannabinoids as compounds that piggyback one another, rather than one versus the other - like CBD vs THC. THC and CBD work in tandem with one another to provide synergistic therapeutic effects. CBD modulates the CB1 receptor only in the presence of THC or another cannabinoid that also binds to the receptor.
This “entourage effect” reiterates our point that pure CBD without THC is not as effective therapeutically as CBD in the presence of THC. There’s no doubt that CBD is certainly a mood-altering substance. After all, that’s why we love it, right!?
CBD has been shown to have moderating effects on anxiety, psychosis, depression, pain, appetite, memory, seizures and other brain activity. In addition, many report outstanding results when taking CBD for inflammation. CBD does not result in intoxication, but to say that it is “non-psychoactive” is scientifically inaccurate and misleading to the patient and consumer.