Same Plant, Different Compounds: CBD vs THC
Understanding the difference between CBD vs THC is essential for overcoming any fears related to consumption of cannabis
People have been stigmatizing cannabis for way too long. The plant has been often brushed aside as a gateway drug with strong potential for abuse. This, somewhat distorted way of thinking, will hopefully become a sad reminder of dark times sooner or later.
However, those who have never experienced cannabis in their lives may still be afraid of trying the plant given the aforementioned stigma imposed by things like Reefer Madness.
With that in mind, it’s no wonder that they want to approach the herb with baby steps. And if you think you’re alone with your doubts, fear not. In fact, many cannabis novices are afraid of psychoactive effects associated with consuming cannabis.
Well, is there a better way to overcome your fears than to know what you’re actually dealing with?
Educating people about differences between CBD vs THC
The cannabis plant houses dozens of different cannabinoids, among which you will find CBD and THC, the most researched ones.
It goes without saying that both these cannabinoids have a wide range of therapeutic qualities that can prove useful for helping with a wide selection of chronic diseases and acute ailments. However, they also differ in the way they affect both the body and brain.
Sadly, society is largely misinformed when it comes to the prominent differences between CBD vs THC.
This misinformation, or collective lack of knowledge, can severely impact modern healthcare and medicinal options. The vast majority of doctors seem to stick to old practices, prescribing pharmaceutical medications for their patients as the go-to treatment.
Cannabis compounds vs pharmaceutical medications
Alas, these drugs often combat single symptoms, and they do not approach any disease in a complex way. This, in turn, requires patients to mix various pharmaceuticals in order to achieve desired effects, not to mention that prescription drugs are habit-forming.
Although the so-called whole plant medicine doesn’t fit within official medical procedures, you can still try the cannabis plant as a potentially safe alternative to the aforementioned drugs. Especially when we speak of CBD, which is legal in all 50 states.
Nevertheless, in order to fully understand the potential of cannabis, people need to get a grip on basic differences between CBD vs THC. Believe it or not, once you understand the whole science behind cannabis, your fears about the plant will drift away in the blink of an eye.
CBD vs THC
All humans possess the endocannabinoid system. This is the “route” that processes and reacts to cannabinoids. These reactions may be both positive and, sometimes, undesired.
Especially when it comes to the more frequently referenced compound, tetrahydrocannabinol.
The Key Difference
Perhaps the most significant difference between these two cannabinoids is that CBD (cannabidiol) doesn’t have any psychoactive qualities. Simply put, CBD is completely void of any high-inducing effects.
This lack of psychoactive properties is exactly why CBD products are gaining popularity in the medical field, and presumably, why people don’t fear CBD as much as they fear THC.
How do CBD and THC interact with each other
More interestingly, not only is CBD totally non-psychoactive, but researchers believe it to have antipsychotic effects as well. Cannabidiol has prompted doctors to test its abilities on people suffering from schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. By the same token, CBD appears to bring the feeling of undisturbed tranquility to one’s mind. This results in reduced anxiety and a sense of improved overall well-being.
Opposite to cannabidiol, THC may negatively affect the psyche when you consume it in high doses. In other words, too much THC can result in anxiety-driven behaviors and paranoia.
Aside from counteracting the undesired effects induced by THC, cannabidiol has proved to reduce anxiety in subjects suffering from a variety of mental disorders when administered as a pure CBD extraction.
Finally, let’s talk about one last difference between CBD vs THC.
People commonly associate cannabis with an overwhelming feeling of tiredness and drowsiness, which is absolutely right. What they don’t understand, however, is what reason lies behind this phenomenon.
The aforementioned drowsiness is, again, the effect of using too much THC. CBD, on the contrary, promotes alertness while slightly boosting energy levels.
To cut the long story short, scientists and breeders explain the differences between CBD vs THC with the so-called entourage effect, to which people also refer as the whole-plant medicine.
CBD vs THC: the legal status
Other people may argue that the most notable difference between CBD vs THC is the legal status. The law in many countries clearly prohibits the cannabis plant. Therefore, cannabis strains that are high in active tetrahydrocannabinol are still illegal for recreational use in the majority of states.
CBD, on the other hand, is legal in the US, as it’s derived from a completely legal variety.
The legal status of hemp and CBD has naturally given rise to organic, high-quality CBD oil, as well as other CBD products for personal use, such as tinctures, topicals, concentrates, isolates, and even pet care products.
These are just a few of the profound differences between CBD vs THC. While science has already combed through the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol, the effects of CBD on numerous health conditions – both physical and mental – still require more in-depth research.
Hopefully, once scientists uncover all secrets of CBD, it may become the cure for multiple illnesses to which conventional medicine claims to have no answer.