CannaScience

What’s the Difference Between CBD & THC?

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CBD is the all-new hype, but what is it exactly? And can it get me high? 

No, it can not. CBD is a nonpsychoactive compound in cannabis. The only psychoactive compound in cannabis is THC. Both compounds have medicinal effects and interact with your endocannabinoid system. It’s essential for you to understand the different ways these cannabinoids can affect and benefit you to use cannabis as a personal, individualized medicine.

Therapeutic Properties of CBD v. THC:

CBD

  • Analgesic 
  • Anti-anxiety
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Anti-cancer
  • Anti-convulsive
  • Anti-depressant
  • Antiemetic
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Anti-insomnia
  • Anti-ischemic
  • Anti-Nausea
  • Anti-oxidant
  • Antipsychotic
  • Antispasmodic
  • Appetite
  • Bone stimulant
  • Immunosuppressive
  • Neuroprotective

THC

  • Analgesic
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Anti-cancer
  • Anti-convulsive
  • Antiemetic
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Anti-nausea
  • Antispasmodic
  • Appetite stimulant
  • Bronchodilator
  • Neuroprotective

The Entourage Effect

The Entourage Effect refers to the symbiotic nature of cannabinoids, working together to produce a better effect than when taken alone. So isolating CBD and only taking CBD oil with no other cannabinoids or terpenes, CBD will have less of a profound effect than it would if those other compounds were in the oil.  

Infusion and Extract Methods:

  • Full Spectrum: THC and/or CBD with multiple terpenes 
  • Broad Spectrum: CBD molecule with multiple terpenes 
  • Distillate: THC and/or CBD molecules only 
  • Isolate: THC or CBD only

Legality 

Marijuana-derived CBD is currently legal in all states of the US, with the exception of 3 states.

The only states where CBD is completely illegal is Idoha, Nebraska, and South Dakota. If you are a resident of one of these three states, the only CBD products you can purchase are hemp-based CBD products. These CBD products are from hemp, a form of cannabis, which is legal throughout the country. Unfortunately CBD from the marijuana plant, which is another form of cannabis

In 2018 the government passed a law that differentiated marijuana and hemp, recognizing that the two are different forms of cannabis. Hemp contains very little THC, unlike marijuana, which has a high level of THC. The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 declared hemp-derived CBD as legal, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) continues to classify marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug; therefore, marijuana-derived CBD is illegal under the Controlled Substances Act.

Whether you receive your CBD from a hemp or marijuana plant, they still produce the same effects.

My Personal Preferences

I choose to use a full-spectrum CBD oil every day in the morning as a daily supplement. Then in the evening, I use my medical marijuana to medicate. I love my THC marijuana, but I am aware of the many effects CBD can provide, and since my medical marijuana is low in CBD, I decide to take the oil.

Overview 

CBD and THC both have medicinal properties and are safe to consume. 

You need to be aware of the psychoactive side effects of THC to ensure an anxiety-free high. If you want to experiment with THC, start by purchasing cannabis with the low percentage of THCA (THCA is the acidic form of THC. It changes to THC through the decarboxylation process, which occurs through heating raw cannabis).  

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