10/05/2020
The Difference between THC & CBD Part 1 - The User’s Effect
Tetrahydracannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) are the two most profound and studied cannabinoids in the Cannabis plant which contains over 100 different Cannabinoids known as phytocannabinoids.
Both THC & CBD work by interacting with the Human Endocannabinoid System (ECS) which is made up of CB1 and CB2 receptors that produce endocannabinoids. Yes! The human body produces endogenous Cannabinoids very similar in structure to the phytocannabinoids in Cannabis. Because of this, the Cannabis plant is naturally beneficial and essential to man and having a deficiency in Cannabinoids may have serious side effects like insomnia, pain, anxiety, etc.
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a vital signaling system responsible for regulating a wide array of functions, some of which include:
* Pain
* Appetite
* Mood
* Memory
* Immune response
* Sleep
* Cycles of cellular life and death (especially in cancer patients)
To best explain the main difference in the User Effect between THC & CBD is to describe the way in which both Cannabinoids interact with the body’s CB-1 receptors. Simply put it like this, THC gets you high because it binds to the CB-1 receptor whereas CBD doesn’t get you high because it doesn’t bind to this receptor. On the other hand, studies have shown that CBD works against the CB-1 activating qualities of THC. Therefore combining CBD with THC can lessen the paranoia, anxiety and mental cloudiness from THC use making it a much more pleasant experience.
By now, you can see why THC causes one to feel mentally high. CBD improves a person’s mood and its euphoria is known to be a blissful feeling throughout the body elevating the user’s mood and not a head strong euphoria like THC. This makes CBD a great tool for stress management without any changes in mental perceptions.
Overall, both phytocannabinoids are highly valuable and beneficial to ones health. Many people may find greater benefits by combining both THC & CBD. This is known as the entourage effect. This is the theory that all the compounds in cannabis work together, and when taken together, they produce a better effect than when taken alone.