CBD vs. THC: What’s the Difference Between the Two? CBD is just one of over 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. It’s also the second major active compound besides THC. Consumers are getting more interested in the differences between CBD vs. THC. There’s a large group of users who combine these two molecules to maximize the effects of their cannabis extracts. CBD and THC have a similar molecular structure to the cannabinoids produced naturally in your body by the endocannabinoid system. This guide covers all-important differences between CBD vs. THC, explaining their benefits, uses, safety profile, legal status, and more. We’ll also discuss the mechanisms both cannabinoids use to regulate essential processes in your body. CBD and THC have almost identical chemical makeup. They consist of 30 hydrogen atoms, 21 carbon atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms. That being said, these atoms are arranged differently, which means CBD and THC ultimately have different qualities. CBD is the acronym for cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid synthesized by cannabis plants.

The lack of psychoactive properties means that CBD won’t give you the high associated with marijuana. However, if you take hemp-derived CBD oil, you don’t need to worry about getting high because such products contain 0.3% THC or less. CBD extracts that meet the THC limit are legal on a federal level, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill. CBD has a wide range of therapeutic properties. However, when you hear people talking about CBD, they usually praise it for health and wellness rather than recreational use. THC - or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol - is the main active ingredient in marijuana plants. It is responsible for the deeply relaxing and euphoric sensations associated with getting high. It also has analgesic, appetite-stimulating, and sedating properties. While THC isn’t the only cannabinoid capable of inducing intoxication, it’s the only one that occurs in concentrations significant enough to produce a high. That’s why THC has long been associated with recreational use. Nevertheless, CBD has a lot of documented therapeutic benefits as well.

In fact, its cognitive and mood-altering properties can aid patients in an array of physical and mental conditions. It’s actually difficult to summarize the differences between CBD vs. CBD won’t make you feel high in the way THC does because it’s a non-intoxicant. CBD has more than 65 molecular targets, but it doesn’t directly bind to cannabinoid receptors in the brain. CBD helps the body achieve and maintain higher levels of endocannabinoids in the bloodstream. CBD can dampen the high from THC. CBD is mostly associated with medical, Global Health Farms CBD, and wellness benefits. CBD doesn’t cause toxicity, even in large amounts. CBD is safe for animals. CBD can be extracted from hemp and marijuana. Hemp-derived CBD products are legal on a federal level. THC can get you high because it has intoxicating properties. People often link THC to recreational cannabis use, although it has many therapeutic benefits too. Lower doses of THC can reduce stress and anxiety, but higher doses can aggravate these feelings in sensitive users due to its biphasic nature.

THC sends signals to the brain by binding to cannabinoid receptors CB1. THC can be extracted only from marijuana plants. THC is fully legal in Canada and Uruguay. In the USA, 16 states have legalized its recreational use. You can use the above bullet points as a quick reference point, but the differences between CBD vs. THC are more complex than that. When it comes to their use, Global Health Farms CBD bot cannabinoids have several recreational and medical benefits. Let’s focus on the effects of CBD and THC on the brain. Most cannabis users consider the high from THC as a pleasurable sensation. They often report a relaxed state of mind, reduced physical tension, bouts of euphoria, giggliness, and even signs of improved cognition. Low and moderate doses of THC are well-tolerated by humans and can effectively reduce stress and anxiety. But, as we mentioned earlier in the article, high doses of THC can worsen these feelings in sensitive users.