CBD oil with THC in the UK – A Comprehensive Guide
The CBD oil craze has continued to explode in the UK and EU for the past 5 years. According to the Centre for Medical Cannabis, more than 6 million people take CBD oil regularly in the UK alone with that number set to climb steadily until the year 2025.
With so many people buying CBD oil now, the market has evolved with consumers becoming more knowledgeable about different products. And while we completely love the idea of more people accepting CBD as an alternative therapy, there still seems to be a large majority of the public who still get confused about the different types of products available to them. This includes CBD oil with THC in the UK.
So in this article, we are going to cover the basics in an effort to demystify CBD oils with THC. We will cover what THC is, the legality of THC in CBD oil in the UK and the effects of having THC present in CBD oil.
Remember, we are always available for questions and if you are a first time CBD buyer looking for answers, head on over to our contact page so we can start a chat.
CBD and THC Explained
To begin, let’s start with the basics. CBD and THC are both cannabinoids found in the hemp plant which is sometimes called the cannabis plant (these terms are interchangeable). There are over 100 different cannabinoids found in hemp plants, but CBD and THC are the most well known, used and studied.
THC has an intoxicating effect on people and is considered a narcotic. CBD on the other hand is non-intoxicating and is being studied around the world for its health promoting properties.
Since we started in the year 2020, we consistently answer these common questions:Â
- what is THC?
- what is CBD?
- Are they legal?
- Will I become intoxicated by using CBD oil with THC in the UK?
So to help you, our future customer, and give you the knowledge you need to pick a great CBD oil, let’s pick these apart bit by bit ??.
What is THC?
THC stands for Tetrahydrocannabinol and is the part of the hemp plant that will make a person feel ‘high’.
There are some CBD oils that contain THC which are called Full Spectrum CBD oil. In the UK and EU, in order for CBD products to be legal for sale and use, THC levels must be limited to 0.2%. At this level of THC, users will not get intoxicated by normal use. Simply put, there is not enough THC to trigger an effect.Â
There are strict standards in place in the UK that went into effect in March of 2021. Since then, all CBD products must be registered with the FSA. This means that lab tests and documentation must be presented prior to sale. These standards are welcomed by our company because they increase the safety profile of products on the market.
There are still some people in the UK selling homemade products with high levels of THC in them so it is important to buy products from a company with a transparent profile, great customer reviews and a dedicated customer support team much like ours!
If you think you’ve been affected by consuming THC, here are some clear signs to know:
- You feel lethargic and unmotivated to move and/or talk.
- Your vision is blurred or you don’t comprehend what you are looking at in ‘real-time’.
- Dry mouth.
- High levels of paranoia or anxiety set in.
- You find things funny for no reason.
- Headaches or fuzzy feelings.
If you’ve been affected by any of these symptoms about 20 minutes after taking a homemade CBD product, then chances are it has a high level of THC. Be sure to alert a family member or close friend for help.
What is CBD?
CBD stands for Cannabidiol and it is also considered psychoactive, but not intoxicating. In other words, it has an effect on the mind, but not in an adverse or negative way. It works with receptors in the mind and body to promote positive feelings, health benefits and correct mood imbalances.
To be clear, you will not feel stoned and you will be able to carry on with your daily life uninhibited. You will be able to drive a motor vehicle, perform at work and converse with people just as you would normally.
Because people understand that cannabis products like CBD oil have small, trace amounts of THC, they feel that they are on the fringe with their health and the law. They are worried about the THC even if it is a small amount. Should they be?
Let us take a deep dive into it.
What are the Effects of CBD Oil with THC?
CBD oils with THC generally are the most effective when considered from a health standpoint because of something called the ‘entourage effect’.
The entourage effect refers to when multiple cannabinoids work together to create stronger effects for the user. The key ones being THC and CBD both of which interact with the receptors in the ECS system in unique ways.
These two cannabinoids ‘fit’ and influence the receptors in positive ways to produce profound effects. The ECS system is a network of millions of receptors and it is largely in charge of helping the body find balance. The ECS is a well studied system and is responsible for products like CBD oil being so popular.
Products that contain a mixture of THC and CBD are called Full Spectrum CBD oils. They can be found in the UK and EU fairly easily although quality may be lacking in some brands so be sure to do your homework and do not shop on price alone.Â
Good full spectrum products will not produce a high and should help you feel better from the typical ailments CBD users report.
There is an alternative to Full Spectrum CBD products that is THC free. These are known as Broad Spectrum CBD oils. Because of the lack of THC, these products will not promote a strong entourage effect. They are considered effective, but now as much as CBD oil with THC.
