What Are The Main Differences Between CBD And THC? Find Out Here
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is one of the most well-known chemical compounds found in marijuana. On the other hand, CBD, or cannabidiol, is derived from either hemp or marijuana, and has been gaining in popularity over the years but is still somewhat less known. THC and CBD are both cannabinoids. However, though they do share some similarities, there are significant differences between the two chemicals that make them unique as well as different from one another, and this article is going to focus on some of the main ones.
1. Product Availability
For the average consumer, perhaps among the most important things to know are the similarities and differences in the products available. When you’re looking to buy CBD online, you’ll see that you can get products ranging from food, sweets, oils, capsules, soaps, all the way to cosmetics, and more. As far as similarities go, there are some THC products that closely resemble some of these. For example, edibles and oils are available for both THC and CBD, though with key differences in what they’re used for. That said, depending on where you live, you might find that CBD products are generally more easily accessible since they tend to be far less regulated than THC ones.
2. The High
When considering CBD products a lot of people are on the verge because they aren’t sure how they influence the body. The most notable difference between these two compounds is that CBD doesn’t boost serotonin levels, and doesn’t provide a high feeling as THC does. Regardless of whether that’s something you like or not, this definitely means that CBD is much more user-friendly when it comes to doing your daily tasks since you won’t have to worry about impaired motor functions. In fact, the receptors that CBD binds to in our bodies aren’t located in our brains at all. That said, due to its effects, it can still be used to help with a person’s mental state.
3. Health Benefits
Research has found that there are several health benefits to both of these compounds which are worth mentioning. Of course, the way CBD influences our health is different from the way THC does it. That said, there are some similarities here as well. CBD can be used to help with treating the following conditions:
- Inflammation
- Chronic pain
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Nausea
- Seizures
On the other hand, THC is useful for helping with:
- Acute pain
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Muscle spasticity
- Low appetite
- Glaucoma
- Insomnia
As you can see, some of the health benefits these compounds provide are similar, while others are completely unique to either CBD or THC. That said, even though they are both natural products, you should always consult with your doctor or a pharmacist before including either one’s products into your routine if you’re already taking some medications, or have certain preexisting conditions such as pregnancy, epilepsy, etc.
4. Legal Matters
One of the biggest differences between CBD and THC products is their legality. You see, marijuana is far more regulated than hemp which means that THC is often listed as being illegal in many countries around the world. CBD is legal in most parts of the world, even though it’s considered a drug in some places. However, even in those places where there’s a firm social stance on it, in more cases than not the law says nothing about it. In other words, while you should be just fine taking your CBD products across borders, and buying them online or wherever it’s most convenient to you, you might find that you can’t legally buy THC in a lot of places. Another issue that might come up with THC is that even if it’s legal to buy and consume it in your state – it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can bring it with you when traveling, and that might also pose a shipping issue if you want to get it online – depending on where the store you’re getting it from is shipping it from. That said, you should always check what the law in your country says about either of these just to be on the safe side.
5. Chemical Structure
The chemical structure of both compounds can be found in their IUPAC names, or more specifically in their abbreviations which are assigned using the standard rules. THC’s abbreviation is Delta-9-TetrahydroCannabinol, with the nine being its position on the pentagon of rings that are part of THC’s chemical structure. On the other hand, CBD’s abbreviation is cannabidiol, and when translated to a more generally understood speech that means it’s a terpenoid-phenol compound. An interesting fact is that both CBD and THC have an identical molecular structure – they’re made out of 21 carbon, 30 hydrogen, and 2 oxygen atoms. However, simply due to the difference in which those atoms are placed, the compounds differ greatly in what they can do.