What Would Happen If I Took Too Much CBD?

Since the Farm Act of 2018 lifted the Federal ban on hemp production, CBD seems to have taken over the country and people everywhere are discovering its numerous benefits. You can walk into almost any store and find CBD products with endless ways to use them. You can eat CBD, drink it, vape it, dab it, smoke it, rub it into your skin, add it to your favorite snacks, and even give it to your pets!

CBD products are so easy to consume that some people are worried about how much is too much. What happens if you accidentally (or deliberately) take too much CBD? Is CBD overdose a thing? After our In-Depth Guide to Tincture Dosing article, we will explain what happens if you take too much CBD.

WHAT IS CBD?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a naturally-occurring cannabinoid most commonly found in hemp and cannabis plants. Hemp differs from cannabis and lacks a sufficient amount of THC, the psychoactive compound that makes its users feel high. Like THC, CBD binds with cannabinoid receptors throughout the body to activate the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). The ECS affects numerous mental and physical functions, including pain, memory, mood, appetite, stress, sleep, metabolism, immune function, and reproductive function.

Concerning the legality of CBD products, the Federal government allows the production of industrial hemp but does not necessarily legalize CBD specifically. This legal gray area gets more confusing as some state laws can either allow CBD entirely or ban it altogether. Check out our CBD Legality broken down state-by-state for more information on state laws.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN IF I TAKE TOO MUCH CBD?

Given the relatively loose legality of CBD products and how easy it might be to mistake hemp-derived CBD for a cannabis-derived one, concern about CBD overdose and taking too much CBD is warranted.

On a molecular level, hemp-derived CBD products don't possess enough THC to create such a response. CBD's chemical properties do NOT include psychoactive elements in the same way that THC does. So if you do take too much CBD, what you'll experience will be caused by the THC content in the product. This likely means that you're not consuming a hemp-derived CBD product but a cannabis-derived one.

The typical  adverse effects of THC products include, but are not limited to:

• Mental Slowness
• Accentuation of Anxiety and Depression
• Decreased Memory Retention

Despite the adverse effects, even when you take too much CBD with a high THC content, you will not experience a fatal CBD overdose.

If cannabis-derived CBD products can not cause an overdose, what happens if you take too much CBD if it’s hemp-derived? The answer should be obvious - it's even less  likely for these products to leave you in an uncomfortable position. CBD doesn't directly react with receptors responsible for respiratory and cardiac functions. Even the World Health Organization declares CBD non-toxic. So you won't die from CBD overdose if you take too much CBD.

Due to Federal prohibition, there is not enough early research on the subject, with pro-cannabis studies often being suppressed. The published studies suggest a dosage upwards of 200mg of CBD per kilogram of body weight administered intravenously. Recent research believes this dosage is much higher, exceeding 10,000mg/kg (nearly 700 grams) per serving.

To knock this CBD overdose theory on its hand, products with that high concentration don't exist as there is no reason to. According to the bioavailability of CBD, the average range sits between 6% and 35%. So if you take too much CBD, more than your body can handle, you will only pass it through. 

SIDE EFFECTS OF TAKING TOO MUCH CBD

While a high dose of CBD does exist, the likelihood that you'd accidentally (or voluntarily) take an intravenous administration of 700 grams of CBD in one sitting is improbable. However, it is worth noting that too much CBD does not go without its side effects. Should you exceed 1500mg of it, the side effects include:

• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Changes in Appetite
• Nausea
• Anxiety
• Dry Mouth

These effects, while uncomfortable, will often pass within 4-8 hours and not lead to CBD overdose. Don't panic or stress yourself out in these situations. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids, and if your appetite allows it, eat something! Physically, you will be fine, so find a good way to distract your mind. Taking a walk can help. If you feel too ill to move, put on a good movie and try to relax. If you're too tired, make yourself as comfortable as possible and sleep it off.

HOW TO PROACTIVELY LOOK FOR CBD PRODUCTS?

Where you buy your CBD from plays a large part in proactively regulating your dosing and helping you avoid taking too much CBD. The media is pretty on top of things when publicizing negative coverage towards a particular event or product. This negative coverage steadily picks up as hospitalizations from low-quality vape cartridges to mislabeled products overpower public perception. While these incidents are isolated, they still put a negative image of CBD products in the typical American's head. In addition to that, shady counterfeiters are making fake CBD oil using synthetic cannabinoids, like those found in Spice and K2.

CULTIVATION & EXTRACTION OF CBD

One of the first things you can do to proactively find the right product and not accidentally take too much CBD is to research the source of your CBD - hemp! When it comes to Envy's products, 100% of our hemp is grown in the USA by farms that DO NOT use pesticides. We DO NOT use artificial light to simulate "perfect world" conditions. Instead, our farms are all outdoor, using the sun and organic practices to cultivate a healthy yield of hemp.

After cultivation, we use Supercritical CO2 Full Plant Extraction, which is considered the safest and most efficient way to extract CBD and retain the entire molecular structure. To filter out the THC, lipids, wax, and other undesirable plant matters, we remove them under a state-of-the-art chromatography process. The process is like peeling an orange where the skin is the unwanted compounds such as THC, and the rest is the CBD, other cannabinoids, and terpenes. Upon peeling the orange, is everything else still an orange? That is what Full Plant Extraction with a chromatography process is.

PRODUCT LABELING

The first thing you see with a CBD product is its packaging. Does the information on the label tell you the exact ingredients in the product and how you should use it? Or does it just say CBD and expects you to trust that? Ultimately, you are putting this stuff into your body. So knowing what that entails should be clear for you to avoid taking too much CBD and give in to the CBD overdose myth. A few things to look for include:

• 3rd party lab tests
• Amount of active CBD per serving
• Supplement fact panel, including a list of ingredients
• Net weight
• Manufacturer and distributor names
• Suggested use
• Clear indication of the type of CBD (full spectrum, broad spectrum, or isolate)
• Batch or date code

Luckily for you, all Envy's full spectrum CBD products have the necessary information so you can make an informed decision on whether our products will help you steer clear of taking too much CBD. You can find our full panel testing results on our website for each product. We also include supplement facts, directions on how to use and under which circumstance(s), distribution information, and clear indications that ALL our CBD products contain what we advertise. After all, our mission is to provide the means for everyone to take care of themselves. To help you do that, we start by building trust and transparency between you and us.

THE BOTTOM LINE

CBD products are more in demand than ever, and their benefits can help return you to a state of being in control over your health and wellness. To help you regain this control, it is in your best interest to educate yourself on the side effects of taking too much CBD and the possibility of CBD overdose. While the side effects are similar to those of other treatment options, you need to understand that experiencing anything beyond temporary discomfort while taking too much CBD is unlikely. Nevertheless, to help minimize the likelihood of this discomfort, we recommend you do your research on the company and its products before making the decision. And if you're looking for something pesticide-free and organic, we suggest you see our vast collection of CBD products.