Curious about the difference between CBD and THC? Discover how these compounds from the cannabis plant interact with your body, their potential benefits, and legal status. Learn why CBD might not get you high, but THC will.
These days, most likely even your mom’s friends, your doctor, or your neighbor is lighting up or noshing on somegummies.
Though there are more than100 cannabinoidsin theCannabis sativaorCannabis indicaplants, the main players areTHCandCBD. While there are many diffs between the two compounds, for starters,THCis primarily responsible for psychoactive properties, andCBDisn’t.
But here’s what else to know about the ways these compounds interact with your bod’sendocannabinoidsystem.
What is CBD?
CBD is an active ingredient derived fromcannabis(akamarijuana) or hemp, both of which come from the cannabis plant. Basically, they’re two plants from the same species.
Wait, what’s the diff between cannabis and hemp?
The diff between cannabis andhempis that hemp has less THC. Legally speaking (at least in the U.S.), hemp plants have to have less than.3% or lessTHC.
So if you’re looking to get even a fraction as high as the stoners inDazed and Confused,opt for some Mary Jane – because hemp’s not gonna cut it.
WhenCBDis isolated from cannabis or hemp plants, it won’t cause the same “high” feeling as THC. It also prob won’t cause you to stare at a single blade of grass for 20 mins. This is because THC activates receptors in your noggin that get you high – CBD doesn’t.
That said, CBD may make you feel morechilled outor experienceless pain. But more on that below. ⬇️
What is THC?
THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. It’s what gives your body and mind that feeling of being high or intoxicated that’s traditionally associated withweeduse. It can cause feelings ofrelaxation, euphoria, altered perceptions, andmood changes.
This high can vary a lot in intensity depending on the concentration of THC in the flower. Lower ends of the spectrum may cause you to feel a little buzzed, while formulas over 30% might make you feel like you’re smoking the mysticalPineapple Expressstrain and have successfully entered another dimension.
Like CBD, THC comes from either theCannabis indicaorCannabis sativa plant.Cannabis indicatends to have higher levels of CBD, and sativa tends to have higher levels of THC.
There’s also a commonly-held belief thatindicastrains are calming, while sativa strains are uplifting. But according tosome experts, this idea is difficult to scientifically prove.
But ultimately,it will impact everyone differently.
What is the difference between CBD and THC?
These two cannabis strains are not one in the same: And by the end of this section, you’ll be able to say that now you know your CBDs and THCs. ✅
CBD vs. THC chemical structure
Despite their differences, THC and CBDshare the same molecular structure: 2 oxygen atoms, 21 carbon atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms. Why do they have such diff effects on your bod, then? The way the atoms are arranged ever so slightly differently makes all the difference.
Both CBD and THC are chemically similar to your brain’s natural endocannabinoid system (ECS). In this way, they’re able to impact yourbrain’s endocannabinoid receptors.
Wait, what’s the endocannabinoid system?
The ECS affects communication between neurons in your brain and many biological functions. Itimpactseating, learning, memory, anxiety, reproduction, metabolism, and lots of aspects of growth and development.
The interaction between the endocannabinoids in CBD/THC and your neurotransmitters (AKA chemicals that send messages between cells and impact things like stress, pain, sleep, and immune function) are what produces the effect on your brain and body.
CBD vs. THC psychoactive components
CBD and THC: Same atoms, different impacts on your body.
Even though both CBD and THC are technically psychoactive, CBD doesn’t produce the traditional high feeling associated with THC.
THC binds mostly to the cannabinoid (CB1) receptors in your brain, which lends a high or euphoric feeling. (Or like you’re flying when you’re listening to music. Or like you’re witnessing a work of art in a water droplet.)
Meanwhile, CBD doesn’t bond strongly with CB1 receptors. In order to stick to it at all, it needs a little help from THC. Together, THC curbs some of the potential psychoactive effects of THC like euphoria,anxiety, or sedation.
CBD vs. THC chemical legality
It kinda seems like just yesterday that people were getting locked up for smokingweed– but at least if you live somewhere where it’s legal, it’s easy to forget.
In the U.S., adult recreational cannabis/THC use islegalized in 22 states and decriminalized in 9. Thirty-seven states and Washington D.C. have also passed laws that make medical cannabis with high THC levels legal. In some states you may need a prescription from a doc.
