Quick answer: CBD on its own is not a sedative and doesn’t make most people tired. It isn’t intoxicating; by calming a busy mind it can help some people feel relaxed enough to rest. Drowsiness is more likely with products that also contain THC. Browse our CBD oils and tinctures.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is an extract from cannabis that has much therapeutic potential. A lot of research shows that it may be able to improve health and help people manage medical conditions, but one reason CBD is so popular is because of how it may help relieve anxiety.
Many users believe that because CBD can help them relax, it will make them tired and sleepy. It’s a real concern, but it has no basis in weed science!
How Does CBD Work?
Marijuana plants have more than 100 natural compounds, and CBD is one of the two most abundant of them; the other is tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. Both of these have a similar chemical structure, classing them as a type of compound called cannabinoids. They affect the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is a series of receptors spread across the nervous system and brain. These receptors influence many different processes, including mood, appetite, and inflammation.
When you ingest CBD or THC as a joint, vape, or edible, they bind to the ECS receptors, modifying and activating them in different ways. But other than the part of the body they affect, the effects of CBD and THC couldn’t be more different. CBD is what is called an “inverse agonist” to the CB1 receptors, where THC is an “agonist” to these receptors. The impact it has on CB1 receptors helps make THC the psychoactive compound in cannabis responsible for the stereotypical high feeling. CBD, however, is not psychoactive and does not create the same euphoric effect as THC.
What Effect Does CBD Have On The Body?
When examined at a cellular level, CBD can almost be described as doing the opposite of what THC does, and this makes how they affect each other complicated. When CBD and THC are found together in a strain or cannabis product in high enough amounts, CBD has the potential to control the psychoactive side effects of THC by activating a reverse response from CB1 receptors.
Research suggests that CBD brings a homeostatic balance to our body, and it’s theorized that this is how it gives anti-anxiety and relaxation properties. Some users hear this and believe that a CBD supplement will make them tired, making them unsafe for use at work. However, this belief is a misconception about how CBD works, and just because it calms and relaxes does not mean it will make the consumer feel tired!
Will CBD Make Me Feel Tired?
CBD will not make you feel tired; the sleepiness from cannabis comes from how THC interacts with your ECS. As we have already seen, CBD works by calming the mind, not by creating intoxicating effects or inducing a state of tiredness. Research suggests that it’s in how this cannabinoid decreases levels of dopamine and increases melatonin in your brain. Melatonin is a well-known sleep aid, and the boost of it may make you sleepy after consuming cannabis.
CBD may not be the culprit for making you feel tired, but how it does make you feel depends on multiple factors. For instance, no two endocannabinoid systems are alike; the receptors are spread unevenly throughout the body. This individual-specific factor can cause CBD to have different effects, much like how THC can cause some people to feel great while others feel paranoid.
Please note: This article is general information, not medical advice. Cannabis affects everyone differently. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using cannabis for any health reason, especially if you take medication. You must be 19 or older to buy cannabis in Ontario.
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