Cannabidiol possibly has some side effects, but a good thing regarding it is that it cannot leave the user in an intoxicated state. Many marijuana users refer to this state of mind as ‘high’. Many people ask the following questions in regards to the potential CBD side effects.
- Does cannabidiol produce a high?
- Is CBD a habit-forming substance?
When individuals are raising the former question, they are referring to a CBD product, not cannabidiol alone. There can be some reasons why the product is not mind-altering and why the substance’s use does not result in dependence. We will look at the reasons for the former here before getting into the addictive part of the substance.
What Makes A CBD Product Non-Intoxicating
Cannabidiol is rather akin to tetrahydrocannabinol, the other most active phytocannabinoid based in industrial hemp and marijuana. Anyhow, it does not have the mind-altering effect of THC. It would lack the said effect if higher amounts of THC are not added to it, to produce a CBD product.
A form of CBD item with tetrahydrocannabinol is usually described with the phrase ‘full-spectrum’. So, when a full-spectrum CBD item has more amounts of cannabidiol and legally allowed concentrations of THC, then it would have the following effects.
The Entourage Effect
This is the more useful effect of hemp-derived phytocannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes acting jointly. Experts regard it as a more beneficial effect as compared to the situation where the three aforementioned substances work individually.
The Counteractive Effect Of Cannabidiol
The word ‘counteractive’ here refers to CBD’s ability to prevent the mind-altering effect of tetrahydrocannabinol. Here, we will look at why the cannabidiol present in a full-spectrum CBD product has this effect on the user. There is an endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the body, comprised of CB1 receptors and CB2 receptors. The former receptors are also situated in the human brain, plus these can control movement and memories and can bind to tetrahydrocannabinol.
The action of the receptors binding to the phytocannabinoid results in dopamine being released. This alters the user’s perception and leaves them in a psychoactive ‘high’. Cannabidiol cannot attach to the receptors, but it can block these. This action of CBD is what stops the psychotropic effect of tetrahydrocannabinol. This means there is no such thing as a low-THC CBD psychoactive effect.
Why Cannabidiol Lacks A Habit-Forming Effect
Cannabidiol is potentially effective in easing pain, mental depression, anxiety, and a host of other health issues. It can effectively treat an array of health issues, whether these occur as standalone problems or as the complications of other, major conditions.
When some health issues are excessively serious, cannabidiol’s use alone is unlikely to produce the optimal results. Anyhow, it could just aid in reducing the high dosages of standard prescription medications for issues like pain. Whether or not one could use both cannabidiol and a usual painkiller simultaneously depends on many different factors, including their responsiveness to this combined treatment. In some cases, the combined therapy is likely to produce a situation where one of the two treatment options becomes less effective than usual. In medical terminology, this situation is known as drug-drug interaction.
So, if the standard prescription medication and cannabidiol can be used without having to face the aforementioned situation, you might wish to try it. If drug-drug interaction is likely to happen, you might be able to utilize cannabidiol as a treatment option for your issue.
The best thing about cannabidiol may be that it is not habit-forming. This is especially important in the case of pain. When it comes to traditional painkillers, people need to continue to increase their dosage to have the desired effects over time. A possible effect of doing this is that it could just result in the user having to depend on the treatment option. As a result, they will have a hard time coming off their standard pain medication without experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
On the other hand, you will not have to increase the dosage of cannabidiol beyond a level, just to experience the effect you desire from it. Therefore, you will not have to depend on it for a long period. This is one of the reasons why medical experts and researchers see much scope in the use of CBD as an alternative to opioids.
For your information, the term ‘opioid’ refers to a group of drugs, which include painkillers. One needs to have a doctor’s prescription to purchase opioids. You may or may not require the prescription for CBD, depending on where you live in the United States of America. Many doctors and other medical professionals now realize that CBD goods are non-addictive, so they are starting to prescribe these more than before. Anyhow, they still hesitate to approve the combined utilization of CBD products and painkillers, due to their possible interaction.