The most notable difference between CBD and THC is the lack of psychoactive effects for CBD, which does not typically cause the characteristic marijuana high of THC.
There are hundreds of cannabinoid receptors throughout the human body that cause specific physiological effects. Potential uses of these cannabinoids include treating the following:
pain
nausea
cancer
appetite loss and eating disorders
Alzheimer’s disease
glaucoma
multiple sclerosis
muscle spasms
CBD and THC are both cannabinoids found in marijuana. Though similar in what they may help treat, the most important difference is that THC will cause a person to experience a high while CBD will not.
It is essential that people familiarize themselves with local laws before acquiring and using CBD or THC. Both CBD and THC are still federally illegal substances and are only approved for medication or recreational use in certain states.
Is CBD legal?
The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3 percent THC federally legal. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3 percent THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them federally illegal but legal under some state laws. Be sure to check state laws, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the FDA has not approved nonprescription CBD products, and some products may be inaccurately labeled.
Though CBD and THC are both found in marijuana and interact with the endocannabinoid system, there are some important differences a person should be aware of:
Getting high THC may cause a person to experience a high. Despite both being cannabinoids, CBD and THC interact with slightly different receptors in a person’s brain.
As a result, CBD is unlikely to get an individual high. On the other hand, THC produces the high people associate with using marijuana recreationally. Medical marijuana that is CBD dominant has minimal THC. As a result, a person will not feel high when taking the medication. Medical marijuana that contains THC will cause the person to experience a high when taking the medicine.
Where do they come from Both CBD and THC are present in marijuana. However, when a person takes a CBD dominant version of medical marijuana, they are using CBD from hemp, which is closely related to marijuana. THC originates in the marijuana plant, and people extract it from that source.
Benefits CBD and THC have similar effects on treating medical conditions. However, there is some variation in the uses of each substance. People typically use CBD to help treat the following:
inflammatory bowel disease
seizures
inflammation
psychosis or mental disorders
migraines
THC has potential uses in treating some of the following:
glaucoma
muscle spasticity
low appetite
People may use either to help treat:
pain
nausea
Legality The laws behind the sale of medical marijuana vary between states. Many states in North America have approved of people having at least limited use of medical marijuana. Each state varies slightly in how they define and regulate the legal use, prescription, or sale of marijuana.
There is no federal law allowing the legal use of medical marijuana. As a result, it is illegal to use or prescribe medical marijuana in any state that does not have a law allowing people to do so. Several states have approved the use of marijuana for recreational purposes. As with medical marijuana, recreational usage is not legal federally.
A person should look into the laws in their state before acquiring medical marijuana. If the state does not explicitly allow its use, a person could face legal issues for obtaining or using marijuana for medical or any other purpose.
Laws surrounding the use of medical and recreational marijuana are changing rapidly. A person who is considering using CBD or THC should check their local laws regularly as they may change or be changing.
Side effects There are very few side effects with either CBD or THC. In fact, CBD does not have known side effects. According to the World Health Organization (WHO)Trusted Source, CBD is safe in large quantities, and the only potential side effects are likely the result of interactions with other medications a person may be taking.
A person consuming THC may experience some temporary side effects. These can include:
dry mouth
red eyes
slower than average response times
a general feeling of being high
memory loss
issues with coordination
increased heart rate
Teenagers, in particular, may experience adverse psychiatric effects from getting high. This may be because a teenager’s brain is still developing. According to some research, regular or large doses of THC can increase the risk of developing schizophrenia in some people with a predisposition for the condition. Neither CBD nor THC has any apparent side effects that are serious. Neither can be fatal when taken correctly. Also, people who use THC recreationally appear to have little risk of developing an addiction to it.
Ways to take each Both CBD and THC are available as oils. Many people choose to smoke or vape marijuana or CBD, but this may not be possible for people with certain conditions. CBD is available in a variety of forms.
These include:
gels
supplements
gummies
oils
THC can also come in different forms, including:
smokable products
oils
tinctures
edibles, such as brownies
capsules