The popularity of CBD has skyrocketed in recent years as an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs. With the hidden benefits of CBD’s healing properties becoming more and more widely acknowledged, many are wondering: Is CBD psychoactive? To appreciate how this compound is medicinally beneficial, the difference between a CBD high vs THC high needs to be understood.
Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis and the reason for that euphoric, high sensation when consumed. Non-psychoactive CBD does not create the same effects as THC when ingested. This is one of the main reasons why people love CBD. So, how is it possible that CBD oil does not get you high when using it?
Similar Compounds – Very Different Effects
CBD and THC have only a slight difference in their atomic arrangement, but this difference produces substantially different effects on the body, which is why CBD is not psychoactive. Both CBD and THC have the exact same molecular structure and are chemically similar to the body’s own endocannabinoids. This allows both to easily interact with our cannabinoid receptors. These interactions affect the release of neurotransmitters in the brain.
CBD High vs. THC High
THC is the most well-known compound in the cannabis plant, famous for its psychoactive effects when inhaled, eaten, or rubbed on. The compound, THC, can produce that sense of euphoria, or high, by binding with the cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors in the brain.
Back to the original question: Is CBD psychoactive? The answer is no.
CBD’s bond to the CB1 receptors is very weak, if it binds at all. In fact, CBD can even interfere with the binding of THC to the receptors and reduce the psychoactive effects.
In addition to its non-psychoactive effects, it has a number of beneficial side effects. CBD has been praised for treating a wide variety of health issues, including childhood epilepsy syndromes. It works on the central nervous system with THC and other cannabinoids. CBD is most commonly used by adults to aid in pain relief, anxiety treatment, stress relief, and insomnia.
