Two questions come up more than any others from readers over 60 who are new to CBD: Will it make me high? and Will it make me sleepy? They are good questions, and the honest answers are a little different from what you might hear at a gas station counter. This guide explains what to look for on a label and a lab report, and what to ask your pharmacist or doctor before trying anything.
Nothing here is medical advice or dosing guidance. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before trying any CBD product, especially if you take medications.
CBD and THC are not the same thing
Hemp plants contain many compounds. Two get most of the attention: CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is the compound associated with feeling high. CBD is a different compound. Hemp products sold legally in the U.S. must contain no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight, but “no more than” is not the same as “none.”
So, will it make me high?
That depends on what is actually in the product, which is why the label and the lab report matter more than the marketing. Here is how product types usually differ:
- CBD isolate: made from purified CBD. A good lab report will show THC as “ND,” meaning not detected.
- Broad spectrum: contains other hemp compounds, with THC removed. The lab report should show THC as not detected or below the lab’s limit.
- Full spectrum: contains other hemp compounds including small amounts of THC, up to the legal limit.
- Products labeled delta-8, delta-10 or THC-O: these are different products altogether and are made to produce a high. They are not what this article is about.
The only way to know is to check the batch lab report. Look for THC results and a batch number that matches your package. Our lab report walkthrough shows you where to look.
What about drug tests?
If you are still working, volunteer somewhere that tests or drive commercially, ask before buying. Even products with very little THC can, in some cases, lead to a positive test. Isolate products with THC not detected are the most cautious choice, but no brand can promise a test result. Talk to your employer’s policy office if it matters.
Will it make me sleepy?
CBD in general can, for some people. The FDA lists sleepiness and drowsiness among the possible side effects of CBD, and notes that using CBD with alcohol or other medicines that cause drowsiness increases the risk. Many adults over 60 already take something that can cause drowsiness, such as some allergy pills, sleep aids, pain medicines, or medicines for mood or anxiety.
That is a reason to talk to the pharmacist, and a reason to be careful the first few times:
- Try anything new on a day you are home, not before driving or a long walk.
- Skip alcohol that day.
- Do not combine it with a new sleep aid or another new product.
- Tell someone in the house you are trying something new.
- Write down how you feel, and tell your pharmacist or doctor about anything unexpected.
Does the form matter?
A balm rubbed on the skin, a gummy and an oil under the tongue are different experiences, and your pharmacist may answer differently for each. Tell them exactly which form you are considering. Our CBD 101 page explains the main product types, and CBD Balm Stick or Jar? covers topicals.
Falls are the bigger worry
For many people over 60, the real concern is not feeling high. It is feeling a little unsteady. Anything that adds drowsiness can make a trip to the bathroom at night riskier. Keep a nightlight on, clear the path and ask your pharmacist whether anything on your list already affects balance. The CDC’s STEADI program has fall-prevention checklists your doctor can go through with you.
Questions to bring to your pharmacist or doctor
- Here is my medication list. Is there any reason not to try CBD?
- Do any of my medicines already cause drowsiness?
- Does it matter whether I use a balm or a gummy?
- What should I watch for, and when should I call you?
- Is there anything about my balance or fall risk I should think about?
What first-timers often get wrong
- Trying several new things at once. If you start a CBD product, a new supplement and a new sleep routine in the same week, you cannot tell what is doing what.
- Assuming natural means no side effects. Plant-based products can still cause drowsiness or an upset stomach and can still affect how other medicines work.
- Trusting the front of the package. The back label and the lab report tell you more than any headline on the front.
- Not telling the doctor. Add it to your medication list so every doctor and pharmacist you see knows about it.
A note for family members
If you are helping a parent who is curious, sit in on the pharmacist conversation and help keep the written list current. Our caregiver’s checklist covers what to check before you buy anything for someone else, and the Grapefruit Rule explains a simple way to flag medicines the pharmacist will want to look at first.
Red flags on the shelf
- No lab report, or a report that does not match the batch number
- Promises to cure, treat or replace a medicine
- A label that does not say how much CBD is in the product
- Delta-8 or other THC products sold next to CBD with similar packaging
About K61
We make K61, so we say so. Recovery Standard and Recovery Concentrate are made with CBD isolate and are Zero THC, and Resilience Rounds gummies test at non-detectable THC, so K61 products will not get you high. That is what the lab reports show, batch by batch, on the K61 lab reports page. Match the batch number on your package to its report, and bring it to your pharmacist along with your medication list.
Common questions
Will K61 make me high?
No. K61 topicals are Zero THC and the gummies test at non-detectable THC, and batch reports are at k-61.com/pages/coa.
Will CBD make me high?
THC is the compound associated with feeling high. Check the batch lab report: CBD isolate and broad-spectrum products should show THC as not detected. Full-spectrum products contain small amounts of THC.
Can CBD make me sleepy?
The FDA lists sleepiness as a possible side effect, and the risk rises with alcohol or other medicines that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist or doctor first.
Can CBD affect a drug test?
In some cases it can. No brand can promise a test result. Ask before buying if testing matters to you.
Talk to your doctor first, especially if you take medications
CBD can affect how some other medicines work. Before you try any CBD product, bring the label (and its lab report) to your doctor or pharmacist and ask whether it makes sense with everything else you take.
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. K61 products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For adults 21+.
