You must have read a few dozen articles drawing a comparison between CBD and THC but unlike others, this article is going to cover each and every aspect that you should know if you are even slightly interested in taking CBD for its medical benefits or just to take the edge off and relax at the end of your hectic day.
We will start with some scientific mumbo jumbo, briefly talk about major benefits of both and then dig right into the details on effects of both CBD and THC and discuss how both stand head to head with each other.
Scientific Introduction:
CBD stands for “Cannabidiol” and THC stands for “Δ-tetrahydrocannabidiol”.
CBD comes from Hemp that is classified as varieties of Cannabis that contain 0.3% or less THC content. THC comes from Marijuana that is classified as varieties of Cannabis that contain more than 0.3% THC and have the tendency to trigger psychotropic or euphoric effects on the user.
Cannabinoids are a unique class of compounds and both CBD and THC belong in this class. When it comes to marijuana, THC-rich varieties are quite common, but varieties with a high CBD content are rare.
Let’s see what CBD is all about:
CBD is non-psychoactive, which means that taking CBD oil does not make the user high. Because of this property, CBD is more common in food and natural products.
Cannabis contains more than 113 cannabinoids and CBD is one of them. It interacts with the receptor cells and promotes the nervous system response in the human body. The human body has two types of cannabinoid receptors – CB-1 and CB-2. It is also a natural sedative.
What makes CBD special?
In recent years, the fame and demand of CBD and CBD derived products has skyrocketed and rightly so. Hundreds of studies and researches were carried out and it was established beyond reproach that CBD oil can be useful in treating dozens of diseases and symptoms that are originally being treated with high potency medicines with severe side effects and contraindications. Following infographic briefly talks about some of the important issues CBD can help us out with.
Characteristic Features of CBD:
In addition to curing dozens of diseases, it shows unprecedented benefits in its prolonged use and overall suitability in various conditions.
- It’s 100% natural – CBD consists exclusively of natural ingredients. All products are produced entirely biologically,
without any pesticides or other chemical control agents. - Versatile – A big advantage is that CBD can be used for many different purposes. CBD can be used both for
internal use and for external application. - Non psychoactive – CBD oil and other CBD products contain only negligible traces of THC. That’s why it’s impossible
to get high on CBD. - It is not addictive – A very significant advantage is that CBD does not make you dependent, even with prolonged
use. - Available in several forms – CBD can be consumed in dozens of different forms. Like oils, capsules, skin creams,
suppositories, gummy bears, chewing gum and many more. - Suitable for children – Another important advantage of CBD is that it is also suitable for children. But owing to the
sensitivity of the issue, doctor recommend not to go crazy and limit the concentration to 2.5% to 5%. And especially when you child is taking any other medicine, it is recommended to talk to your physician before consuming any CBD products.
- Suitable for animals – Another significant advantage of CBD is that it is also suitable for animals. Like humans, animals
also have an endocannabinoid system. For smaller dogs and cats, recommended concentration is 2.5% or 5%. While for larger animals, such as horses, recommended concentration is 10% to 18%. - Very accurate dosing – CBD oil can be dosed very accurately because these vials are supplied with a pipette. With the
help of this pipette it is possible to dose the oil, droplets for droplets, very precisely. - Overdose is not possible – Even if you take large amounts of CBD within a very short time, no problems can occur.
- Different concentrations available – Because CBD can be used by almost anyone, it makes sense to have it available in different concentrations. In this way, CBD can meet the wishes of all target groups.
Some Disadvantages of CBD:
Everything that comes with great benefits have some strings attached. But in the case of CBD,
advantages weigh out the disadvantages by a long margin, nonetheless, we promised to cover aspect
and end this confusion of CBD vs THC, so here are a few disadvantages of CBD:
Expensive Product
One downside to CBD products is that it is often not cheap. Most of the products available in the
market are all made from high quality ingredients and they are produced almost entirely
biologically. The production process is very labor intensive and time consuming, making these
products relatively expensive.
Many people first have to get used to the taste of the oil
For many people, the taste of the oil is a big disadvantage. CBD has a bitter, grassy taste that
most people find uncomfortable. Different factors such as terpenes, flavonoids, the extraction
methods and the added oils play a major role here. This creates the bitter taste of the CBD oil. If
you can not get used to the taste, the tasteless capsules may be better for you.
The body can get used to the product
Another disadvantage is that after prolonged use of CBD sets a certain tolerance / habituation
effect, that is, the body gets used to the CBD. This issue is easy to fix by taking a break of about a
week. Then you can start taking CBD again and the habituation effect will be gone.
Different effects depending on the person
Everybody has a different chemistry and metabolism and that is why the effect of CBD differs
depending on the person. There is no universal dosage for taking CBD. How much you should
take depends on the CBD content in the product. Start with a small dosage and slowly build it
up.
Many unreliable CBD products on the market
In recent years, as the demand of CBD, skyrocketed, market was hit with a storm of many
unreliable CBD brands and products. These products often contain less CBD than indicated on
the packaging.
Not legal everywhere
Owing to the sensitivity of the issue, there have been nationwide and international level
debates as to whether it should be declared legal or not.