More About CBD Oil with THC
Stated above, Full spectrum CBD oil is preferred for most people. Because full-spectrum CBD oils have THC, experts believe it can trigger the entourage effect.
In example, because THC binds to the CB1 receptors which are normally located in the brain and nervous system, this leads to the feeling of being high. Very small amounts of THC, like the quantity found in full spectrum CBD oils, do not have an impact on the brain. They simply do not have enough THC to trigger a high when used correctly.
To further explain this, it takes 20mg of THC for a person to feel high. 20mg of THC seems like a small amount. You would need to drink a whole bottle of 10% Full Spectrum CBD to come close. So worry not about a few drops at a time.Â
For another point of reference, you would need to drink half a bottle of 20% Full Spectrum CBD to even come close to getting high. Not likely!
That being said, CBD oil with THC is reported to be more effective than taking CBD isolate.
If you are feeling more confident at this point and decide that CBD oil with THC is ok for you, then we are happy!Â
You are on your way to dropping the negative stigma that has surrounded cannabis for decades! Here at Pure Organic CBD sell all different strengths of oils that contain the legal limit of THC.
What about CBD oil UK products that do not have THC?
There are options right here at Pure Organic CBD. These products are known as Broad Spectrum CBD oils. They contain everything from the cannabis plant extract EXCEPT for THC.
Broad spectrum CBD oils in the UK are usually more expensive. The extra processing needed to remove the THC from the CBD oil causes this.Â
The advantage of THC-free products is feeling confident that you will pass any on the job drug tests. People with a profession like pilot, school teacher, bus driver or anything in the public service sector are under strict guidelines to be 100% drug free. Broad spectrum CBD oils allow you to have peace of mind that you are within those guidelines.
As stated earlier, the amount of THC in our full-spectrum CBD products is too little to trigger a high. But, it may show up on a drug test. To avoid this, people tend to pick a broad spectrum CBD product.
Broad spectrum CBD is not as widely available in the UK; especially not organic broad spectrum CBD like our own 5% THC Free CBD oil and our 10% THC Free CBD oil. To save you a bit of time, our product range at Pure Organic CBD is perfect for anyone looking for the UK best broad spectrum CBD oil. We have plenty of reviews and testimonials from real customers.
Does CBD with THC Work Better?
Most people in the UK say that yes, CBD oils with THC work better than those without. This has to do with the entourage effect that we talked about earlier in this article.Â
The entourage effect is the idea that CBD oils with THC are more effective than just CBD products alone. It is believed that with the addition of THC combined with the CBD oil allows all of the cannabinoids to interact and harmonise with each other; thereby compounding the effects.
Although the term ‘entourage effect’ was created by Dr. Ethan Russo years ago, science is still trying to figure out exactly how it works. There is general consensus that CBD oils UK that have THC have a broader range of benefits. More research is needed but UK CBD users agree with these findings.
Look, the fact is that everybody’s ECS is different. Different products will work differently for people. If you have doubts about which type of CBD will be most effective for you, give both types a try. You may be worried about THC and that’s ok, you could try a broad spectrum CBD first.Â
If you then think that CBD with THC may be more beneficial, give it a go. You’ll never know until you try them both. The important thing is to find your go to products and stick with them.
Also, we cannot stress this enough; people with jobs that require regular drug testing should stick with Broad Spectrum CBD oil products!Â
You may not fail your drug test if you use a full spectrum CBD oil, but why take a risk? Do the right thing and go THC free.
Conclusion
It is normal to be careful and ask questions about CBD oils with THC. There is so much misinformation out there. Especially for new users, learning about the terminology and how to read product labels, trust us we understand. But don’t get frustrated, we want to help!
When it comes to people that are afraid that they will get high using a CBD product with THC, it is not something you should worry about. Make sure the CBD is made from hemp.
To sum up, CBD oils that have THC are definitely not a bad thing. Full spectrum CBD oils like ours from Pure Organic CBD with under 0.2% THC cannot get you high. They may even offer an enhanced CBD experience.
Our company fully endorses giving both Full spectrum CBD with THC and Broad Spectrum CBD that is THC-Free. It is important to us that you find the product that works for you and gives you peace of mind. Everybody is different, and each user’s body is unique. Experimentation is truly the only way to find what works for you. It is important to make sure whatever CBD oils you buy come from a reputable source.
The more research you do when you decide to start CBD oil will lead to understanding that the gold standards are: CBD oils that are organic, have 3rd party lab reports and are fully transparent in their origin.