You’ve probably heard about CBD oil or gummies online, and cannabis is becoming more mainstream than ever. CBD and THC come from the same plant, but it’s important to know their differences before you make your first purchase.
Here’s what you need to know about THC and CBD so you can figure out which is best for you.
What Is THC?
THC is the chemical in cannabis that gets you high. If you’ve ever felt the psychoactive effects of weed, you’ve consumed THC.
THC binds to your body’s CB1 cannabinoid receptors. These receptors receive endocannabinoids that your body naturally produces. The signals from these receptors help determine your stress levels, metabolism, and sensations like pain.
When you consume THC, your endocannabinoid system stops your body from producing neurotransmitters. That allows the chemical structure of THC to enter your brain instead, which makes you feel high.
THC is a powerful cannabinoid that can make you feel:
- Relaxed
- Euphoric
- Like you want to take action
- Artistic
- Creative
- Like your perception is altered
- Sleepy
Both recreational and medical marijuana are legal in Massachusetts. You can purchase cannabis products that contain THC at any Massachusetts dispensary near you, including flower, oils, topicals, edibles, vape cartridges, and pre-rolls.
Some people use cannabis products simply to get high. But what if you want some of the positive effects of marijuana without the psychoactive compounds?
What Is CBD?
CBD is another compound found in the cannabis plant. In fact, it’s the second most prominent cannabinoid. Most people use it for relaxation or for medical purposes.
Like THC, CBD is absorbed by the endocannabinoid system. However, it works a little differently. CBD regulates how other cannabinoids interact with the system, but doesn’t seem to bind to it itself. Scientists are still figuring out exactly how CBD affects the brain, but we do know one thing: it works!
You can purchase CBD products in all sorts of places, including health food stores, malls, gas stations, and CBD shops. It’s legal in Massachusetts and on the federal level, so you don’t have to go to a dispensary to get some. However, many recreational dispensaries in Massachusetts also carry CBD products.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a prescription seizure drug called Epidiolex that contains CBD. However, the industry is still largely unregulated, so it can be difficult to know whether your bottle of CBD oil actually contains the dosage it claims.
CBD products sold outside of a dispensary setting need to contain less than 0.3 mg of THC due to legal regulations. Even with that small amount, it is possible for CBD use to cause a positive during drug testing.
Most people take CBD by itself. It’s common to find it in oil and gummies, but you can buy many products that have added CBD, such as lotion, makeup, drinks, and snacks.
You might want to take THC and CBD together. In fact, most cannabis has at least some CBD as well. You can also find strains that have a 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD. The CBD can mellow out the psychoactive high of THC, creating a relaxing experience.
Medical Benefits
Both THC and CBD can be used medically. Medical cannabis has helped so many people find relief from their symptoms. Doctors hope that broad spectrum CBD can help patients with similar conditions without the high.
Cannabis is still illegal on a federal level in the U.S., and CBD products are not regulated by the FDA. For those reasons, there are very few medically reviewed scientific studies about using either cannabinoid for medical reasons. However, there’s lots of anecdotal evidence about the effectiveness of CBD and THC.
There’s evidence that both THC and CBD could help patients with:
- Chronic pain
- Sleep issues
- Anxiety
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBD)
- Nausea, specifically for cancer patients
- Epilepsy
- HIV/AIDS
- Multiple sclerosis
- Glaucoma
- Opioid dependence
Medical marijuana alone could also help patients suffering from:
- Insomnia
- Fibromyalgia
- Arthritis
- Poor appetite
- Anorexia
- Tremors
The positive effects of CBD by itself may help patients with:
- Depression
- Inflammation
- Migraines
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Psychosis
- Stress
If you have one of these conditions, CBD and/or THC might be helpful for you. But how do you decide which one to try?
Choosing What’s Best For You
Choosing between CBD and THC can be daunting, but there’s no reason to pit them against each other. In fact, if your condition is applicable to both cannabinoids, you might want to try both to see which works best for you.
If you’re a recreational cannabis user, you probably are much more interested in the amount of THC in your weed. Strains that are high in THC produce a stronger, more psychoactive high. Check the dispensary menu to find out the percent of THC and CBD in each type of flower before you buy.
Some people are interested in cannabis but absolutely do not want to get high. That’s where CBD comes in! If you take CBD by itself, you won’t feel any euphoric effects. You can use CBD without any impairment when you work, drive, or take care of children.
THC can produce stronger effects for medical users than CBD. If you’ve tried CBD in the past and haven’t had any luck, THC might help. Cannabis affects everyone differently, so you might have to try a few different strains before you find the best one.
THC is still illegal in many parts of the United States. You can purchase weed at any dispensary in Massachusetts due to state laws, but you can’t take it with you on a road trip or an airplane. Even if you’re a regular medical marijuana user, you can try using CBD instead during your vacation.
Some people use CBD and THC at the same time. Taking THC and CBD together can amplify the effects of both. You can take them together for a relaxing high that you’ll feel throughout your whole body.
Patients might also use THC and CBD alone in different situations. They might take a high CBD gummy before they leave for work and top up with the CBD vape throughout the day. When they get home, they can smoke a balanced CBD and THC strain. If they ever want to get high recreationally, they can take a high dose THC gummy.
THC and CBD can both be extremely beneficial for medical patients. We’ll help you navigate your journey into the world of cannabis.
Gage Cannabis is the nearest dispensary to Ayer, Massachusetts. We carry a wide variety of cannabis products, including:
- Flower
- Pre-rolls
- Vapes
- Edibles (including gummies, chocolate bars, and mints)
- Concentrates
- Tinctures
- And much more.
Check out our Massachusetts dispensary menu to find the perfect THC product for you and your medical needs.
We also carry CBD products, and our budtenders can talk to you about your ideal dose and how to take it. Place your first online order today!
