CBD vs. THC

Learning about cannabis plants and their different types and strains is such a wonderful thing. It is undeniable that the acquired scientific knowledge is priceless and can be applied to any other daily situations. However, as in any other scientific field, it is very common to read technical words and specific terminology that we may not understand or just find difficult to comprehend. To start from the very beginning, in this article we are going to define, compare and learn two of the most basic and important terms: CBD and THC.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is a cannabinoid found in cannabis plants commonly used in medicine due to its therapeutic, relaxing properties. It should be noted that, contrary to popular opinion, CBD has no psychoactive effects as it doesn’t contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the responsible ingredient found in marijuana that produces a high.

Nowadays, CBD is present in food, drinks, and beauty products such as oils or creams among others. But one of the most surprising facts about this chemical compound usage is that in the last few years, CBD has been used by athletes in sports recovery since the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) unbanned its use in 2017, right before Tokyo 2020 which became the first CBD Olympics.

What is THC?

THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is a chemical compound responsible for most of cannabis’ psychoactive effects, such as making you feel “high”. This is because THC binds to cannabis receptors in our brain, specially the CB1 receptors that predominantly express in the central nervous system (CNS). Some of them are associated with thinking, memory, pleasure and time perception, so that’s why people say that THC has euphoric and exciting effects.

On the other hand, it is well known that marijuana has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. In regards to this cannabis compound, patients use THC to treat some serious diseases such as cancer or AIDS nausea and vomiting symptoms. Moreover, recent research is discussing the use of cannabis to prevent dementia in the future as some compounds such as THC may help with memory.

Differences between CBD and THC

CBD and THC are abbreviations that can lead to confusion as they are both chemical compounds of cannabis. Their main differences are:

• Psychoactivity: CBD is non-psychoactive, which means that it doesn’t affect your mind. However, THC actually is, so it directly affects brain function.
• Chemical structure: They have both the same chemical formula, but with a different atom arrangement. This results in having different properties and therefore different effects.
• Uses: THC is more used in medical and recreational environments while CBD on supplements, creams, oils, powders, etc.
• Origin: CBD comes primarily from the hemp plant and THC from the marijuana plant.
• Side effects: CBD has no side effects compared to THC, which can cause potential anxiety and paranoia.
• Legality: CBD is legal nationwide while THC is illegal federally.
• Testing: in a saliva test, CBD is barely undetectable after 6-10 hours while THC disappears after 8-12 hours.

Benefits and medical uses

Consuming CBD and THC together has more medical benefits than doing it separately as cannabidiol may help to reduce tetrahydrocannabinol side effects such as paranoia, anxiety or seizures. Despite having some common benefits such as reducing pain and helping wish nausea and anxiety, it is important to know when you can use CBD or THC:

Besides, as we’ve mentioned before, cannabis is also used to treat cancer as it can reduce chronic pain and help to prevent chemotherapy side effects such as nausea and vomiting; or even anorexia and weight loss (often caused by cancer). 

Depression, anxiety, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and dementia are more examples of the widest list of medical conditions where patients use cannabis due to its properties in order to help patients fight against their diseases.

Please note that if you have a health condition or are on any type of medication, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and check with your healthcare provider. This article is for informational purposes only, we are not recommending nor inciting the consumption of cannabis.

CBD and THC Side effects

Society commonly compares THC and CBD as if they were antagonists: THC, bad; CBD, good. One of the reasons why people think THC is something bad is its high side effects list. However, though people often tolerate it well when consumed, CBD also has some adverse effects that many people don’t know yet.

While THC may cause dysphoria, hallucinations, paranoia, confusion or hypotension among others, CBD can provoke:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Upset Stomach
• Tiredness
• Lightheadedness
• Low blood pressure
• Drowsiness

You must consult a healthcare provider before using cannabis to treat any medical afflictions; as it is possible that it isn’t compatible with other treatments. Furthermore, its consumption with other drugs can lower or enhance its effects.

Legality

In regards to legality in the USA, the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the commercial production of hemp and authorized states to submit state plans to administer hemp programs, which means that CBD is legal nationwide.

Nevertheless, despite THC being federally illegal, some states have recreational and medical programs that allow citizens to consume this chemical from marijuana products such as Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, etc. Additionally, States with medical-only cannabis programs include Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, or Florida among others.

Anyway, we highly recommend checking the current legality of your country or state as this information could change. We want to remember that we are not recommending nor inciting the consumption of cannabis. We are not accountable for misuse or misunderstandings taken from this information.

In summary, although THC and CBD are both active ingredients with plenty of benefits to relieve many serious conditions and chronic pains; the lack of legalization means that, for the moment, medical CBD is the only one that has reached the market. It also means that further cannabis studies, which can prove even more beneficial effects on other maladies, are delayed.