Is CBD Really a Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoid?
Marijuana leaves with cbd thc chemical structure
Our attempts to draw a distinction between CBD and THC have led us to the conclusion that THC is psychoactive while CBD is not. This distinction is widely spread across the internet. But is it true? Is CBD really non-psychoactive? The answer is rooted in how you choose to define ‘psychoactive’.
Before getting to that definition, it is fair to say that distinguishing between the two cannabinoids based on their psychoactive properties was practiced before medical science made a concerted effort to truly understand cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system. Based on what we now know, distinguishing between CBD and THC based on their psychoactive properties seems a bit simplistic.
What Psychoactive Means
The root of the misunderstanding is a general misunderstanding of what ‘psychoactive’ means. According to the dictionary definition, a psychoactive drug is one that affects the mind. That’s it; it is just that simple. We run into trouble because we assume psychoactive properties relate only to euphoric feelings, hallucinations, flashbacks, etc.
We misunderstand the idea of psycho activity because we have long associated it with drugs like heroin and LSD. But strictly speaking, any drug that affects the mind is psychoactive in nature, irrespective of whether the resulting psycho activity produces euphoria or hallucinations.
That means, in the strictest sense of the term, CBD is a psychoactive substance. It is psychoactive because it has an effect on the mind. How so? Some people use CBD to relieve their anxiety. Other people use it because it helps elevate their moods. Still others use CBD because it helps curb cravings or makes them more alert. All these effects are effects on the mind. Therefore, we have to say that CBD is psychoactive.
It Doesn’t Make You High
If you define psycho activity as feelings of euphoria or hallucinations, that is a whole different ballgame. The simplest way to note the difference is to say that CBD does not make you high. That explains why the utahmarijuana.org website says that CBD is not psychoactive. Their definition of the term coincides with the euphoric feelings that THC produces.
As a side note, here is an interesting factoid about THC: though it is a cannabinoid that naturally occurs in cannabis plants, it is not active in its raw form. You could extract it from plant material, ingest it, and feel no effects from it. That’s why eating unprocessed marijuana flower will make you high. In order to get the euphoric feelings associated with the plant, the THC has to be activated through a heating process known as decarboxylation.
How It Applies to Federal Law
While the definition of psycho activity relative to CBD and THC might not matter to you, it does play a significant role in how federal law is applied. The Drug Enforcement Agency’s list of Schedule I controlled substances includes marijuana (cannabis). But here’s the thing: both marijuana and hemp are cannabis varieties.
The main difference between the two is the volume of THC. Marijuana plants contain 0.3% or more; hemp plants contain less than 0.3%. Marijuana is illegal at the federal level partly because THC is considered psychoactive. Hemp is not illegal. Furthermore, CBD is not considered psychoactive.
Because the federal government defines psycho activity as feelings of euphoria, hallucinations, etc., they are okay with CBD but not THC. So yes, how psycho activity is defined does matter.
By the strict dictionary definition, CBD is psychoactive. But if you prefer the looser definition that most people understand, CBD is not psychoactive. It may not matter to you, and that’s okay. But at least now you know the science behind it.
