Starting a new CBD regimen? Haven't noticed a difference yet? Here are some factors to weigh so you have a frame of reference. CBD is subtle, but when you know what to look for, it'll have a powerful effect on your life.

CBD Doesn't Make You High

People often confuse CBD with THC [1]. They are both cannabinoids, but they have very different effects. THC is psychoactive, meaning it'll cause that intoxication or "high" feeling, while CBD works to eliminate symptoms. TL;DR — you won't get high on this stuff.

CBD Doesn't Make You Feel Anything Extra

While CBD can eliminate certain symptoms [2], it doesn't make you feel extra good. No warm and fuzzy feeling, no alcohol-like buzz or marijuana high, just not bad. It's not as much about what you do feel, but more about what you don't feel (like not feeling pain, anxiety, insomnia, etc).

If you take CBD expecting to feel some kind of high or buzz, you may be pretty disappointed. Unless you experience rare side effects [3] (slow thoughts and lightheadedness [4]), you likely won't feel anything at all, except calm.

You Need to Find the Right Dose

The first time you take CBD [5] — depending on your dose — you may not even feel symptom relief [6]. While a few milligrams can do the trick for some people, patients in clinical trials have needed upwards of 800 to 1,200 milligrams [7] to counter intense anxiety.

The advice you'll hear from doctors well-versed in medical CBD is "start low, go slow." Pick a smaller dose [8] for the first few times you take it, and start to increase little by little until you feel relief.