CBD and THC are two of many cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. Although they have similar structures, they interact with different receptors. As such, only THC causes the high people associate with cannabis.
Cannabinoids refer to substances in the cannabis, or Cannabis sativa, plant. Besides cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), researchers have identified
Though CBD and THC interact with the endocannabinoid system, there have some important differences. Notably, unlike THC, CBD lacks the psychoactive effects that many people
This article explains more about the differences between CBD and THC.
Despite having different pharmacological effects, both CBD and THC share a similar chemical structure. They both contain 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms. However, a slight difference in how the atoms are arranged accounts for the difference between CBD and THC.
CBD resources
Visit our dedicated hub for more research-backed information and in-depth resources on CBD.
Both CBD and THC are naturally present in cannabis plants. However, different species of these plants may contain varying levels of cannabinoids. For example, when a person takes a CBD dominant version of medical cannabis, they are using CBD from hemp, which is a specific variety of the Cannabis sativa plant.
The main difference between hemp and other cannabis plants is their amount of THC. The
CBD and THC have similar effects on
People typically use CBD to help treat the following:
- inflammatory bowel disease
- seizures
- depression
- inflammation
- psychosis or mental disorders
- migraine
THC has potential uses in treating some of the following:
- glaucoma
- muscle spasticity
- low appetite
- insomnia
People may use either to help treat:
- pain
- anxiety
- nausea
There are very few side effects with either CBD or THC.
According to the
A person consuming THC may experience some temporary side effects. These can include:
- dry mouth
- red eyes
- slower than average response times
- a general feeling of being high
- memory loss
- issues with coordination
- increased heart rate
Teenagers, in particular, may experience adverse psychiatric effects from getting high. This may be because a teenager’s brain is still developing. According to some research, regular or large doses of THC may be a catalyst for schizophrenia in some people with a genetic predisposition or strong family history of the condition.
Read on to learn more about whether cannabis can trigger schizophrenia and if CBD oil can help treat schizophrenia.
Neither CBD nor THC has any apparent side effects that are serious. Neither can be fatal when taken correctly. Also, people who use THC recreationally appear to have little risk of developing an addiction.
The following table summarizes some differences between these two cannabinoids.
| CBD | THC | |
|---|---|---|
| Is illegal | no — see paragraph below | yes — see paragraph below |
| Produces a high | no | yes |
| Interacts with endocannabinoid system | yes | yes |
| Has side effects | some | psychoactive side effects |
| Shows on drug test | possibly | yes |
| Relieves pain | yes | yes |
| Reduces nausea | yes | yes |
| Eases migraine | yes | yes |
| Reduces anxiety | yes | yes |
| Eases depression | yes | no |
| Decreases seizures | yes | no |
| Is anti-inflammatory | yes | yes |
| Helps with insomnia | yes | yes |
| Helps with psychosis | yes | no |
| Increases appetite | no | yes |
| Is used for various other conditions | yes | yes |
Both CBD and THC are naturally present in cannabis plants. Many people choose to smoke or vape cannabis, but this may not be possible for people with certain conditions. Instead, people can also purchase many different products that contain these cannabinoids.
CBD is available in a variety of forms. These include:
THC can also come in different forms, including:
- smokable products
- oils
- tinctures
- edibles, such as brownies
Many states in North America have approved of people having at least limited use of medical cannabis. Each state varies slightly on how they define and regulate the legal use, prescription, or sale of cannabis. There is no federal law allowing the legal use of medical cannabis. As a result, it is
Several states have approved the use of cannabis for recreational purposes. As with medical cannabis, recreational usage is not legal federally.
A person should research the laws in their state before acquiring medical cannabis. If the state does not explicitly allow its use, a person could face legal issues for obtaining or using cannabis for medical or any other purpose.
Laws surrounding the use of medical and recreational cannabis are changing rapidly. A person who is considering using CBD or THC should check their local laws regularly as they may change or be changing.
Is CBD legal?The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC federally legal. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3% THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them federally illegal but legal under some state laws. Be sure to check state laws, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the FDA has not approved nonprescription CBD products, and some products may be inaccurately labeled.
Despite both being cannabinoids, CBD and THC interact with slightly different
Evidence notes that THC can bind to the main cannabinoid receptors as it has a similar chemical structure to
Unlike THC, CBD does not create the high sensation that people associate with cannabis use. Experts are not exactly sure how CBD interacts with receptors but believe it binds differently to THC. Instead, CBD may increase the effects of other cannabinoids or binds to other receptors that researchers have not yet discovered.