5 surprising facts about CBD

Think you know everything about CBD? Think again. Here are five truly surprising facts about cannabidiol.

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1/ Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a psychoactive substance as a substance which, when ingested or administered, alters mental processes, such as cognitive functions or affect.

 

CBD is one of the many molecules derived from the hemp plant. Unlike THC*, it does not alter consciousness; in other words, it does not produce a "high".

 

Cannabidiol is therefore not psychotropic, but also, it is not addictive.

 

Finally, according to the WHO [1], CBD does not appear to have potential for abuse, nor to be harmful to health.

 

 

2/ CBD is said to have anti-addiction effects

As mentioned above, CBD does not cause addiction; on the contrary, it seems to have positive effects on addictions such as cannabis, alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs.

 

A 2018 clinical study [2] entitled "Treatment potential of cannabidiol for the prevention of relapse inusa" first observed that CBD exerted relevant beneficial effects against several conditions promoting relapse, such as sensitivity to drug and stress-related contexts, anxiety, and impaired impulse control.

 

A second study conducted in 2017 [3] and including a double-blind experiment, meaning that neither the researchers nor the participants knew what conditions they had been assigned to during the experiment.

 

Here, participants watched videos related to heroin and experienced strong withdrawal symptoms. It was found that subjects taking CBD as part of the treatment showed fewer withdrawal symptoms than those in the placebo group after exposure to drug-related cues. The results also showed a reduction in anxiety, as well as a reduction in heart rate and cortisol, commonly known as the "stress hormone." The effects of CBD were noticeable as early as one hour after administration and were still visible up to one week after the test.

 

 

3/ CBD can counteract the negative effects of THC

According to a 2013 Dutch study [ 4 ], CBD can counteract the negative effects of THC . Cannabis strains with high levels of THC and low levels of CBD may cause heightened psychiatric effects, such as paranoia, anxiety, and addictive behaviors.

 

A recent Canadian study [ 5 ] (2019) administered THC to mice and both CBD and THC to another group . The study found that the mice exhibited anxiety and were more receptive to fear-based learning. The mice that received both CBD and THC showed less anxiety and were less susceptible to fear-based learning.

 

Based on these results, the research team claims that CBD blocks THC's ability to overstimulate the hippocampus (which plays a central role in memory) and thus prevents its negative side effects.

 

An international study from 2013 [6] also concludes in this sense, stating, "Our main findings are that CBD inhibited THC-induced paranoia and inhibited the adverse effects of THC on episodic memory. In addition, CBD reduced the proportion of participants who experienced clinically significant acute THC psychosis."

 

4/ CBD is both relaxing and energizing

CBD appears to have opposite effects on sleep, depending on the dose taken.

 

Two studies by Nicholson and Zuadi [7] et al. showed that a CBD dose of 160 mg/day increased sleep time in people with insomnia. Furthermore, this high dose may also promote mental relaxation, which can reduce chronic stress and more pronounced anxiety symptoms.

 

Conversely, a lower dose, around 15 mg/day, has been shown to increase wakefulness in people suffering from insomnia. Thus, at a low dosage, CBD can provide a feeling of energy and alertness, which can also contribute to promoting a state of calm and mental clarity.

 

 

5/ CBD works best with other cannabinoids

You may have already heard that CBD can improve the results obtained from practicing yoga or meditation? That's not all, according to several studies, including the 2015 one from the Hebrew University of Israel [8], when all the compounds of Hemp are present (terpenes, cannabinoids: CBD, CBN, CBG, THC*, etc.) they act better together than they do in isolation.

 

The effectiveness of cannabinoids is enhanced when they are combined: this synergy is called the "entourage effect".

 

Thus, a high-end CBD flower like Jack Herer contains:

 

• naturally high levels of minor cannabinoids
• Flavonoids such as Kaempferol have anxiolytic effects and stimulate the release of serotonin and dopamine;
• Terpenes such as pinene reduce the production of cortisol, the stress hormone

 

Could represent a natural ally in the case of depressive symptoms.

 

 

* THC is a prohibited substance in France (if the level exceeds 0.2%).