5 Differences Between CBD and THC

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid, which means it won’t cause the mind-altering effects associated with cannabis. It’s usually derived from hemp, a variety of cannabis with low THC levels (0.3% or less).

In regular cannabis, CBD is the second most prevalent cannabinoid. CBD has rapidly grown in popularity in the past several years as a natural option for relieving a wide variety of symptoms and conditions.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the most abundant cannabinoid in marijuana, the term for cannabis plants that can get you high. By definition, marijuana contains over 0.3% THC, with some strains reaching concentrations as high as 30%.

As the main psychoactive component of cannabis, THC is largely responsible for the cannabis high. However, like CBD, it also has many potential health benefits.

CBD and THC do have a lot in common. They’re both phytocannabinoids (plant-derived cannabinoids) found in the cannabis plant, which are different from the endocannabinoids naturally produced by our bodies. Many of their effects are also similar.

Having said that, CBD and THC differ in some key ways, such as their chemical structure, psychoactive properties, legal status, medical benefits, side effects, product forms, and more.

Research has shown that CBD and THC have a wide range of potential health benefits, many of which are similar. For example, they can both relieve pain, inflammation, and nausea.

However, some of their effects are distinct. More importantly, CBD is preferred by people looking for intoxication-free relief.

Multiple human studies suggest that CBD may help with:

• Seizures
• Psychosis
• Anxiety disorders

There’s also weaker evidence that CBD could be beneficial for:

• Drug addiction
• Chronic pain
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Type-1 diabetes and diabetic complications
• Skin conditions such as acne and eczema
• Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease
• Inflammatory diseases
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Arthritis
• Depression
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cancer
• Nausea
• Insomnia and other sleep disorders

On its own or as part of whole-plant cannabis, there’s strong evidence that THC may help with:

• Chronic pain
• Nausea
• Sleep problems associated with chronic pain and other issues
• Multiple sclerosis

There’s also weaker evidence that it may be helpful for:

• Stimulating appetite
• Tourette syndrome
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Glaucoma
• Cancer
• Headaches and migraines
• Skin conditions
• Arthritis

The level of evidence for these potential benefits of CBD and THC varies greatly, with some supported by high-quality clinical trials, and others only having been tested in petri-dish or animal studies.

Another key point is that while both CBD and THC can lower anxiety, THC seems to have a biphasic effect, which means that only low doses can provide relief whereas higher ones make anxiety worse.

Meanwhile, CBD is so promising that researchers believe it could help with a wide range of anxiety disorders.

CBD and THC are considered relatively safe compounds. You’d need to use large doses to experience significant side effects, especially with CBD.

The most common side effects of CBD are tiredness, sleepiness, dry mouth, diarrhea, and changes in appetite.

However, these side effects are mostly minor and were only found in studies using large oral doses of pure CBD.

Even studies using daily doses as high as 1500 mg, which is much higher than those used by most people, found that CBD is tolerated well.

Additionally, the World Health Organization concluded in its 2018 report that “CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.”

THC can also cause tiredness, sleepiness, and dry mouth, as well as red eyes and increased heart rate. However, it’s better known for its psychoactive side effects, such as anxiety, paranoia, and impaired memory and concentration.

There’s also some concern that heavy, long-term THC use may increase the risk of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia but the evidence is inconclusive.

Lastly, both CBD and THC can potentially interact with prescription medications. However, these effects seem to require large doses and are not well-studied in humans. Nonetheless, it’s best to talk to your doctor before using CBD, THC, or any other cannabis product.

Many people use THC-rich cannabis because it can get you high, producing euphoria and other mind-altering effects.

In contrast, CBD isn’t often used recreationally since it doesn’t cause intoxication and appears to reduce the psychoactive effects of THC. This may explain why cannabis strains high in CBD are less intoxicating.

THC is most commonly used in the form of dried marijuana. As we noted above, there are also several synthetic, THC-based pharmaceutical drugs used for specific medical issues.

CBD is also used as part of whole-plant marijuana because it’s usually the second-most common cannabinoid in the plant after THC. Similarly, the pharmaceutical CBD drug Epidiolex is used for treating severe types of childhood epilepsy.

However, CBD is best known for coming in the form of full-spectrum CBD oil and other hemp-derived wellness products.

Both CBD and THC are also used in capsules, edibles, tinctures, vape products, concentrates, topical preparations, and other products.

THC and CBD can be consumed in a wide variety of ways. The four main options are:

• Inhalation: absorption through the lungs by smoking or vaping
• Oral: taking edibles, capsules, beverages, and other ingestible products by mouth
• Sublingual: absorbing cannabinoid-rich oil, tinctures, or sprays through the blood vessels under the tongue
• Topical: applying cannabinoids directly to the skin

Having said that, smoking cannabis is the most popular method of administering THC.

CBD is most commonly taken as sublingual CBD oil, although capsules, gummies, and other products are also used.

Cannabis drug tests look for the metabolites of THC, which means that using marijuana and other THC-rich products will likely result in a positive test.

CBD itself won’t show up on a drug test. However, it’s possible to test positive when you use full-spectrum CBD products because they can contain up to 0.3% THC.

Although similar in some ways, CBD and THC also have many key differences.

They both have a long list of potential health benefits that may help with a wide variety of conditions and symptoms. However, more research is needed to substantiate and fully understand their effects.

It’s also important to note that CBD and THC are best used together, especially in combination with other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids naturally present in cannabis.

Research has shown that these compounds work in synergy, which is commonly referred to as the entourage effect.

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