Cannabidiol Facts
Cannabinoid;
Description
CBD (cannabidiol) is a naturally-occurring cannabinoid of the terpenophenolic class. It modulates serotonin receptors and the body's own cannabinoid system without directly activating the brain's main cannabinoid receptor, producing symptom relief without intoxication.
Subjective effects include anxiety suppression, muscle relaxation, mild sedation, and pain suppression. The experience is defined by what it removes — tension, discomfort, and anxiety quiet without euphoria, perceptual change, or altered consciousness.
CBD produces no physical dependence and no withdrawal; liver toxicity is the principal medical concern, particularly at high doses or when combined with valproate.[1] The more common everyday danger is drug interaction: CBD inhibits the liver enzyme that metabolizes many common medications, raising their blood levels.
Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies
Starts in 15 – 45 minLasts 1.5 – 4 hoursAfter-effects 2 – 6 hours
Body and dependence
- Acute toxicity
- Negligible
- Chronic toxicity
- Moderate
- Physical dependence
- None
- Psychological dependence
- None
- Withdrawal
- None recorded
- Compulsive redosing
- Negligible
Tolerance
- Builds
- None
- Fully resets after
- Not recorded
Effectslikely at a common dose
- Body
- none likely · 5 possible, including Diarrhea
- Feeling
- none likely · 1 possible
Who shouldn't take it
Combinations60 recorded
Seek help immediately if
Natural cannabis rarely causes a medical emergency — "greening out" is: pale/sweaty skin, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, anxiety or panic, rapid heartbeat, feeling faint — and usually passes with rest.
Seek emergency help for these — far more likely with synthetic cannabinoids ("spice" / K2):
- Seizures
- Severe chest pain; very fast or irregular heartbeat
- Unresponsiveness or extreme drowsiness
- Severe agitation, aggression, or psychosis
- Repeated vomiting; difficulty breathing
What to do
- Sit or lie them down somewhere calm, cool, and quiet
- Reassure them — cannabis panic and "greening out" pass with time
- Offer sips of water; a little sugar can help if they feel faint
- Recovery position if nauseated, drowsy, or vomiting
- Stay with them and monitor
- For seizures, chest pain, unresponsiveness, or severe agitation, call emergency services
Natural cannabis "greening out" resolves with rest, calm, and time, with no lasting harm. Synthetic cannabinoids are unpredictable and can cause seizures, cardiac events, kidney injury, and severe agitation that needs emergency care.
988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE
References
- [1]^Turck D, Bohn T, Camara M, et al. (2026) Update of the statement on safety of cannabidiol as a novel food — EFSA journal doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9862