Recent research has shown that a staggering 71% of British citizens do not know if the use of CBD comes with ‘drug like’ effects.
While CBD has been shown time and time again to not get you high a vast majority of the public remains uneducated and unsure about the composition and potential applications of certain CBD products.
“Is CBD a mind-altering substance or is it something else entirely?”
If this is your first-time reading about CBD and you are new to VSAVI, we’re here to set the record straight; providing you with nothing but the facts, along with some personal insight.
DOES CBD GET ME HIGH?
Categorically, no.
By law, any CBD product needs to contain no more than 0.2% THC. This is the psychoactive element in cannabis that produces the plant’s infamous ‘high’. When it comes to actual cannabis, the highest grade of product starts at a concentration around 30%+ THC and the weakest at around 10%+ concentration.
This makes it impossible for an individual to ‘get high’ from CBD that has been purchased by a regulated, established provider. If a product is sold that contains more than 0.2% THC, the vendor and producer can be subject to product seizure and formal prosecution.
It’s also worth remembering that the vast majority – if not all – of the CBD consumed in the UK comes from hemp plants that contain an decreased amount of CBD and not enough THC to get you high in the first place.
HOW THE UK ARE MISINFORMED ABOUT CBD
While the figures were shocking, they weren’t surprising. There are a number of reasons why members of the public may be poorly informed about CBD products. These include:
1. Novelty: The first is that CBD is a relatively new substance that we don’t know a great deal about. First discovered in 1942, the compound has only entered the public consciousness in the last decade – a blink of an eye when it comes to medical research, with research only truly beginning in the 80s when it was considered as a potential treatment for epilepsy. And while many studies are ongoing, the process for confirming a substance is a long and winding one, involving many tests to confirm its veracity.
2. Misinformation: Given the notoriety of cannabis, CBD is often a target of articles and campaigns that inextricably link the two substances. Many papers and websites will - most often unintentionally - fudge the details about the two to produce a striking headline. While this sells papers, it does little to escape the shadow of ‘cannabis’ and objectively inform people about the CBD compound.
3. Assumption: Whilst cannabis is classified as an illegal drug, a small amount of time researching its origin can highlight some interesting facts about a certain country's government legislation and procurement – asking the question, ‘is it really that bad?’
4. Ignorance: We’re living in a world where information is not only more accessible, but plentiful; opening us up to confirmation bias. Avoiding this can be extremely difficult and we will always update our site with objective and commentary about trials, research, and more; with many reliable news organisations also doing the same. Keeping educated and thinking critically about the news you read can help you spot the difference between factual reporting and someone telling you something they think you want to hear.
While there is a wealth of first-hand testimony advocating for the product, it is important to responsibly and critically make a decision about using it yourself.
Just don’t expect it to get you high.
If you’re still interested in learning more, you can check out our regularly updated blog for more guidance about the latest CBD items and trends. Feel free to also contact our team directly and let us know what topics or items you’d like us to cover in future articles.