CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of the most popular compounds found in cannabis and hemp. During the last few decades, its popularity has exploded across a myriad of different markets. These days you can find CBD tinctures at your local pharmacy, the beauty industry has wholly embraced CBD, and manufacturers have even created CBD products for your pets.
The newfound ubiquity of CBD has many people interested in just what it can do, including many who have never in the past considered using a cannabis product. Because of CBD’s close relation to THC, the molecule responsible for producing the “high” associated with cannabis consumption, newcomers to cannabidiol are often curious as to how the compound will make them feel.
If you’re just getting started on your CBD journey, keep reading to learn more about the compound and the effects it can have on your body.
Does CBD Get You High?
One of the most common questions cannabis novices ask is, “Does CBD get you high?”
Generally speaking, CBD is non-intoxicating. What that means is that CBD won’t produce the mind-altering effects that people identify with consuming marijuana. The compound that does create that feeling of being high is called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. The fact that CBD is non-intoxicating plays a large part in certain lawmakers’ willingness to make CBD legal while still advocating against legalizing THC.
CBD Effects
CBD won’t make you feel stoned, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t have any effects on your mind and body. Often when CBD is discussed, the phrase non-psychoactive gets tossed around when really what ought to be said is non-intoxicating.
So is CBD psychoactive? Well, a compound is referred to as psychoactive when it acts on the central nervous system and has an effect on the brain’s function. CBD does interact with the body’s central nervous system by way of the endocannabinoid system, and that does affect brain function, so by definition CBD is psychoactive. To learn more about the science behind this, check out our blog on the endocannabinoid system here.
Benefits of CBD
Now that we’ve covered that CBD does, in fact, have an effect on the brain and nervous system, let’s talk about what those effects can mean practically.
For one, CBD has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving characteristics. So if you’re a person who is constantly struggling with chronic pain, especially chronic pain as a result of inflammation, then CBD can be a great tool for managing discomfort.
These same anti-inflammatory properties also make CBD useful in treating embarrassing acne. CBD may also help to reduce the production of sebum, an oily secretion that can result in blemishes. It’s for these reasons that CBD has become a favored active ingredient in beauty products such as moisturizers, skin serums, and cleansers.
Some research also indicates that CBD may prove to be a useful sleep aid, helping insomnia patients get a good night’s rest without having to resort to pharmaceuticals, which can often be habit-forming and produce unwanted side-effects.
An estimated 17.3 million American adults have dealt with depression at some point in their lives, meaning mental health is a problem that many of us will have to face. Preliminary studies suggest that CBD can be a useful tool in treating both depression and anxiety.
How Does CBD Make You Feel Different?
One way that CBD may make a consumer feel different is through the removal or dulling of another feeling. For example, a chronic pain sufferer who ingests CBD may find that their pain levels are decreased. This relief can sometimes feel foreign when the pain has become a baseline normal. The same can be said for stress or anxiety.
Some consumers describe CBD as creating a new sensation in the body and mind. One recurring theme in these anecdotes is a noticeable sense of relaxation, both physically and mentally. Others describe CBD as giving them a sense of focus and clarity.
The effects of CBD can vary based on what terpenes and other cannabinoids are present in your product. This phenomenon is known as the entourage effect.
We offer three different proprietary blends of CBD-rich hemp flower for use with our elon® device. Stelo™ Uplift is an energizing mix of terpenes and cannabinoids that’s perfect for daytime use, stelo™ Relax is a calming combination that’s ideal for unwinding and quieting down, and stelo™ Relief is great to help the day's problems slip away.
Try out two of the blends when you order a Starter Bundle, and see for yourself how sublime CBD can feel!
