Woman worker tending to marijuana plants

10 Common Myths About CBD (Will It Get You High?)

Many people have found the benefits of using CBD or cannabidiol. However, there are people that are concerned with using the product for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, many of the reasons behind their avoidance are due to common myths and misconceptions about CBD. This misinformation makes it difficult or even impossible for some individuals to make a truly informed decision. Here are some of the most common myths and misconceptions that have been floated around on social media and other outlets. By bringing out the truth of the subject, individuals can make an informed choice and find an option that works best for them.

Here are the top 10 myths and misconceptions about CBD:

Myth #1: CBD Can Make You High

The most common misconception about CBD is that it could cause a person to get high. The substance that causes the “high” effect is THC. THC is only found in the marijuana plant. Although some CBD products are made from the marijuana plant, many are created from hemp. Hemp is a type of cannabis plant that does not contain significant amounts of THC. As a result, CBD products do NOT cause a person to get “stoned”. For people who are interested in CBD products, check the label — CBD products can’t get you high unless it is labeled as including THC.

Myth #2: CBD is a Cure-All

Although there has been a lot of evidence to suggest that CBD can help alleviate some symptoms of a variety of health conditions, no evidence suggests that it is a cure for anything. Thinking of CBD as a cure or as a cure for everything can be quite dangerous. It could even put some people’s lives at risk when they choose to forgo standard treatments for CBD without the proper guidance of their healthcare provider. It is important to remember that CBD may have benefits for some and not others. And although not every benefit of CBD has been discovered or properly researched, it could be misleading to those who are desperate for a solution for their particular illness.

Myth #3: CBD is Illegal

There have been some major legislation actions in various states that have allowed medical and recreational marijuana usage under strict controls. However, the use of marijuana is still not legal at the federal level. Many forms of CBD come from the hemp plant. Recently, the federal government has made it legal in all states to use hemp products, including CBD products from the hemp plant. This makes it perfectly legal to utilize CBD products from hemp in every state.

Myth #4: CBD is Sedating

Normally, CBD does not cause a sedating effect for those who take the product. In fact, moderate doses of CBD can provide a mild energizing effect. At moderate doses, CBD can help reduce anxiety. This anxiety-reducing effect can help a person sleep better at night. Very high doses of CBD can cause a biphasic effect where sleep may be induced. This makes it important to take moderate doses since doing so provides better results than too much or too little CBD. There are also some products that use cannabis flowers. The CBD-rich flower also contains myrcene. Myrcene is a terpene that has painkilling and sedative properties. The CBD on its own, however, is not a sedative.

Myth #5: All CBD is the Same

As with almost any product on the market, CBD products can vary greatly between companies and products. Different CBD products can be made from hemp or marijuana. Some CBD products are derived from the cannabis flower. Some plants naturally contain more CBD than others. Where the plants are grown can also affect their content and their potency. There are also products that use only single isolated CBD from the plant. Other companies may utilize the entire plant to provide the CBD and other beneficial terpenes in the product. There are also varying concentrations of CBD in every oil, tincture, and even edible. It is important to research a product before purchasing to ensure that it is exactly what is wanted.

Myth #6: Single-compound CBD is Better than Whole Plant CBD

Diagram of CBD Molecular Structure

In single-compound CBD, the manufacturer isolates the CBD and removes the rest of the plant. This allows them to create higher concentrations of CBD in their products with no other cannabinoids or components in their products. Whole-plant CBD utilizes the entire plant to create the product. This allows the terpenes, other cannabinoids, and components to be utilized in the product. Research has shown that adding additional components to the CBD allows patients to use less product to get the same effects as the single-compound CBD. This is because the other components work with the CBD to provide better benefits for symptoms, such as nausea and inflammation reductions.

Myth #7: Higher CBD Doses Work Better than Lower Doses

Single-compound CBD does seem to require higher dosages than whole-plant CBD. However, there is still a specific window in which CBD works better. For whole-plant CBD, that window is wider. This basically means that a person must consume a specific amount to reach the beneficial effects they desire. However, CBD has been shown to have a biphasic effect. This means that having a higher or lower dosage outside of that window could have opposite effects on the patient. A moderate dose is always the ideal amount as it will provide the best benefits. Those benefits will decrease as the dosage is increased outside of the beneficial window.

Myth #8: CBD is Addictive

There is no evidence that CBD is addictive in any way. No one has ever become addicted to CBD. There is no mechanism in the body that creates the addiction process seen in other substances. There is actually evidence that shows that CBD may block the addictive effects of some painkillers by reducing the pleasure the body feels when taking such medications.

Myth #9: CBD is Only for Adults

This misconception comes from those who consider CBD another type of marijuana. However, CBD is very different from marijuana and its component, THC. The two substances have different effects on the body. CBD contains little to no THC. This means there is no chance a child would feel high from this product. There are also certain strains of CBD that have shown great improvements for some children who suffer from specific types of diseases and ailments.

Myth #10: CBD Cannot Show up in a Drug Test

Even CBD derived completely from hemp plants could still have trace amounts of THC present. This amount must be less than 0.3% to be legal in the US. However, this trace amount could show up in a urinalysis. If a person works at a company that performs regular drug testing, it may be a good idea to avoid the whole plant CBD products. Since they utilize the entire plant to make the product, the products may still contain trace amounts of THC. Using single-compound CBD will be less likely to contain the trace amounts.

In Conclusion…

CBD may not be the best product for everyone to use. However, it is better to know the truth about the product before adding it to a daily regimen for health. For those with health issues, it is always a good idea to talk to a primary health care provider before adding any supplements to a diet. This helps to ensure that there are no issues or interactions with other medications that could create more complications.