5 Biggest Concerns People Have About Using CBD

Like a growing number of people around the world, you’ve heard about the benefits of CBD and you want to try it for yourself.

Perhaps you’re struggling to sleep or you’re battling a chronic health problem. Maybe you’re a weekend warrior wanting to improve your performance. Or maybe you just want to find a health-promoting way to relax, reduce your stress and ease your anxiety in a healthy way (without turning to alcohol).

But before you take the plunge and give it a try, you have a couple of concerns that you want answers to. After all, CBD comes from the cannabis plant, so you don’t want to find yourself accidentally getting high. Is that right?

To give you a helping hand, we’ve put together some of the questions we get asked most frequently by customers excited to try our alcohol-free CBD cocktails. Enjoy!

Is CBD legal in the UK?

Yes, CBD is completely legal in the UK. It’s not a controlled substance and you won’t be arrested if you use it or sell it.

However, the rules say that it must not contain two active ingredients found in the hemp plant: THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) or CBN (cannabinol). These are listed as controlled substances in the UK under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Many people believe that CBD products in the UK can contain 0.2- 0.3% THC, but that is not true. This rule applies to the EU and the USA.

Does CBD get you high?

No. CBD sold in the UK won’t get you high. That’s because it doesn’t contain any of the psychoactive substance (THC) that is found in marijuana.

However, it can provide a wide range of health benefits;

• Help you feel calm and relaxed
• Reduce your anxiety
• Ease depression
• Improve your sleep quality
• Reduce pain and inflammation
• Improve acne and inflammatory skin disorders
• Help neurological disorders
• Improve your heart health

Does CBD make you sleepy?

No. High-quality CBD will relax and calm you, but it won’t make you feel sleepy, even though it can help you enjoy a better night’s sleep.

This is because it works by regulating your natural sleep-wake cycles, relaxing your muscles and helping your brain release the right chemicals so you can drop off more easily at night.

Having said that, everyone is different. Some people may find that CBD relaxes them so much that they do start to feel sleepy after consumption, especially in larger doses. If you’re unsure of the effect it will have on you, try it at a time when you don’t need to drive or use machinery.

If you find that it makes you feel drowsy, simply adjust the amount of CBD you’re consuming to find the ideal dosage for you.

Can I drink alcohol if I’m taking CBD?

Yes, you can drink alcohol after using CBD, but you need to be aware that each may have an impact on the effects of the other, causing sleepiness and even sedation in some cases.

Referring to a recent study, the health and wellness website Healthline says, “...combining alcohol with CBD caused significant impairments in motor performance and alterations in the perception of time. Participants did not experience these effects when they took CBD on its own.”

This is likely to be because both CBD and alcohol work in a very similar way. They both help you relax and reduce your anxiety. However, provided you’re in safe and comfortable surroundings, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy both in moderation.

In fact, a growing body of research suggests that CBD could also help protect your body from the damaging effects of alcohol by protecting your cells from damage, reducing your blood alcohol levels and reducing your overall alcohol consumption. 

Does CBD show up in a drugs test?

No. Provided you have chosen a high-quality CBD  that doesn’t contain THC, CBD won’t make you test positive in a drugs test. These tests only look for THC and its metabolites.

If you’re concerned that you may have consumed CBD that contains traces of THC, make sure you avoid CBD for at least 2-5 days before testing (although CBD can stay in some people’s system for weeks.)

There’s no need to worry. CBD won’t get you high, it’s perfectly legal in the UK (provided it complies with certain regulations) and it won’t show up in a drugs test.

However, certain people may find that it makes them feel sleepy or increases the effect that alcohol has on their body. We’re all beautifully unique, so find out what CBD dosage works best for you and enjoy its wonderful effects.