Does CBD Cream Get You High?
Summarize
Despite billions of dollars in sales, many people still do not fully understand cannabinoids. The two compounds that people are most familiar with are THC and CBD, and both are found in topical CBD products. All cannabinoids are found in the cannabis plant, but all legal CBD products are made with hemp-derived CBD extracts. Hemp is a special cultivar of the cannabis plant and has a limited amount of THC, meaning it is not intoxicating.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read):
CBD contained in topicals interacts with the skin’s endocannabinoid system and does not reach the bloodstream. Since THC cannot reach the brain, CBD cream will not get you high. Anyone experiencing what they think is a high is due to expectations and the calming, relaxing effects of a CBD cream.
Table of Contents
The cannabinoids in topical CBD products, such as CBD creams, interact only with endocannabinoid system receptors in the skin’s top layer and tissues immediately beneath the skin. The one exception is the transdermal CBD patch, but it also has a minimal amount of THC or is THC-free, depending on the CBD spectrum. The bottom line is that a CBD topical will not get you high because not enough THC can ever reach the bloodstream and the brain.
Why People Think CBD Cream Can Feel Intoxicating
There are several reasons someone might think CBD cream makes them feel intoxicated.
➥ A user believes all CBD products are made with extracts from marijuana plants when the extracts are from hemp plants.
➥ A user assumes a full spectrum CBD cream will cause a high because it contains a low level of THC.
➥ There is a knowledge gap concerning how CBD and THC affect the brain and body.
➥ A CBD cream may promote muscle relaxation and a feeling of mental calm, and the user confuses the feelings with feeling high.
➥ The user expects to feel intoxicated, so their brain creates a feeling of being high. This is called the placebo effect.
Topical vs. Transdermal Products
CBD creams and transdermal products are both topicals. They are different product forms. CBD creams are a type of skin product that is thicker than lotions. Creams have less water content. A CBD extract is obtained from the hemp plant and mixed with a cream base. The cream includes carrier oil and emulsifiers, and the products contain a variety of botanicals and other ingredients known to promote skin health and enhance absorption.
The thicker substance makes the cream an excellent emollient, able to soothe skin and help trap moisture. However, a CBD cream can penetrate only the top skin layers, called the stratum corneum (outermost skin layer) and the epidermis. CBD does not penetrate the bloodstream deeply enough. There is ongoing research to develop new CBD delivery systems in creams to help the CBD penetrate more deeply.
Hemp cream is another topical product made with hemp extract. However, the extract is made from hemp seed oil. Hemp seeds contain a lot of omega fatty acids, but they do not contain THC or CBD.
THC cream is another type of cream. The cream is infused with an extract from the cannabis (marijuana) plant. This type of cream will have much more THC than a CBD cream.
Topicals are rubbed on the skin. A transdermal patch is adhered to the skin.
A transdermal patch adheres to the skin to slowly deliver its ingredients. A CBD transdermal patch may contain medication, other ingredients, and the hemp extract. Cannabodiol is slowly released and penetrates deeper into the skin than CBD in a cream. It can reach below the skin’s outer layers and into the dermis. The dermis contains capillaries, so the CBD enters the bloodstream and is delivered to other areas, such as the brain.
Can Full Spectrum CBD Cream Get You High?
You cannot get high when using full spectrum CBD because it has a very low THC level. Also, the CBD in a cream does not cross into the bloodstream. The skin acts like a barrier, preventing THC absorption. This means the THC will not reach the brain, so no psychoactive effects develop.
The THC in a transdermal patch may enter the bloodstream, but that is because the patch has a formulation designed to do so. CBD cream does not work that way.
Recall that CBD creams are made with one of three CBD spectrums. In any CBD product, the amount of delta-9 THC cannot be more than 0.3%.
Full spectrum CBD
This CBD extract contains all the hemp plant’s compounds, including CBD and THC.
Broad spectrum CBD
This particular spectrum extract has the THC removed during processing. There are some products with a trace of THC that are still considered broad spectrum. To claim a product is THC-free, lab testing should report THC below the limit of detection by laboratory testing equipment.
Isolate CBD
This is pure CBD extract.
Can CBD Cream Make You Fail a Drug Test?
The THC in a CBD cream remains in the upper skin layers and does not reach the bloodstream. Drug tests will test blood, urine, and saliva for THC metabolites. They do not test for CBD on the skin. So, normal use of a CBD cream presents a very low risk of causing a failed drug test. There are some cautions to keep in mind, though.
➥ It is unlikely, but frequently applying full spectrum CBD cream in large amounts on a large skin area could increase the risk of absorption. Trace amounts of THC could accumulate in fat cells.
➥ If there is a cut or wound, the risk of THC reaching the bloodstream is increased.
➥ Using the full spectrum CBD cream daily for weeks also increases the risk.
FAQs
Does CBD Cream Have THC?
Full spectrum CBD cream does have some THC because it contains an extract from the hemp plant. The amount of THC is limited to no more than 0.3%, but CBD creams usually have much less than that.
Creams made with broad spectrum CBD are THC-free or contain only a trace of THC. CBD isolate cream does not have any THC.
Can Full Spectrum CBD Cream Get You High?
No, full spectrum CBD cream will not get you high. The cream does not penetrate the skin deep enough for cannabinoids, including THC, to reach the bloodstream. This means THC does not reach the brain, where the psychoactive effects are generated. Any perceived high is due to something like personal expectations or mistaking the feeling of skin-soothing relaxation for a high.
What is the Difference Between CBD Cream and Hemp Cream?
CBD cream is made with a hemp plant extract. It is a whole-plant extract containing CBD, THC (if full-spectrum CBD), minor cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes. Cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoids in the skin. People often say they use CBD cream to address soreness or discomfort and promote hydration.
Hemp cream is made with hemp seed oil pressed from hemp seeds. The seeds have little to no CBD, but they do contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, amino acids, antioxidants, and more. The fatty acids promote skin hydration without clogging the pores. Hemp cream is used to nourish and hydrate skin and support the skin barrier.
Can CBD Cream Show up on a Drug Test?
The full spectrum CBD cream contains a small amount of THC, but creams do not penetrate the skin. Drug tests commonly test the urine and saliva for THC metabolites. Therefore, the THC will not show up on a drug test. This applies to broad spectrum CBD cream also, which may have a trace amount of THC.
Understanding Just the Facts
It is easy to confuse CBD cream with hemp cream, unless you know the facts about their differences. For example, CBD cream is not psychoactive.
Understanding how CBD creams are absorbed and how they work is important for choosing a cream that meets personal needs. You have a choice of CBD spectrums, formulations offering different benefits and skin-soothing and hydrating ingredients. Numerous studies and surveys have found that CBD promotes healthy skin, relaxation and calm, relief from skin irritations, relief from stressed muscles and joints, and general wellness.
Sources
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10851629/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10057149/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9210160/
- https://harrenslab.com/harrenslab-can-cbd-lotion-make-you-test-positive-for-thc
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