In the United States, Hemp-derived CBD is considered legal if it has a THC count of 0.3% or less. That’s important for one main reason: It’s far below the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol required to alter cognitive function (state of mind). To put that metric into perspective, Marijuana-derived CBD can contain up to 30% worth of THC, which is more than enough to have a psychoactive effect.
That’s not to mean that CBD extracted from Hemp doesn’t have a single effect; CBD — THC or not — itself is said to help promote a state of relaxation and calmness. Technically, because CBD does have some affect on mental state, such as cognition, it’s considered psychoactive by the World Health Organization. But on the flip side, it’s non-intoxicating, even when consumed in excess.
Is CBD Psychoactive?
So, does that mean THC is psychoactive or not? The simple answer it that while CBD fits the description of what the World Health Organization (WHO) would consider a psychoactive substance, clinical studies have found that even the highest doses — far more than one man would consume — do not trigger psychoactive effects that are characteristic of THC.
To summarize, CBD is not psychoactive — provided it contains no more than 0.3% worth of THC.
How Much THC Is In CBD?
CBD in the United States cannot contain more than 0.3% of THC, whereas that restriction is 0.1% lower in Europe, sitting at a strict cap of no more than 0.2% THC. That rule applies to all countries in the European Union, save for those that have decided to introduce their own restrictions — like Denmark — where residents are now required to obtain a prescription in order to use CBD.