It's Time to Challenge the Stereotypes and Illegal Drug Culture That Cast Out Cannabis

Ever wonder why cannabis and in particular, hemp, was illegal for so many decades in America? Growing up it wasn’t very commonplace to talk about cannabis, right? So, for the most part, we never learned its history. It was this unspoken thing, that we’d rather not discuss or bring up for fear of judgment.

Times are different now. There’s no shame around cannabis because the scientific proof and anecdotal evidence speak volumes about this magnificent plant.

If you have an ounce of doubt or skepticism about the cannabis plant (including hemp), we invite you to take a few minutes and learn some unbiased truths about the plant, so you can form your own opinions. 

Let’s dive in!

A short history of cannabis 

Cannabis is called by many names, the most common of which is marijuana, weed, and pot. Other less common names include reefer, hemp, and hash. Those who’re aware of the racial undertones of the word marijuana (or marihuana) no longer call it this and instead use the botanical name — cannabis. This is more factually and politically correct. 

Although the word cannabis is more appropriate, it causes confusion because it’s an umbrella term for different varieties of the cannabis plant. For instance, the two most popular varieties include high THC strains (still called marijuana), and high CBD strains that come from hemp. 

So, when someone not familiar with cannabis hears the word out loud, they might assume it will get them high. 

Why cannabis got a bad rap

The anti-marijuana propaganda that started in the 1930s painted a bad picture of cannabis. During this time in the U.S., several advertisements, print ads, commercials, and movies villainized the plant. This started a massive wave of fear, panic, and misunderstanding. Although many of the messages in the media were exaggerated, melodramatic, and mostly false — people still believed them to be true. 

Decades of propaganda and the passage of the War on Drugs in 1971 didn’t make the perception any better. The stigma around cannabis passed down generation to generation. 

But, fast forward to today, and we’re seeing a lot of states in the U.S. with medical and recreational cannabis programs in place. Also, the federal government legalized hemp farming in 2018, so perception is improving there too. 

There’s still a lot of re-educating to do, including the dissemination of factual and unbiased information. We’re here to do our part by properly educating others, starting with a very important question we hear and get a lot. 

 

Does CBD oil get you high?

No, CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, so it doesn’t have intoxicating properties. Therefore, when you dose with CBD oil or any other hemp-derived CBD product, there’s no “head high”. 

The high you might be thinking of comes from the cannabinoid, THC. This is found in many cannabis strains. But, high THC strains are not used to make the CBD oils that you see for sale online or at retail stores. 

Instead, these CBD oils come from hemp, which naturally has very little or no THC at all. 

CBD vs THC: what’s the difference?

CBD and THC are both major cannabinoids that come from the Cannabis Sativa family of plants. CBD is a non-psychotropic compound that’s often found in large concentrations in the hemp plant. Whereas, THC, is a psychotropic compound in cannabis (weed) that people consume for medical or recreational reasons. 

Types of cannabis plants	THC or CBD	Is there a psychoactive “head high”?	Which plant do federally legal CBD oils come from?
Marijuana (weed)	High THC	Yes	X
Hemp	High CBD	No	✔

Can I get addicted to CBD oil?

No, you cannot become addicted to CBD products derived from hemp. Several studies confirm this and the findings in the Cannabidiol (CBD) Critical Review Report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018 prove it too. 

In their report, they stated that CBD is well-tolerated, safe, and non-psychoactive. Also, they found no reports of abuse or potential for dependence.

Even more, in this report, the WHO found that “another possible therapeutic application which has been investigated is the use of CBD to treat drug addiction.” 

Potentially missed benefits of NOT consuming CBD

It’s sad to learn that people won't try hemp-derived CBD oil because of certain fears or beliefs they hold. They might think it will get them high, ruin their sobriety, or embarrass them. 

This is unfortunate because cannabis doesn’t have life-threatening side effects the way pharmaceutical drugs do. Plus, many studies on cannabis show the therapeutic potential of CBD and other cannabinoids from the hemp plant.

Final thoughts

Cannabis, weed, marijuana, pot, whatever name you call it, unfairly had its name dragged through the mud decades ago. The propaganda on cannabis made it hard for some to see it as a botanical plant, rich in healing potential. 

But now, more and more people are willing to look past the unjust biases. Mainly due to CBDs’ favorable safety profile, lack of psychoactive effects, and the ability to improve overall well-being.

What do you think about this conversation? And have you tried or are you willing to try CBD oil derived from hemp, a non-intoxicating product that won’t get you high? 

Let us know in the comment section below.