CBD has become a regular part of many people’s wellness routines, but confusion and misinformation still surround it. Common myths — like CBD making you feel high, not actually working, or being the same across all brands — stop a lot of people from ever trying it.
My own relationship with CBD began at my first job in the industry, when I tried the original high-CBD extract used by some of the first “CBD families,” including Charlotte Figi’s. Sleep and I had not been on good terms for years, but that first night I slept like a baby — it completely changed my perspective. The product was full-spectrum, and I quickly learned that taking enough during the day made me feel THC in a way I really didn’t like.
Those two truths — that CBD could be life-changing and that THC could feel terrible for some people — ultimately shaped Kyoto Botanicals and my obsession with simple, honest, THC-free CBD products.
Last updated: November 13, 2025 • Author: Kyoto Botanicals
Myth #1: “CBD Will Make Me Feel High”
This is the myth I hear the most, and it makes sense — CBD and THC both come from the cannabis sativa plant. THC is the compound that causes the “high” associated with marijuana. CBD is different: it’s non-intoxicating, and when properly formulated it shouldn’t make you feel out of it, foggy, or anxious.
When I was first using full-spectrum CBD, I learned this the hard way. The same product that helped me sleep incredibly well at night made me feel “off” if I took too much during the day. I hate feeling high — I take CBD to help me feel clear and present — so I started adjusting down my THC exposure while keeping the CBD benefits.
That experience is exactly why Kyoto Botanicals exists as a THC-free, broad-spectrum brand. We remove THC from our extract and then verify every batch with independent third-party lab testing. One of my favorite moments at markets is watching someone’s shoulders drop the second they hear, “There’s no THC in this — you won’t accidentally get high.” If you’re worried about that, you don’t have to be with our products. Our goal is calm, not altered.
Myth #2: “CBD Is Just a Placebo — I Tried It Once and Didn’t Feel Anything”
I understand the skepticism. If you try CBD once, don’t feel fireworks, and toss the bottle in a drawer, it’s easy to think it’s all hype. But CBD doesn’t work like a strong stimulant or sedative — it works more like a daily support system. And so many produts out there don't deliver what they promise, so choosing a brand you can trust is vital to having a positive experience with CBD.
CBD interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system — the network that helps regulate things like mood, stress response, sleep cycles, and overall balance. For me personally, the benefits show up as smoother evenings, a calmer mind at bedtime, better sleep rhythms, and waking up fresh instead of groggy. I also lean on topicals as spot treatment for recovery after training or long days.
A few things I’ve learned watching customers (and myself) test CBD over the years:
- Consistency matters more than a single “test dose.” Most people need to take CBD daily for at least a couple of weeks to see how their body responds.
- Flavor and ingredients determine whether you’ll actually stick with it. Early on, we made a deliberate choice to avoid harsh, alcohol-based flavor extracts and artificial flavors. We leaned into whole-plant oils like mint — the kind of thing many brands do now, but at the time it felt like a big departure.
- Quality varies wildly between brands. If a product doesn’t contain what the label claims, of course it won’t feel like much.
That’s why we keep things simple: broad-spectrum CBD, zero THC, and limited products. Our organic CBD tinctures (like Lemon and Peppermint) are designed to be easy to take every day, not just “try once and forget.”
Myth #3: “All CBD Products Are the Same”
Working for years in the industry before launching Kyoto Botanicals, I test a ton of CBD products, and hoped at least one of them was good. The difference between brands was shocking — not just in how they felt, but in how they were made.
One of my biggest “aha” moments came when I learned how companies dealt with hemp crops that didn’t meet their CBD yield expectations. Instead of lowering forecasts or selling less product because there literally wasn’t enough CBD in the field, reputable companies were quietly spiking formulas with CBD isolate to hit label claims and meet demand — without clearly communicating that to consumers.
While that approach may not be illegal, it felt completely out of alignment with how I wanted to operate. My guiding light in CBD is simple: make products that actually work and reduce the snake-oil stigma in this category. If you have to play games with formulas to make your numbers work, something upstream in your process is broken.
On top of that, you have all the usual shortcuts:
- Using CBD isolate and “spiking” formulas purely to feel stronger in the short term.
- Using hemp seed oil instead of true hemp extract and letting people assume they’re the same.
- Skipping batch-level lab testing or burying results.
- Buying extract from whoever is cheapest instead of building real relationships.
We’ve taken the opposite approach. At Kyoto Botanicals, we design every step up front so we don’t have to reject batches later — careful math in formulation, attention to detail in production, and a relentless focus on quality. Our broad-spectrum, THC-free extract is paired with USDA-certified organic ingredients wherever possible, and we publish our COAs so you can see exactly what’s in every bottle.
Myth #4: “CBD’s Effects Aren’t Proven”
There’s still a lot to learn about CBD, and anyone who tells you it’s a cure-all is overselling it. But “unproven” isn’t accurate either.
In 2017, the World Health Organization released a detailed review of CBD. Among the key takeaways:
- No effects indicative of abuse or dependence potential were found.
- Early research suggests CBD may be helpful for several conditions.
- CBD was generally well-tolerated with a good safety profile.
You can read the full report here: World Health Organization CBD review (2017).
Beyond the research papers, I’ve spent time with the people and plants behind the extract. Visiting hemp farms opened my eyes to just how hard it is to grow hemp honestly. Because hemp was illegal for so long, there’s no such thing as “standard” hemp farming equipment — farmers have had to cobble together planters, harvesters, and everything in between through trial and error. It’s very in character for this entire industry: cutting-edge, bootstrapped, and built by people who are willing to figure things out the hard way.
In the real world, people most often use CBD to help support things like staying calm in daily life, maintaining healthy sleep cycles, and recovering from exercise-induced inflammation. Experiences vary, but overall, CBD has one of the more encouraging safety profiles in the wellness world — and when it’s grown and made with care, it’s a very human, very grounded tool.
Wrap-up
CBD shouldn’t feel scary, confusing, or mysterious. My own journey started with a product that changed my sleep overnight and continued through years of trial, error, and careful formulation work to build something I felt good putting my name on.
When you understand what CBD is (and what it isn’t), choose THC-free, well-tested products, and give your body time to respond, CBD can be a straightforward part of your wellness routine.
Whichever route you choose, my advice is the same: start low, stay consistent, and pay attention to how you actually feel — not the myths.
Ready to try CBD without the confusion?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common myths about CBD?
The most common myths are that CBD will make you feel high, that it’s “just a placebo,” that all CBD products are the same, and that CBD has no real research behind it. The truth is more nuanced, and product type and testing matter a lot.
Will CBD make you feel high?
CBD itself is non-intoxicating. Feeling “high” is associated with THC. If you’re sensitive to THC or want to avoid it completely, look for broad-spectrum or explicitly THC-free products and confirm with batch-level lab results (COAs).
Why do some people try CBD and feel nothing?
A lot of people expect CBD to feel immediate or dramatic. Some effects are subtle, consistency matters, and product quality varies widely. Dosage, timing, and whether a product actually contains what the label claims all play a role.
How can I tell if a CBD brand is trustworthy?
Start with batch-level third-party lab tests (COAs), clear ingredient lists, realistic claims, and transparency around sourcing and manufacturing. Be cautious if a brand won’t show lab results or leans on vague buzzwords instead of specifics.
What’s the difference between full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate?
Full-spectrum contains multiple cannabinoids and may include THC. Broad-spectrum contains multiple cannabinoids but is formulated to remove THC. Isolate is CBD-only. The best choice depends on your goals and how strongly you want to avoid THC.
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