But one cannot simply deny the unprecedented benefits that CBD has to offer. Several countries that have legalized the medical use of cannabis include Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Lithuania,Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Norway, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Switzerland, and Thailand. For a detailed account, have a look here.
We believe we have covered every possible aspect about CBD, its scientific origin, how is it derived, how can it benefit your health, its characteristic features and its disadvantages. Now let’s talk about THC and see how it stands head to head with CBD.
What is THC?
THC is not only one of the 113 cannabinoids but it is also the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. THC is the best researched and generally best known compound in cannabis. It also binds to nerve cell receptors, but the response is quite different from that of drugs like morphine and heroin. The interaction of THC with the brain releases dopamine. The effect of THC lasts for about 2 hours. The effects set in within 10-30 minutes after ingestion. In other words, THC is the ingredient of the cannabis plant that is responsible for the state of intoxication and “high” associated with cannabis use.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) works by mimicking the effects of anandamide and 2-AG. These neurotransmitters are naturally produced by the human body and help regulate sleeping and eating habits, pain perception and countless other bodily functions.
Here’s what you can expect after consuming anything that has THC higher than 0.3%:
- Relaxation
- Altered visual, olfactory and auditory sensations
- Fatigue
- Hunger
- Reduced aggression
What are the benefits of THC?
Besides its widely known adverse effects, studies suggest that THC may be useful in providing relief for
the following diseases and conditions:
- Side effects of chemotherapy
- Multiple Sclerosis
- HIV / AIDS
- Spinal injury
- Nausea and vomiting
- Chronic pain
- Inflammations
- Indigestion
The intoxication, the “high”:
The most psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is probably THC, whereas CBD is not psychoactive at all.
THC is therefore intoxicating to the user, while CBD is not. Therefore, recreational consumers do not
prefer CBD, but its non-psychoactive properties have made it a good candidate for medical research.
Some serious side effects of THC:
Paranoia and anxiety are some of the side effects of using THC that many users have experienced. CBD,
on the other hand, fared better in this area. A scientific paper examined the psychotomimetic effects of
CBD and THC in 134 users and the results showed no association between CBD and paranoia and
anxiety.
Antipsychotic properties:
THC is a psychoactive substance. CBD, on the other hand, is not psychoactive and also helps counteract
the psychoactive effects of THC. A research report showed that CBD properties had a user’s intoxication
reduced by its antipsychotic ability. Check out a detailed account here.
CBD is one of the active ingredients in various pharmaceutical drugs and medical studies.
More CBD instead of THC in supplements.
THC is an illegal drug with significant immediate and long-term cognitive side effects.This includes impaired thinking, reduced ability to plan and organize, changed decision-making processes and reduced control over impulses.
The chronic use of THC also correlates with significant abnormalities in the heart and brain.
CBD lacks the harmful cognitive side effects of THC.
Cannabis plants with low levels of CBD and high levels of THC result in a greater “smoke sensation”,
while plants with more CBD and less THC produce a weaker, more relaxed effect.
With the increasing popularity of medicinal cannabis, breeders are currently developing varieties with a
higher CBD-to-THC ratio to minimize psychoactive side effects.
Overall, the lower health risks of CBD combined with its effectiveness make it a better candidate for
natural applications compared to THC.
Legal status
The legal status of marijuana is pretty much black and white – in most countries it is illegal. In UK, The
only completely legal form of CBD oil is when it comes from the cannabis variety hemp and that too
must be derived from an EU-approved strain. All other forms of CBD oil come from high THC strains of
cannabis and are illegal.
In the UK, CBD is classified as a Schedule I drug and is therefore technically illegal. But CBD oil with 4%
CBD and less than 0.3% THC is legal.
Hemp containing CBD is legal and readily available in many countries, including the US and the UK.
Therefore, CBD and THC derivatives are readily available for sale around the world and without
restrictions.
What’s the future?
Recently, the benefits of CBD to THC have been abundantly explored, and this is the main reason why
breeders breed CBD-rich cannabis plants. These plants have low THC levels. Natural CBD oil supplements
are also quite popular with users. So you can only expect the CBD culture to soar in coming years and
rightly so. About time we give up chemical heavy high potency drugs with ridiculous side effects and
take something that nature has to offer.
Conclusion
We still have the chicken or the egg causality dilemma going on, there is no end to discussing and
comparing two things but no matter how solid the evidence is, it all comes down to one’s own choice
and peace of mind.
As an informed commentator, it is our duty to present both cases strongly, without any bias, without
intentionally leaving anything out and we believe we have done so.
So here’s a brief summary of what we discussed above and we will leave you on a neutral note.
CBD oil is particularly promising compared to THC as it has no intoxicating effect and potentially lower
side effects potential than many other THC cannabis products.
Despite its huge benefits, you should discuss taking CBD oil with their doctor if they want to use it for
the first time. Especially if you want your kids to consume it.
CBD oil is widely available online at dozens of online stores in several consumable forms. It can be
bought over the counter and many products are available at Amazon.
Let us know how we did. Did we miss anything?
Leave a comment below and tell us would you take CBD for medicinal use? If not, why?
