Is CBD psychoactive? Technically, yes, because it acts on the brain. Does CBD get you high? No. It isn't intoxicating, so it won't give you the high that THC does. The confusion comes from three words people use as if they meant the same thing. Here's what each one means, where CBD fits, and what to know about safety, drug tests and addiction.
What CBD is
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of the main cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, alongside THC. It's found in both hemp and marijuana, and it's sold as oils, gummies, capsules, topicals and more. In 2018, the FDA approved a purified CBD medicine for two rare, severe seizure disorders.
Our guide to CBD vs. THC compares the two best-known cannabinoids point by point. Our overview of CBD types explains isolate, broad-spectrum and full-spectrum products, and our CBD research roundup covers what scientists are studying.
Psychoactive, psychotropic, intoxicating: three words people mix up
- Psychoactive describes a substance that works on the brain and can change how it functions, including mood, perception or alertness. Your morning coffee qualifies.
- Psychotropic is close to psychoactive, and the two are often swapped. In medicine, it usually describes drugs that act on mood, thinking or behavior, such as those used in psychiatry.
- Intoxicating means a substance impairs you, changing perception, coordination or judgment in the way people call being high. THC is intoxicating.
Every intoxicating substance is psychoactive, but plenty of psychoactive substances aren't intoxicating. That's the group CBD belongs to.
Is CBD psychoactive? Technically, yes
CBD acts on the nervous system. That purified medicine is used for seizure disorders, which begin in the brain. The FDA also lists drowsiness and changes in mood, such as irritability, among CBD's possible side effects. By the broad definition, that makes CBD psychoactive.
In the narrower sense used in drug policy, the answer flips. In 2018, the World Health Organization's Expert Committee on Drug Dependence reviewed pure CBD and recommended against international control. Its reason: CBD "was not found to have psychoactive properties, and presents no potential for abuse or dependence." Put simply, CBD affects the brain, but not in a way that draws people to it for a high.
Is CBD psychotropic?
By the everyday definition, CBD can fairly be called psychotropic, since it can shift alertness and mood in some people. It just isn't a recreational drug. The WHO review found no evidence of recreational use of pure CBD.
Is CBD intoxicating? No, and its CB1 activity explains why
THC produces its high mainly by switching on CB1 receptors, which are concentrated in the brain. CBD works differently. The WHO review notes that CBD doesn't appear to act directly at CB1 receptors. Instead, it may be a negative allosteric modulator, meaning it can dial down how strongly THC acts there.
Human studies line up with that. In a placebo-controlled study summarized by the WHO, a 600 mg oral dose of CBD didn't differ from placebo on measures of intoxication. By contrast, 10 mg of THC produced intoxication and euphoria.
Is CBD safe? Side effects and drug interactions
The WHO review described CBD as generally well tolerated with a good safety profile. That doesn't mean it has no side effects. The FDA lists these possible effects:
- Drowsiness or sleepiness
- Diarrhea or decreased appetite
- Changes in mood, such as irritability and agitation
- Possible liver injury, which can go unnoticed without monitoring by a healthcare provider
Drug interactions matter too. According to the FDA, taking CBD with other medications may increase or decrease their effects. The WHO review adds that in lab studies, CBD has blocked some of the liver enzymes that break down medicines. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using CBD if you take any medication. The FDA strongly advises people who are pregnant or breastfeeding to avoid CBD, THC and marijuana in any form.
CBD and drug testing
Standard workplace screens target a THC metabolite rather than CBD itself. In a small 2020 study, six healthy volunteers were given 100 mg of pure CBD, either swallowed or vaporized. None of their urine samples came back positive under federal workplace cutoffs. When the same volunteers vaped a CBD-rich cannabis that also held 3.7 mg of THC, some samples did.
The lesson is that THC is what creates drug-test risk, and labels aren't always reliable. The FDA has also found that many CBD products it tested held different amounts of CBD than their labels claimed.
Is CBD addictive?
The evidence points to low risk. In a 2018 trial with people who use drugs recreationally, a 750 mg dose of CBD produced drug-liking scores no different from placebo. Doses of 1,500 and 4,500 mg registered slightly, but far below the anti-anxiety drug alprazolam and the THC-based medicine dronabinol. The WHO review concluded that in humans, CBD shows no effects indicative of abuse or dependence potential.
Full-spectrum CBD and trace THC
Full-spectrum CBD keeps a wider mix of the plant's compounds, and that mix includes a little THC. Broad-spectrum products aim to strip the THC out, while isolates are purified CBD. Our explainer on full-spectrum CBD compares them.
How much that trace THC matters depends on the product and how much you take. The THC adds up with larger or more frequent servings, and it's the part a drug screen can pick up. Since labels can miss the mark, choose products with clear lab results. If testing is a concern, talk with your employer or your doctor first.
Comparing labels in person? The budtenders at our Michigan stores can show you where the THC and CBD numbers appear on a package.
