Does CBD Get You High? What the Research Says

October 14, 2026 at 6:42 am

No. On its own, CBD (cannabidiol) does not produce the high that THC does. In its 2018 critical review of cannabidiol, the World Health Organization's Expert Committee on Drug Dependence concluded that "in humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential." In controlled studies, even large single doses of CBD did not make volunteers feel intoxicated.

That does not mean CBD does nothing you can notice. The FDA lists sleepiness, changes in mood, and stomach upset among the side effects seen in studies, and people differ in how CBD sits with them. There is also a practical catch: the CBD itself may not get you high, but some CBD products contain THC, and THC is the part that can cause intoxication and a failed drug test.

This guide explains the difference between "psychoactive" and "intoxicating," what the research actually found, what people commonly report, and what to check on a label before you try CBD for the first time.

Key takeaways

CBD does not cause a THC-style high. The WHO found no abuse or dependence potential for CBD in humans.
CBD can still have noticeable effects. The FDA lists drowsiness or sleepiness, mood changes such as irritability, and digestive upset among reported side effects.
THC is the ingredient to watch. Full-spectrum products can contain some THC, which can add up with larger servings and can show up on a drug test.
Check the certificate of analysis (COA) for the total THC result, not just the front label.
First time? Start with the label serving, try it on a day with no driving or big commitments, and talk to your clinician if you take other medications.

Psychoactive vs intoxicating: why the words matter

You will see CBD described as "non-psychoactive" in a lot of places. That is a bit loose. Anything that acts on the brain and nervous system can be called psychoactive in a broad sense, and caffeine fits that description too. The more useful word is intoxicating: does it impair you, distort your perception, or make you feel "high"?

THC does. It activates the brain's CB1 cannabinoid receptors, which is what produces euphoria, altered time sense, and impaired coordination. CBD interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system differently and does not produce that effect. (For a deeper comparison, see CBD vs THC.)

What the research found

The strongest evidence comes from abuse-liability research, the same kind of testing used to judge whether a substance is likely to be misused.

The WHO review (2018). The WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence critical review summarized a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which a single 600 mg oral dose of CBD "did not differ from placebo" on scales of mood, subjective intoxication, or psychotic symptoms, while 10 mg of oral THC produced intoxication and euphoria. The committee recommended that pure CBD not be placed under international drug control.
The prescription CBD label. The only FDA-approved CBD medicine, Epidiolex, carries a prescribing label with a drug abuse section. It reports that in a human abuse potential study, recreational drug users given 750, 1,500, and 4,500 mg of CBD rated "Drug Liking" and "Take Drug Again" within the placebo range, while dronabinol (synthetic THC) and alprazolam produced large increases. A separate 28-day study found no signs of withdrawal after stopping. Epidiolex is not a controlled substance.

Those doses are far larger than a typical serving of a consumer CBD oil, which makes the finding more reassuring, not less.

What people report CBD feels like

This is where honest answers get fuzzy, because experience is personal and the research on everyday use is limited.

Some people say they notice a subtle sense of calm or of being less wound up, and many use CBD as part of a wind-down routine. Others say they feel nothing obvious at all. Neither report means the product "worked" or "failed" in a medical sense; they are simply how people describe it. Proof has written more about that everyday use in CBD and stress: relaxation without the high.

What the research does show is that CBD has real side effects for some people. The FDA's consumer update on cannabis-derived products lists:

"Changes in alertness, most commonly experienced as somnolence (drowsiness or sleepiness)"
"Gastrointestinal distress, most commonly experienced as diarrhea and/or decreased appetite"
"Changes in mood, most commonly experienced as irritability and agitation"

The FDA also warns that using CBD with alcohol or other drugs that slow brain activity "increases the risk of sedation and drowsiness, which can lead to injuries." Drowsiness is not a high, but it still matters if you plan to drive. See Can you drive after taking CBD?

The same FDA page flags possible liver effects and interactions with other medicines. If you take any prescription, read CBD and prescription medication and ask your pharmacist before you start.

Why THC content is the real question

If a CBD product makes someone feel high, THC is the likely reason. There are three common ways that happens.

Full-spectrum products. Full-spectrum extracts keep more of the hemp plant's compounds, which can include a small amount of THC. A small percentage can still add up if you take large servings. Broad-spectrum and isolate products are made to remove THC. Our explainer on full-spectrum vs broad-spectrum covers the differences.
Mislabeled products. In a 2017 JAMA study of 84 CBD products bought online, THC was detected in 18 of them (21%), even though labels did not list it.
Products that are not really CBD. Some shelves mix CBD with hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids. Read the whole label.

The fix is the same for all three: look at the COA. Find the "Total THC" line, check that the batch number matches your bottle, and make sure the lab is independent. Proof's Comfort Drops are broad-spectrum, and their May 2025 SC Labs COA reports total THC: not detected. "Not detected" means below the lab's detection limit, which is the most precise way to say it. You can read every current report on our lab testing page.

CBD and drug tests

Workplace drug tests look for a THC metabolite, not CBD. Federal workplace rules set the urine screening cutoff for marijuana metabolites at 50 ng/mL, with confirmation at 15 ng/mL (49 CFR 40.85).

In a Johns Hopkins study, 100 mg of pure CBD did not produce a confirmed positive under those federal cutoffs, but vaporized CBD-dominant cannabis that also contained 3.7 mg of THC did in some samples (Spindle et al., 2020). No CBD product can promise you will pass a test, and the Department of Transportation has said CBD use is not an accepted explanation for a confirmed marijuana positive. If you are tested for work, read Does CBD show up on a drug test? before you start.

If you are trying CBD for the first time

Follow the label. For Comfort Drops, Proof's label direction is "Take 0.5ml once or twice daily, increasing gradually as desired."
Pick a quiet day. Take your first serving when you do not need to drive or be especially sharp, so you learn how it lands for you.
Skip the alcohol. The FDA's sedation warning applies here.
Check your medications. Ask your pharmacist or clinician first. The FDA notes CBD can affect how other medicines work, and the reverse.
Keep expectations realistic. Many people describe CBD as subtle. That is normal.

FAQ

Can CBD make you feel high at a high dose?

Pure CBD did not produce intoxication in controlled studies, even at single doses of several thousand milligrams in the abuse potential study on the Epidiolex label. Larger amounts can make drowsiness more likely, and if a product contains THC, taking more of it means taking more THC.

Is broad-spectrum CBD less likely to get you high than full-spectrum?

Broad-spectrum products are made to remove THC, while full-spectrum products may contain some. The COA's total THC line tells you what a specific batch actually contains.

Does CBD show up on a drug test?

Standard drug tests look for a THC metabolite, not CBD. The risk comes from THC in the product, which is why the COA matters. Our full guide is Does CBD show up on a drug test?

Why do I feel sleepy after taking CBD?

Drowsiness is one of the side effects the FDA lists for CBD, and it can be stronger when CBD is combined with alcohol or sedating medicines. If it happens, avoid driving and talk to your clinician.

Is CBD addictive?

The WHO's 2018 review found no evidence of abuse or dependence potential in humans, and the Epidiolex label reports no withdrawal signs after 28 days of use.