More than 48 million people in the United States have tried marijuana at least once in their lives, but not a lot of them know the difference between CBD and THC. Suppose that you have an Ohio marijuana card, you go to a dispensary, and you see a variety of products with the terms CBD and THC on them.
What exactly are CBD and THC and why do they matter so much for medical marijuana and cannabis in general? Keep reading and learn more about the difference between these two cannabinoids below.
What You Need to Know About THC
THC is the most popular cannabinoid around since it is the one that produces a psychoactive high when consumed. You can find THC in both sativa and indica cannabis plants and it even occurs in small concentrations in hemp plants. THC is unique because it is one of the few cannabinoids that affect the brain and produce a high.
It does this by traveling through the bloodstream to the brain where it interacts with the endocannabinoid system. Normally, the endocannabinoid system is important for regulating various functions throughout the body. For example, this system is responsible for regulating your mood, hunger, pain response, and even your immune system.
When you consume anything with THC, this cannabinoid will interact with the endocannabinoid system and change the way it regulates these bodily functions. THC particularly affects the hunger response. People who consume marijuana often end up with “the munchies” which makes them hungrier than usual.
THC also can produce a calming effect throughout the body. This is because THC also interacts with your brain’s response to moods and stress. Depending on the dose of THC that you consume, the effects you feel may differ drastically.
The Details
For example, if you take your Ohio medical marijuana card and buy some sativa cannabis, you are buying a type of marijuana that has high levels of THC and low levels of CBD. You might think that such a strain would be very calming. However, most people find sativa strains to be very invigorating.
Why might this be, you ask? High levels of THC vs CBD tend to be associated with a more energetic high. Some people even feel more creative from this kind of high.
The reaction is quite different when the opposite is true. For example, suppose you take your medical marijuana card in Ohio and instead buy some Indica cannabis. Indica naturally has more CBD and less THC.
In general, Indica strains produce a very powerful sense of relaxation. Many people rely on Indica strains to help them fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. People usually don’t use India during the day.
This is because its effects often cause patients to be extremely lethargic. When you consume Indica, you’ll likely want to lay down or sit on your couch and relax. For that reason, it is important to understand the importance of the ratio between CBD and THC in cannabis products.
What You Need to Know About CBD
CBD is another cannabinoid that is very similar to THC but it has a few important differences. Most notably, CBD does not produce a psychoactive high as THC does. You might wonder what the point of trying CBD is if it doesn’t produce a high.
Even though it might not produce the same effects as THC, CBD is still very important and can be very beneficial for your health. This is because CBD is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants are very good at reducing inflammation in the body.
It does this by battling free radicals that cause inflammation in the first place. Free radicals are atoms that have become unstable due to the loss of an electron. To stabilize themselves, the free radicals will try to interact with your cells, but this causes cellular damage and inflammation.
By taking CBD, you can reduce this damage and soothe your entire body. CBD occurs in low concentrations in most cannabis plants and high concentrations in hemp plants. However, there are certain cannabis plants that have especially high concentrations of CBD.
As mentioned before, Indica cannabis strains tend to have a lot more CBD. There are also hybrid strains that are designed to have very high levels of CBD. In general, if there is a higher level of CBD compared to THC in a cannabis product, the high will be more intense and relaxing.
Using CBD
If you take CBD on its own, you won’t feel much of anything, but you may feel a sense of calm or relaxation wash over you. If you are interested in taking CBD on its own, you should know that it comes in several different forms. Full-spectrum CBD is a very popular kind and contains less than .3% of THC.
It is not very filtered and it contains several other types of cannabinoids along with plant products such as fats and oils. However, these extra plant products and cannabinoids might actually amplify the beneficial effects of CBD. Broad-spectrum CBD is similar but it is more filtered, containing just trace amounts of THC, and does not contain other cannabinoids but it does contain plant products.
Finally, CBD isolate is the most filtered and it only contains CBD with 0% THC.
Your Ohio Marijuana Card and THC vs CBD
Before you use your Ohio marijuana card, it is important to understand the difference between THC and CBD. Both are important cannabinoids that occur in the cannabis plant, but both are quite different from each other. THC is responsible for producing a psychoactive high.
CBD, on the other hand, does not produce a high but may still relax you and reduce inflammation while providing its own health benefits. To learn more, don’t hesitate to contact us here.