The short answer
No, kanna doesn't get you high the way THC or alcohol does. In the small amounts used in supplements, most people describe a gentle lift in mood and a sense of calm while staying clear-headed. Kanna works on serotonin, which is also why it isn't right for everyone.
- What it is: Sceletium tortuosum, a succulent that grows in South Africa
- How it feels: uplifted, at ease, a little more social
- How fast it works: most people feel our melts within about 15 minutes
- Who should skip it: anyone taking an SSRI, SNRI, or MAOI (unless your provider says otherwise), and anyone pregnant or nursing
- In our products: each Sunny melt has 15mg of kanna alongside 1mg of hemp-derived THC
Does kanna get you high?
No. Kanna is not intoxicating in the way THC or alcohol is. It isn't a cannabinoid, an opioid, or a psychedelic, and it won't leave you foggy or "out of it." At low amounts, the effect is a shift in mood, not a change in how clearly you think.
Two honest caveats. Very large amounts of kanna can feel stronger and more sedating, which is one reason we keep ours low. And Sunny pairs kanna with 1mg of hemp-derived THC, so if you're wondering about that part, here's what a microdose of THC feels like.
What does kanna feel like?
Most people describe kanna as a bright, calm lift: lighter mood, less mental noise, and more ease around other people. It tends to arrive in two phases. First comes an uplifted, slightly energized feeling. Then it settles into something cozier and more relaxed.
That two-phase arc comes from the plant's alkaloids, and the balance between them shapes whether an extract feels more uplifting or more relaxing. We went deep on this with our kanna supplier in What Is Kanna? A Conversation with the Founder of Ultrakanna.
How does kanna work?
Kanna works mainly on serotonin, the brain chemical tied to mood. Its best-known alkaloid, mesembrine, slows the reuptake of serotonin, so more of what your body already makes stays available. Researchers have also found that kanna extract acts on an enzyme called PDE4, which is being studied for its role in mood and focus.
That serotonin connection is what makes kanna feel good. It's also the reason for the most important safety note in this post, which is below.
How long does kanna take to work, and how long does it last?
Our melts dissolve under the tongue, so most people feel them within about 15 minutes. That's much faster than a gummy or capsule, which has to be digested first. The effects are short-acting and generally taper off within a few hours. [Confirm the exact range with Roberto before publishing.]
If you're curious why the format matters so much, we explain it in Why Melts Work Better When Placed Under Your Tongue.
Is kanna safe?
For most healthy adults, kanna appears to be well tolerated at low doses. In a three-month placebo-controlled trial, healthy adults took 8mg or 25mg of a standardized kanna extract daily, and both doses were well tolerated.
We want to be upfront about the limits of that research. The studies so far have been small and short, and none has established long-term safety beyond three months. They also used a specific extract called Zembrin, which is different from the Ultrakanna extract in our products. Kanna has centuries of traditional use behind it, but the modern science is still catching up.
What are the side effects of kanna?
Side effects from kanna are usually mild and uncommon at low doses. The ones people mention most are a headache, an upset stomach, or a dry mouth. Taking more than you need makes them more likely, which is one more reason to start low.
If something feels off, stop taking it and check in with your health provider.
Who shouldn't take kanna?
Kanna isn't for everyone. Skip it, or talk to your health provider first, if you:
- Take an SSRI, SNRI, MAOI, or any other medication that affects serotonin
- Take a CNS depressant
- Are pregnant or nursing
- Have, or think you might have, a medical condition
- Are under 21
Can you take kanna with antidepressants?
Not without talking to your health provider first. Kanna raises the amount of serotonin available in the brain, and so do most antidepressants. Taking them together can push serotonin too high, a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
This applies to SSRIs, SNRIs, and MAOIs in particular. If you take any of them, please ask before you try kanna. We'd much rather you check than guess.
Is kanna addictive?
Kanna isn't known to be habit-forming. It doesn't act on the opioid system, and the clinical studies to date haven't reported dependence or withdrawal.
Can you take kanna every day?
The research we have covers daily use for up to three months, and participants tolerated it well. Beyond that, there isn't long-term data yet. Some people take kanna as a daily ritual and others save it for the moments they need it. Both are fine. (As our kanna supplier likes to say, with this plant less is more.)
Will kanna show up on a drug test?
Kanna on its own isn't something standard drug tests look for. Those panels screen for substances like THC, opioids, and amphetamines, not kanna's alkaloids.
Here's the important part, though. Sunny also contains hemp-derived THC, and even a microdose may cause a failed drug test. If you're tested for work, treat any product with THC in it as a risk.
Is kanna legal?
In the United States, kanna is not a federally controlled substance, and it's sold as a dietary supplement ingredient. Rules can vary by state and by country, so check before you travel with it. The hemp-derived THC in some of our products follows its own separate set of rules.
What's the difference between kanna, kava, and kratom?
Kanna, kava, and kratom are three completely different plants that happen to share a first letter. Kanna is a South African succulent that supports mood. Kava is a Pacific Island root that relaxes the body. Kratom is a Southeast Asian leaf that acts on the same receptors as opioids. They aren't related, and they don't feel alike.
|
|
Kanna |
Kava |
Kratom |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Where it's from |
South Africa |
Pacific Islands |
Southeast Asia |
|
What it is |
A succulent |
A root, usually made into a drink |
A leaf from a tree in the coffee family |
|
How it works |
On serotonin |
On GABA, your body's calming system |
On opioid receptors |
|
How it feels |
Uplifted, at ease, more social |
Relaxed and sleepy |
Energizing in small amounts, sedating in larger ones |
|
Habit-forming? |
Not known to be |
Low risk |
Yes, dependence and withdrawal are well documented |
|
Worth knowing |
Don't combine with SSRIs, SNRIs, or MAOIs |
Linked to rare liver problems; skip the alcohol |
Subject to FDA warnings and banned in several states |
Is kanna the same as kratom?
No. This is the mix-up we hear most, and it's an important one. Kratom works on opioid receptors, which is why it carries a real risk of dependence. Kanna works on serotonin and has no connection to the opioid system. Different plant, different continent, different chemistry.
Is kanna like kava?
They're cousins in spirit, not in science. Both have long histories as social, take-the-edge-off plants. Kava leans sedating (it's the one that makes your mouth tingle and your limbs feel heavy). Kanna leans brighter: more of a lift than a wind-down, which is why we built Sunny around it.
Which one is in Mary & Jane?
Only kanna. We've never used kava or kratom in anything we make.
How to try kanna for the first time
Start low, go slow, and give it 15 minutes. That's the whole method.
- Place one Sunny melt under your tongue and let it dissolve.
- Wait 15 minutes and notice how you feel.
- If you'd like a little more, take a second.
Each Sunny melt has 15mg of kanna and 1mg of hemp-derived THC, so you can find your sweet spot one small step at a time. For more on amounts, see our guide to dosing kanna.
Still have questions? We'd love to hear from you at hello@shopmaryandjane.com.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Mary & Jane products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is for general information and is not medical advice.
Sources
- A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Extract Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin) in Healthy Adults, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2013
- Proof-of-Concept Randomized Controlled Study of Cognition Effects of the Proprietary Extract Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin) Targeting Phosphodiesterase-4, 2014
- Sceletium tortuosum (supplement), Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, Cognitive Vitality report
- Mitigation of serotonin-caused suppression of osteoblast function by extracts of Sceletium tortuosum, 2026 (describes mesembrine's action on serotonin reuptake)
- What Is Kanna? A Conversation with the Founder of Ultrakanna, Mary & Jane