CBD And THC: What’s The Difference? 

Difference Between CBD and THC

Aside from intoxication, CBD and THC are also different in their effects, uses, benefits, side effects, plant sources, legality, and product forms.

CBD vs THC Effects

CBD and THC have the same chemical formula (C21H30O2), but their atoms are arranged differently, so they affect the body in different ways.

Since they’re similar in structure to your body’s own endocannabinoids, this allows CBD and THC to interact with endocannabinoid system receptors.

THC binds directly to these receptors, producing the characteristic cannabis high and activating various biological pathways linked to your endocannabinoid system.

CBD affects your endocannabinoid system differently. It doesn’t bind to cannabinoid receptors but influences their function instead. ¹ More importantly, it increases the levels of the endocannabinoids produced by your own body. ²

CBD vs THC Uses

THC can be used both medically and recreationally in the form of whole-plant cannabis or prescription drugs. The medication can contain THC alone or include other cannabis compounds.

Although CBD is also present in whole-plant cannabis preparations, it’s mostly used in the form of CBD oil and other dietary supplements.

CBD vs. THC Health Benefits

CBD and THC have many potential health benefits. Some of these are similar, while others are unique to each cannabinoid.

Both CBD and THC are used to relieve pain, inflammation, nausea, anxiety, and sleep issues, with a growing volume of research evidence backing these effects. ³ ⁴ ⁵

CBD vs. THC Side Effects

THC and CBD can cause adverse effects, but they’re not quite the same.

THC is best known for its psychoactive side effects, which include anxiety, paranoia, euphoria, and impaired memory, and reaction time. It can also cause red eyes, increased heart rate, dry mouth, sleepiness, and dizziness.

CBD doesn’t have any mind-altering effects but may cause low blood pressure (hypotension), diarrhea, dry mouth, lightheadedness, and sleepiness.

However, medical studies looking at the benefits of CBD for individuals suffering from epilepsy and psychotic disorders suggest that these side effects are not consistent across populations and may be considered mild, especially when compared to other drugs that are used to treat similar conditions. ⁹

CBD vs. THC: The High

As noted earlier, the biggest difference between CBD and THC is that the latter causes intoxication. CBD, on the other hand, cannot make you high.

In fact, research suggests that CBD counteracts THC’s psychoactivity by indirectly preventing it from binding to your body’s cannabinoid receptors. ¹⁰ This may explain why cannabis strains with higher CBD levels are not as intoxicating.

CBD vs. THC Sources

Another major difference between CBD and THC is in how they’re sourced. Cannabis plants come in two main varieties: marijuana and hemp. Most THC products are made from marijuana, which is high in THC.

Conversely, most CBD products are extracted from hemp, a variety of cannabis with high CBD but extremely low (<0.3%) THC levels.

CBD vs. THC Legality

CBD vs. THC Product Forms

CBD and THC can also differ in the kind of products they appear in. THC is most commonly used in the form of dried, whole-plant cannabis which also contains smaller amounts of CBD.

Meanwhile, most people use CBD in the form of CBD oil, which can either have pure CBD or whole-plant extract providing the full range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other active compounds found in hemp.

Both THC and CBD can also appear in other whole-plant cannabis preparations such as tinctures, capsules, edibles, and topical products.

Furthermore, the two cannabinoids can be used in purified preparations called isolates, which contain only that single cannabinoid.

Examples of these isolates include pharmaceutical drugs containing man-made forms of THC to help with nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. The CBD isolate drug Epidiolex is used for treatment-resistant epilepsy.

This wide variety of forms means that CBD and THC can be smoked, vaped, eaten, applied to the skin, or used sublingually (under the tongue).

CBD vs. THC Chart

Summing Up

CBD and THC are different in many ways. Most importantly, hemp-derived CBD products are legal and don’t make you high, whereas THC is a controlled substance because of its intoxicating effects.

Consequently, CBD oil and similar products are growing increasingly popular as a way to enjoy the benefits of cannabis without the mind-altering effects.

Still, the beneficial effects of THC should not be overlooked. And as shown by research, THC, CBD, and other cannabis-derived compounds work best in combination.

References

1. Chung, Hery, Angelica Fierro, and C. David Pessoa-Mahana. “Cannabidiol binding and negative allosteric modulation at the cannabinoid type 1 receptor in the presence of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol: An In Silico study.” PloS one 14.7 (2019).

2. Leweke, F. M., et al. “Cannabidiol enhances anandamide signaling and alleviates psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia.” Translational psychiatry 2.3 (2012): e94-e94.

3. Nagarkatti, Prakash, et al. “Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs.” Future medicinal chemistry 1.7 (2009): 1333-1349.

4. Vučković, Sonja, et al. “Cannabinoids and pain: new insights from old molecules.” Frontiers in pharmacology 9 (2018): 1259.

5. Abrams, Donald I. “The therapeutic effects of Cannabis and cannabinoids: An update from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report.” European journal of internal medicine 49 (2018): 7-11.

6. Blessing, Esther M., et al. “Cannabidiol as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders.” Neurotherapeutics 12.4 (2015): 825-836.

7. Viveros, M. P., Eva M. Marco, and Sandra E. File. “Endocannabinoid system and stress and anxiety responses.” Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 81.2 (2005): 331-342.

8. Bridgeman, Mary Barna, and Daniel T. Abazia. “Medicinal cannabis: history, pharmacology, and implications for the acute care setting.” Pharmacy and Therapeutics 42.3 (2017): 180.

9. Iffland, Kerstin, and Franjo Grotenhermen. “An update on safety and side effects of cannabidiol: a review of clinical data and relevant animal studies.” Cannabis and cannabinoid research 2.1 (2017): 139-154.

10. Niesink, Raymond JM, and Margriet W. van Laar. “Does cannabidiol protect against adverse psychological effects of THC?.” Frontiers in psychiatry 4 (2013): 130.