Mention cannabis, and you're likely to hear the terms CBD and THC. These two cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in cannabis and interact with the endocannabinoid system.
While both are medicinal, they have different effects. If you're looking to treat ailments, you should check if you need more CBD or THC. While they both come from cannabis, the difference between CBD and THC is almost like night and day.
The Main Difference Between CBD and THC
In a nutshell, CBD, or Cannabidiol, and THC, or Tetrahydrocannabinol, differ in their psychoactive effects. CBD does not give you that high, while THC is known for its psychoactive effects. If you're looking to get CBD,
hemp would be the best source, while THC is best found in marijuana.
Another notable difference between CBD and THC is in regulation. In states where cannabis is regulated, there's no limit as to how much CBD a plant can have. On the other hand, THC would often have a 0.3 percent limit on the plant. If the THC levels exceed that, then you could get arrested or penalized.
Sources of CBD and THC
While you can separate CBD and THC from a plant, it can be tedious and cost you a lot. You can opt to buy directly, or you can go for plants that already have high concentrations of CBD or THC.
Not all people want the high and only want the medicinal benefits of cannabis. Thus, you'd like something with low amounts of THC.
You should look at hemp if you're getting CBD since they often have close to zero THC content. On the other hand, THC is found more in marijuana and would often have high concentrations.
But a word of advice: some hemp strains may have more than 0.3 percent THC, which may be illegal in some areas. At the same time, some marijuana strains may have lower concentrates of THC as well. You may want to have your strains tested to ensure compliance with any state regulations.
CBD and THC as a Medicinal Solution
Both CBD and THC may be used as medicinal solutions for different chronic illnesses. But these cannabinoids work best with certain conditions.
CBD is best used to treat symptoms linked to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, Inflammation, Migraine, and Seizures.
THC is used for Glaucoma, Insomnia, Nausea from cancer treatment, body pain from arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraine, poor appetite, and tremors.
If you're suffering from any of these conditions, it's best to consume higher concentrations of CBD or THC, depending on your needs.
Applications of CBD and THC
There are different ways of consuming CBD or THC, aside from smoking cannabis. But before you can reap the benefits of these compounds, you need to
decarboxylate the source material.
Decarboxylation allows you to unlock the potency of your hemp or marijuana. It involves heating your material over time to activate the psychoactive or medicinal benefits of your material. Especially if you plan to use the material for edibles, you need to decarboxylate to ensure that the potency comes out amid all the flavoring you put.
Once you decarboxylate your material, you can then use it for different applications.
Some of the popular options for getting a CBD fix include making
edibles and gummies. For those who want their THC kick, you can also try
gummies or make
vape juice for your vaporizers. The vape juice is a good option, especially if you're going to customize the experience based on your preference and without the unnecessary ingredients.
