Can You Overdose on CBD?

Cannabidiol or CBD is the trend in the market. The passage of 2019 Farm Bill, signed on December 20, 2018, legalized the use of industrially farmed hemp grown in the U.S in fifty (50) states. CBD has then been used for medical purposes and came in different products.

Since CBD came from hemp, the common question among people is “CBD addictive?” or Can You Overdose on CBD? With so many CBD infused products, it is important to know what is CBD and why is it beneficial to the health. Also, it is essential to know if CBD intake is addictive, can get you high, or can lead to overdose.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol or CBD is a chemical found in Cannabis or marijuana plants. There are over a hundred chemicals in marijuana that is known as cannabinoids. Among them is the CBD and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is also an active ingredient in marijuana that is responsible for the “high” you get when ingesting or smoking the weed. 

THC is known for its psychoactive properties while CBD is gaining popularity because of its medical benefits.

How does Cannabidiol or CBD work?

Cannabinoids like CBD and THC work in our body by interacting with the endocannabinoid system in the body, which made up of cannabis-like molecules. They work as neurotransmitters, sending messages to the body’s system to maintain homeostasis.  

The CBD then interacts with the CB1 and CB2, which are receptors in the endocannabinoid system. The CB1 is a receptor found in the brain that is involved with memory, cognition, motor skills, and pain management.

On the other hand, the CB2 receptors can be found in the immune and gastrointestinal systems. Medical experts believed that CBD allows the body to produce its very own endocannabinoids which can help manage pain, reduce the risk of anxiety, and reduce inflammation.

Can You Overdose on CBD?

One of the biggest concerns of those who are using CBD, especially in therapeutic purposes is that, can you overdose in CBD? This concern arose because CBD is storming the market. CBD is the trend. You can see CBD infused products almost everywhere.

Like any medicine, too much dosage can become toxic to the system. Prescription and non-prescription medicine can be harmful to the body if you exceed the prescribed amount of dosage. Our body can develop tolerance from the medicine that we are taking thus there are times that we increase the dosage for it to take effect. The sufficiently high dosage is harmful.

In the case of CBD, studies showed that people who have been using CBD oil or other CBD products have not developed any resistance to it. You cannot overdose with CBD. CBD is not harmful. Researches have been conducted to study and confirm the role of CBD in treating several medical conditions without intoxication.

Furthermore, studies were also conducted to show that for CBD to become toxic, a person must ingest more than 20,000 mg of CBD. Thus, it is quite an impossible feat as you may need to ingest tons of CBD products to get overdosed.

What is the right CBD dosage?

The CBD dosage depends on the person’s physical structure like the height, weight, period of use, and physical condition. Dosage is often prescribed, especially if it is used for therapeutic purposes. A small dosage is around 1-20 mg and high dosages are those exceeding 50 mg. following this prescribed dosage, you cannot go overdose with CBD.

For sedative effects, a prescribed dosage of 100 mg or more depending on the physical condition. A study conducted showed that patients were given about 1,500 mg of CBD and it did not result in intoxication or overdose. The key to knowing how CBD affects your body is important. Be keen on observing how your body responds to the treatment.

Medical Benefits of CBD

CBD is being used most especially for therapeutic purposes. Medical experiments showed that it is very helpful in the treatment of psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and pain management. It is also effective against epilepsy, symptoms of cancer, glaucoma, and nausea.

How is Cannabinoid or CBD used?

CBD comes in many forms. It is very popular and many CBD infused products are available and being sold in the market. CBD products are also being sold online. 

CBD products come in different forms:

• CBD Edibles – these are food or drinks infused with CBD like cookies, gummies, juice, or tea. With edibles, CBD will take effect in about 20 minutes.
• CBD Oils and tinctures – these are processed and concentrated forms of CBD products. CBD Oil and tinctures are often out underneath the tongue with the use of a dropper. It is absorbed in the bloodstream through the saliva or taste glands.
• Pills and capsules – CBD is ingested orally. This is like taking regular pills or medicine. These capsules contain the CBD isolate or CBD oil.
• Topicals – these are CBD infused creams or lotions which are directly applied to the skin, nails, or hair. Topicals are popular in treating pain and also very useful in skincare, haircare, and massage.
• Vaping or smoking – this is in the form of e-cigarettes. The CBD component is inhaled without the presence of nicotine. 

Can you overdose on CBD? The answer is it is very unlikely to happen or it is a difficult feat. So far, there are no cases reported on CBD overdose. CBD is very helpful and it is not harmful. Given that notion, the important thing that you need to remember in buying CBD products is to get it from reliable sources.

For first time users, please be advised with the right dosage for beginners. Start with small amounts. Every person is different and the effects may be different from one person to another. So the best way to start using your CBD oil is to also see how your body reacts to the kind of exposure.

With that being said, you can now confidently use your CBD products without the worry of overdosage or addiction. CBD is not addictive as well. It is best to take your CBD product with the prescribed dosage. CBD products have a lot to offer especially therapeutically.