So what is the real difference between CBD vs THC? These are both two amazing compounds from the same cannabis plant. Before we can get into what is CBD vs THC we have to better understand the cannabis plant and where each compound comes from.
The cannabis plant: CBD vs THC
Cannabis is one of the most versatile and oldest cultivated plants on the planet. The next time you think about where farming started, you can think back to a time where humans started planting cannabis, and many other plants, in an attempt to utilize their many benefits. This amazing plant is responsible for healing many different mental and physical illnesses, something that we are only now starting to rediscover.
There are quite a few variations of cannabis, with the two most well-known being cannabis sativa and cannabis indica. There is also cannabis ruderalis and hemp, but there is still a lot of research that needs to be done about where these two fit into the cannabis family. The CBD vs THC debate starts with this because each of these plants has their own composition of cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are the compounds present in cannabis plants and there are hundreds identified today, with the main distinctions being CBD vs THC.
These cannabinoids are found in all cannabis plants but in different amounts. Some plants, like hemp, have very little THC, making it a great product to use for all-CBD extracts. The exact cannabinoid make-up depends on the specific breed of plant and more and more breeders are focusing on producing plants that have almost no THC.
Why is CBD vs THC illegal?
Cannabis was made illegal in the early 1900s when the American government unleashed a campaign of anti-cannabis propaganda, which eventually resulted in it being made illegal. That’s right, cannabis wasn’t always illegal. After all, most of our laws in place today have been structured over the last 100 – 200 years, with the war on drugs being one of the biggest battlegrounds.
Whatever the actual reason, we now know that there were no valid grounds for making it illegal and it had nothing to do with CBD vs THC. More and more research is being conducted and now there is actual proof of the various medicinal benefits of CBD vs THC. These two compounds, which we still know very little about, are the pinnacle in the new wave of cannabis legalization that is taking place throughout the world.
Our endocannabinoid system: CBD vs THC
Now that we know more about the cannabis plant and why it’s illegal in so many countries worldwide, let’s look at the main topic of this article, the differences between CBD vs THC.
It all starts in their chemical composition. You might be surprised to know that CBD and THC actually have the exact same atoms, but these atoms are arranged in a slightly different formation – resulting in these two different compounds.
“But if they are made up of the same atoms, surely they must have the same effect on our bodies?” Well, that’s where things get a bit complicated because the answer is actually ‘no’. CBD and THC both work with our endocannabinoid system (ECS) but how they interact without a body is different.
Our endocannabi-what? Our endocannabinoid system, ECS for short, is a bunch of receptors that allow our body to interact with cannabinoids. Why we have these ECS receptors is still a puzzle, with pro-cannabis users saying it’s due to our close relationship with the plant, while others saying it’s because we were able to produce cannabinoids naturally. Whatever the reason, these receptors react with CBD vs THC in a slightly different manner.
The two main receptors are named CB1 and CB2. CB1 is responsible for mental/psychological effects while CB2 is responsible for bodily (central nervous and immune system) effects. Both THC and CBD bind with CB2, making them both great at healing a variety of bodily ailments, but the difference comes with CB1.
CB1 is the receptor that loves THC as much as your neighborhood stoner. If THC didn’t bind to CB1, we would never be able to experience the psychoactive (high) effects of THC. CBD vs THC is that CBD doesn’t bind to CB1 at all, resulting in no psychoactive effect. This is what makes CBD so great for medical patients, but it doesn’t stop just there. Not only does it not have any psychoactive effects, but CBD has been proven to diminish the effects of THC by stopping it from binding properly to the CB1 receptor. Yes, that’s right, it’s provides a natural anti-high; this is great for anyone feeling a little too high from that edible/bong they just had.
CBD vs THC products
Now that you know what THC and CBD do to you on the inside, let’s find out where to get some. If you’re looking for THC, you won’t struggle to find it and, at the moment, there are still far more ways to get high than there are to get CBD. You need to find CBD products and be ready to pay for them because they aren’t cheap – you pay for what you get.
- THC & CBD products
As we’ve mentioned, most cannabis plants have a combination of both THC and CBD and even that bud you smoked last probably had some CBD in it, even if you can’t notice it. Some products are made to have both THC and CBD in, which just amplifies the medicinal benefits while dialing down on the high.
CBD/THC Chocolate Bars are a great way to enjoy both compounds, with some containing 10 mg of both cannabinoids – the perfect 50/50 blend.
- Pure CBD products
More and more people are starting to realize the potentials of CBD. After all, not everyone wants to get high. So if you’d prefer to heal your bodily pains, CBD is the compound for you and there are plenty of products to choose from.
These CBD products contain only CBD, making it impossible to get high. There are plenty to choose from with some of the most popular options being CBD gummy bears and CBD-phoenix tears. Both of these products are pure CBD with no traces of THC present.
Whatever your preference, it’s great to know that we live in a world where the medicinal benefits of CBD vs THC are available to all of us – even if it’s still a little bit pricey.