And pretty much anywhere where you cannabis is recreationally or medically available, you should be able to buy CBD with ease. Since CBD doesn’t produce a traditional high, it’s much less strictly regulated.
Wait, is CBD legal, then?
CBD that comes from hemp(and has less than .3 percent THC) isfederally legalin the U.S. It’s still illegal in some states, however.
Meanwhile,CBD that comes from marijuanaisfederally illegalbut is legal in some states.
Still,under U.S. federal law right now, CBD and THC are still considered Schedule 1 drugs. That means the DEA considers it to have no verified medical use and a high potential of being abused. Other schedule 1 drugsincludecocaine, heroin, LSD, ecstasy, and peyote. Hemp has been removed from theControlled Substances Act, though, which means the DEA thinks it’s pretty much A-OK.
But heads up: Since cannabis laws are changing so fast, we’re prob gonna need our editorial team to update this section on the reg. (Thanks, team.) It’s worth noting that an estimated88 percentof U.S. adults say that Mary J should be legal for both medical and recreational use by adults.
If you live in the U.S., you’re able to check your state’s laws online.
If you’re in possession of cannabis or related products in a state where they’re illegal, you could get into some trouble. You also can face penalties if you use cannabis without a prescription in states where you need one.
Medical benefits of CBD vs. THC
Since they’re derived from the same plant, CBD and THC share many of the same benefits,such as:
CBD is also specifically known to help treat conditionsincluding:
CBD may also help treat:
Further research is also scoping out whether CBD might be able to treat:
In 2018, theFDA approvedthe first prescription med to contain CBD. It’s called Epidiolex and is used to treat a rare form of epilepsy.
But though these benefits are backed by some pretty solid research, CBDisn’t yet approved by the FDAfor any of the other above uses.
THC is often ingested tohelp with:
It also may potentially be a treatment for:
There are two synthetic forms of THCapproved by the FDAto treat specific conditions:
Side effects of CBD vs. THC
According to a2022 review, CBD is well-tolerated even in high doses. That said, side effects may occur, mostly due to interactions with other drugs or supplements. These side effects may include:
Even though it’s known to help treat anxiety and depression, there’s also somelimited research from 2019that has associated CBD use with an increase in suicidal thoughts.
The side effects of THC are generally temporary due to the drug’s psychoactive effects. These may include:
Unlike say, alcohol or painkillers, neither THC nor CBD can kill you.
According to2022 research, some long-term tokers may experience depressive-like symptoms coupled with low motivation. The same study also linked cannabis use to psychosis, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders.
We need more research to prove causation, however. There’s currently no evidence that cannabis use causes issues like schizophrenia. And again, there’s also some evidence that paradoxically, it can help treatschizophrenia, anxiety, anddepression.
Even though we need more research to know for sure, cannabis (either CBD or THC)may interact negatively with:
Due to potential drug interactions with THC or CBD, it’s a good idea to check with your doc before consuming THC or CBD, just in case.
Will CBD show up on a drug test?
Even thoughCBDis legal on a federal level,drug testsare still very much a thing that some employers and institutions use.
That said, most tests will be detecting THC-related chemicals. There are some tests that can detect CBD as well – but it’s much less likely that your employer, etc. is going to care about CBD use.
Heads up, though: Since many CBD-centric products contain traces of THC, even your CBD tea may cause you to test positive forTHCon a drug test. (Just check the reviews on CBD products and see complaints for yourself.)
The best way to avoid THC showing up on your drug test, then, is to avoid cannabis altogether. (Sad!) But the next best way is to purchase a product that is specifically advertised as a CBD isolate. This means that the company has done its best to isolate the CBD from the other compounds in the plant. Full-spectrum CBD still contains small amounts of THC.
Keep in mind that CBD regulation is still a bit of a Wild West, since itisn’t highly regulated by the FDAlike other drugs. So, there’s not always a guarantee about product quality or contents.
CBD and THC are both derived from theCannabis sativaorCannabis indicaplants. Research suggests that both compounds have a host of potential benefits like reducing anxiety, pain, nausea, and sleep disorders.
CBD in particular may be effective for treating conditions like seizures and depression, while THC appears to treat issues like glaucoma and muscle spasms.
In the U.S., CBD is federally legal but may be illegal in some states. Recreational THC is legal in over 20 states. Since CBD or THC may interact with certain drugs including anti-seizure or anti-psychotic medications, it’s a good idea to talk to a pro before rolling that joint or downing that tincture.
