One of the most popular and rapidly-growing wellness trends right now is cannabis. Cannabis, formerly connected to bongs and hacky sacks, has entered the mainstream of natural medicine with good cause. According to research, cannabis may be helpful in treating a number of neurological and mental health conditions, such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. It has also become well known for its ability to relieve pain, and it has benefited those suffering from neuropathic pain and those with conditions like arthritis.
The most well-liked ingredient in this natural medicine is CBD; mostly because CBD doesn’t have any psychotropic properties, making it appealing to a variety of enthusiasts, including those who don’t want to get high or who could react negatively to THC (more on that later).
This guide can help you out if you’re new to CBD or THC or if these acronyms are otherwise confusing you. Here are the fundamentals. No bong is necessary!
Cannabinoids (the compounds in cannabis plants)
Depending on the kind of cannabis, cannabinoids are your body’s neurotransmitter or a chemical molecule found in a plant (part of the endocannabinoid system).
According to research, a cannabis plant has over 100 components. The active cannabinoids in the plant sometimes referred to as phytocannabinoids, are the main components that people discuss. Endocannabinoids, which are found in your body, are the other cannabinoids. You do indeed have a system in your body that can interact with marijuana! The phytocannabinoids you’re used to hearing about are CBD and THC. Let’s move on to those now.
CBD
CBD is a phytocannabinoid, a substance present in cannabis plants. Gummies, candies, beverages, oils and tinctures can all contain the CBD ingredient for sublingual (under-the-tongue) delivery. Try inhaling the oil into your lungs if you want relief right away. Studies back up the claims made by some patients that topical CBD products can treat skin conditions by reducing inflammation. What’s best? Unlike certain conventional drugs, CBD does not cause addiction.
Having said that, not everybody finds success with it. Your age, way of life, gender, and general health will all have an effect on how your body metabolises the substance. It’s also important to remember that the FDA does not regulate CBD, therefore there are no established dose guidelines. Therefore, it’s crucial to see your doctor before adding any form of drug to your regimen, including those made from natural ingredients found in plants.
THC
THC is a phytocannabinoid contained in cannabis plants that has been shown to be extremely useful in treating a variety of diseases. Yes, this is the substance that gets you a high.
THC is well-known for its benefits in the treatment of sleeplessness, appetite stimulation, pain reduction, and anxiety control. THC does not, however, function on its own. Marijuana has a variety of chemical components, many of which interact to generate the intended effects. The entourage effect is the name for this. For instance, while CBD is beneficial on its alone, THC is the perfect partner for it. Studies demonstrate that when used together, the chemicals contained in the entire plant produce therapeutic effects that are amplified compared to when they are used separately. THC is more usually utilised for therapy when it is in its full flower state, but CBD is frequently used as a separate extract (and not extracted).
It’s important to start slow. Being a psychoactive substance, it may result in euphoria, a high, and anxiety in some. Everyone responds differently to THC so a small dosage is ideal when starting out.
Cannabis
Cannabis is a group of plants, often known as a genus, that includes, among other things, hemp and marijuana plants. A doctor may frequently substitute the term “cannabis” for more colloquial terminology like “pot,” “weed,” etc. The name “cannabis” may help lower the entry hurdle for people who have been hesitant to include the use of marijuana or hemp in their wellness regimen. Just be aware that hemp or marijuana may be meant when someone mentions the word “cannabis.”
Marijuana
Marijuana is particularly the cannabis sativa species; depending on the strain, usually contains high levels of THC and moderate levels of CBD. Marijuana has been stigmatised and illegal for many years, and as a result of the government’s efforts to criminalise its usage, it has a terrible reputation. Truth be told, intoxication is the only possible “bad” side effect of using medical marijuana, but for some patients, that’s a plus. (Remember: There isn’t enough long-term research on marijuana to determine whether repeated usage has any adverse consequences.) In some circumstances, the calming properties of marijuana’s THC can help reduce anxiety.
Although CBD is present in marijuana, it is not the same thing. If CBD is something you’re interested in using on its own, it can either originate from a hemp plant or a marijuana plant.
Hemp
Because hemp is so simple to grow and has a high CBD-to-THC ratio (less than 0.3%), a significant portion of the commercial CBD on the market today comes from hemp (while marijuana needs to be grown in more controlled environments).
It takes a lot more hemp plants to produce a CBD oil or tincture despite the fact that hemp plants have a greater CBD-to-THC ratio.
Remember: CBD oil isn’t always associated with hemp oil. It’s crucial to understand the distinctions when shopping online. Knowing the location where the hemp was farmed is much more crucial because if the CBD was obtained from plants grown abroad, it can put your body at risk because it is not controlled by the FDA.
To make sure you’re ingesting a clean, safe product when purchasing and utilising a hemp-derived product, check that it has been “independently analysed by a third-party lab” and “find the COA (certificate of analysis) on the corporate website.
Conclusion
There you have it! A very well-needed guide to differentiate between cannabis, marijuana, hemp, THC, and CBD. Did you know the difference between all of these? Let us know!