More than 33 percent of people in the United States alone have tried CBD at some point in the past. The popularity of both THC and CBD has been increasing in recent years as cannabis is starting to become legal in more and more states across the country. But what exactly are these cannabinoids? And what is the difference between them?
A lot of people get CBD and THC mixed up since they both come from the cannabis plant. But these compounds, while similar, have some very important differences between them in terms of their effects.
We broke down what makes these compounds different.
What You Need to Know About CBD
CBD, like THC, is a cannabinoid. It is found in both hemp and cannabis plants. However, most CBD manufacturers prefer to get CBD from the hemp plant rather than the cannabis plant because hemp naturally produces more CBD and less THC.
The most important thing you need to understand about CBD? CBD does not generally produce a psychoactive high when consumed.
This is different from THC, which does produce a psychoactive high.
You might be wondering what the point of taking CBD is if it doesn’t get you high. The main reasons are related to health. CBD is full of antioxidants and many studies suggest it has anti-inflammatory effects.
While more scientific studies are necessary to see what exactly CBD does for the body, CBD seems to produce a lot of health benefits from what we can tell so far. It is also very versatile and comes in many forms. Many people like to use CBD oil in various recipes, and they might add it to their favorite drinks or salads.
Much anecdotal evidence also suggests that it might be able to help people relax.
Besides CBD oil, you can also find CBD edibles such as chocolate, gummies, and other kinds of candy. There are also CBD vapes and topicals you can try.
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What You Need to Know About THC
The biggest difference between CBD and THC is that THC produces a psychoactive high when consumed and CBD generally does not. This is because THC affects the brain differently than CBD. Some strains of cannabis produce more intense highs than others, depending on the strength of the cannabis and the type.
Some strains of cannabis are specifically bred to be as strong as possible. THC affects everyone a little bit differently, but in general, it tends to make people feel more relaxed and open. Consumers often report that Indica strains of cannabis tend to be more calming than Sativa strains, but again, it all depends on how your body reacts to each particular cannabis product.
As with CBD, there are many forms of THC to try. There are topicals, vapes, edibles, and more. The most popular form is cannabis flower—dried cannabis buds that you can smoke. Inhaling cannabis vapor or smoke will produce an almost immediate high while edibles and other products will take between 30 minutes and an hour to kick on.
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The Difference Between CBD and THC
The most important difference between CBD and THC is this: THC produces a psychoactive high while CBD usually does not. But one thing to note is that every recreational cannabis product will have a little bit of CBD in it.
If you want to get high, you’ll want to look for products with higher percentages of THC in them. If you want the wellness benefits of cannabis without the psychoactive effects, it may be wise to try CBD first, since not every CBD product has THC in it – and if it does, it will only have a small percent of THC in it and not enough to get you high. Check the labeling on any cannabis product you purchase to be sure the THC-to-CBD ratio is where you want it to be.
Not sure which cannabinoid is right for you? Try them both! By trying small doses of CBD and THC, you can see what sits best with your body and best meets your needs.