Cannabidiol (CBD), a substance naturally occuring in cannabis, has become widely praised for its numerous and natural health benefits — as a neuro-protectant, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, vasorelaxant, cancer cell growth inhibitor, among others — and for (supposedly) being non-psychoactive, unlike THC, the primary substance that causes the “high” from marijuana (the flowers from certain cannabis plants).
But, contrary to wide belief, scientists have found that CBD can be psychoactive. One study has concluded that a percentage of CBD, when in acidic environments (such as the stomach), can actually convert into THC.
The study, published in the Cannabis and Cannbinoid Research journal, found that “In a patient treated with 700 mg oral CBD formulated in a lipid environment (e.g., oil-based solution), even if just 1% of the CBD dose were soluble, total cannabinoid levels, primarily Δ9-THC and Δ8-THC with other degradation products, would be 6.5 mg after 30 min and 13 mg after 60 min. Although the precise activity cannot be definitively determined until in vivo data are available, the central finding remains—significant levels of psychoactive Δ9-THC, Δ8-THC, and other related compounds are formed when CBD is taken orally.”
Researchers used simulated gastric fluid (SGF) instead of human trials for the study. They said, “SGF converts CBD into the psychoactive components Δ9-THC and Δ8-THC. The first-order kinetics observed in this study allowed estimated levels to be calculated and indicated that the acidic environment during normal gastrointestinal transit can expose orally CBD-treated patients to levels of THC and other psychoactive cannabinoids that may exceed the threshold for a physiological response.”
Thousands of children and adults use CBD daily for health purposes, then proceed with their normal daily routines under the assumption that they’ll have no psychoactive repercussions – much like if they were to take an aspirin. But, little do they know, that when CBD is taken orally it may produce mild psychoactivity, similar to using marijuana.
One medical marijuana patient, who remained anonymous, told Kynd Lyfe that they “use CBD every morning and evening to reduce chronic pain and help sleep better” and that they have certainly felt “mild psychoactive effects when consuming over 500mg of CBD orally,” especially when consuming the CBD on an empty stomach.
These scientific findings could have a profound effect around the world on the legalization of cannabis and CBD.
Article originally published on Kynd Lyfe.