CBD relieves pain, but is it psychoactive?

Addictive opiod painkillers cause +/- 40,000 deaths every year in the US alone. Cannabidiol (CBD) oil has the proven ability to relieve chronic pain alone, or as an adjunct to other therapeutic options. Yet one more reason this safe and effective remedy from one of the most powerful and versatile plant healers on earth should be incorporated into healthcare systems worldwide. But is CBD oil psychoactive? Interestingly, the answer is both yes and no when we take a non-emotive look at the meaning of words such as psychoactive (affecting mind and behaviour) and psychotropic (acting on the mind).

As you can see, both of these words when taken at dictionary meaning say nothing about intoxication, or getting high. The dictionary definition for the word drug (any substance introduced to the body that has a physiological effect) means every bit of food we eat can be considered a drug because food has a physiological effect on the body, which is why we eat. CBD most definitely acts on the mind (is psychotropic) and affects behaviour (is psychoactive), yet it is in no way intoxicating. This subtle difference is being used by people, corporations and agencies opposed to full legilisation of the “Sacred Herb” cannabis for medicinal use.

CBD is the kind of drug labelled as ‘promiscuous’ in pharmacological circles, meaning it binds to and interacts with multiple receptor sites, not just cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 (yes, the body has specific cannabinoid receptors, part of the endocannabinoid system). Smoking a high THC/low CBD joint will allow CBD to interact with cannabinoid receptors only, while consumption of high CBD oil sees CBD reacting with many other receptors, including acetylcholine, GABA, serotonin and dopamine. It is through this interaction with neurotransmitter receptor sites (as well as receptor CB1) that CBD exerts beneficial effects on mood, behaviour and depression.

So when you hear someone say CBD is psychoactive, you can say “yes, it exerts a positive effect on the moods/emotions of the mind, but it is not intoxicating”.

Follow the link below to an article on the superior pain-killing effects of CBD oil.

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/medical-cannabis-superior-opioids-chronic-pain-study-finds

Bio

Tom Rothsey is an ecologist, environmental scientist, reflexologist, energy worker, health and lifestyle coach, writer, researcher, and teacher of the fermented arts in all their forms. He lives with his wife Christy Lavers, and their son Jasper Blue in a pole house, in a rainforest in North Eastern New South Wales, Australia.

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