Can You Overdose on CBD?

Yes, you can overdose on Cannabidiol (CBD). However, unlike other substances, the toxic dose for CBD is not considered to be lethal. You might experience drowsiness, an upset stomach, nausea and other unpleasant side effects, but not death. And with the toxic dose estimated to be 20,000mg, taken almost all at once — and with most tinctures less than 1,5000 mg a bottle — you would have to ingest a large number of bottles to get close to a toxic dose.

Indeed, the World Health Organisation (WHO) found that CBD does not induce major side effects or physical dependence, does not get you high, and is not associated with abuse potential. In fact, it is rather the opposite. To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD. Their report found that naturally occurring CBD is safe and well tolerated in humans and, as presented in Forbes and Healthline, it can sometimes offer relief for certain conditions.  

1. Relief for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
2. Relief for pain, with localised CBD topicals able to treat pain in a certain area. 
3. Relief for arthritis symptoms, such as poor sleep and pain during movement.
4. Help with falling asleep and staying asleep.
5. Help with lowering high blood pressure. 
6. Help with lowering cravings for tobacco and heroin under certain conditions.

A 2017 review of research suggests that humans can safely tolerate up to 1,500 mg a day — but you should always follow the dosing instructions provided by the manufacturer of your specific CBD product. Typically, CBD oil is more concentrated than CBD edibles and gummies. However, both the dropper cap with the oil, and the pre-measured dose in each edible, means you won’t tend to need to calculate a specific amount — it is simple to take a safe dosage. 

To further reduce the chances of overdosing on CBD, you should always use a high-quality, third-party tested CBD product. This will ensure that the product contains the amount of CBD that is listed on the label, and does not contain any contaminants.

Although this is well documented, it is also important to remember that this is different to CBD’s counterpart, Cannabinoid (THC), which is responsible for the “high” associated with marijuana, and can have more serious side effects. 

It is also worth noting that CBD can interact with certain medications, including blood thinners, anti-seizure medication, and medications that advise you to not ingest grapefruit. If you are unsure if CBD will affect your medication, it is important to talk to your doctor before taking it.

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Can Pets Overdose on CBD?

Research has shown that Cannabidiol (CBD) is not toxic for pets, and that it is generally very unlikely that your pet will overdose on CBD. However, much like humans, large doses might cause unpleasant side effects like nausea, vomiting, lethargy, drooling, imbalance, and incontinence.

As reported by ASPCA, most cases where pets have ingested CBD need no treatment, aside from symptomatic care for gastrointestinal upset. This might be different for products that contain THC, though, which can cause intoxication.

In the UK, CBD products made for pets are not legal. However, a veterinarian can prescribe “human” CBD for your pet, and suggest a dosage, after an assessment. Hemp products for pets, on the other hand, are legal. These are extracted from the same cannabis plant, but from the seeds instead of the stem and leaves (like CBD), and also don’t cause a high.

Hemp is thought to have the following benefits in pets:

1. Eases joint pain and inflammation.
2. Supports cardiovascular health.
3. Improves the condition of skin and coat.
4. Aids digestion.
5. Relieves anxiety and stress.

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