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THC versus CBD

What is the difference between THC and CBD? While there are certainly many people who can explain this for themselves and others given the spread of the agricultural cannabis industry, there are still many Americans who are fuzzy at best about how these two chemicals are different from one another.

However, with FDA regulation and approval of a drug with CBD as an active ingredient, the continued expansion of medical cannabis and recreational cannabis across the nation on a state-by-state basis, national legislation like the 2018 Farm Bill redefining hemp, and cannabis and hemp-based products becoming more readily available, this is a more important question than ever before.

At Mary Jane’s Botanicals, we craft small-batch hemp-infused topicals of the highest quality to provide our customers with the ability to enjoy and increase their own wellness in the ways that they see fit. Today, we will help to provide a basic understanding for them, and the rest of the reader’s of this blog, regarding the fundamental differences in chemical makeup, legality, uses, and side effects of THC and CBD.

Visit our product page to learn more about our hemp salve and other hemp-infused topicals, or contact us via our online form with your questions and testimonials.

What They Have In Common

CBD and THC are both cannabinoids, and they are easily the two most thoroughly studied and deeply understood, and despite how concerned everyone is with how different these two chemicals compounds are, they do share some important similarities including that they are both derived from cannabis plants such as hemp and marijuana, they both engage and interact with your body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS) — although in quite different ways — and they have the exact same number of carbon (21), hydrogen (30), and oxygen (2) atoms. Finally, both THC and CBD can be consumed via inhalation, topical application, and through ingestion. However, this is more or less the extent to which they resemble each other.

How They Interact With The ECS

As cannabinoids, both THC and CBD interact with the human ECS to stimulate or inhibit certain cellular signals that regulate body function and homeostasis. Currently, the ECS is known to have two different varieties of cannabinoids receptors, known as CB1 and CB2 receptors.

Although these receptors are found throughout most of the human body, CB1 receptors are found abundantly in areas of the brain that control memory, emotions, and motor function, while CB2 receptors are found primarily throughout the nervous system and the immune system.

THC, the cannabinoid, is best known for its ability to produce a psychoactive state known as a “high,” interacts with both CB1 And CB2 receptors. Thus, when THC enters these receptors in combination, effects that are both physical and mental are experienced.

CBD, on the other hand, does not interact with CB1 receptors — a fact that explains its lack of ability to produce a psychoactive, or “high,” state. As a matter of fact, it seems that CBD actually can block these receptors, or at the very least interfere with them, inhibiting or altering the effects of THC and other cannabinoids.

It is important to note that THC-infused topical products such as THC lotions, salves, and bath products, typically lack sufficient penetration to enter the bloodstream and reach CB1 receptors in the brain. Instead, they attach to CB2 receptors throughout the nervous system to provide localized effects.

The Legal Question

Until just recently, both THC and CBD were on the list of controlled substances maintained by the Treasury Department, despite varying laws for their use in medical and recreational capacities existing in many states. However, in 2018, the Farm Bill passed by the U.S. Senate redefined CBD derived from hemp in a way that allowed for the cultivation, sale, and distribution in all 50 states.

The distinction of hemp-derived CBD is important, as CBD can also be harvested from marijuana plants. However, CBD is the most prominent of the cannabinoids present in hemp, while THC consists of less than .3% of its makeup. By contrast, THC is typically the most abundant cannabinoid in marijuana plants, especially in those genetically manipulated for use in the growing medical and recreational industry.

So while CBD derived from hemp is legal for purchase everywhere, and can even be transported and sold across state lines, CBD derived from marijuana plants remains illegal at the federal level.

This is because THC is legal for recreational and/or medical use in many states, but remains illegal from a federal perspective. Without providing an extensive history lesson, the ins and outs of this dichotomy of legality and illegality are a bit tricky to explain, but suffice it to say that as of 2020, the federal government has largely refrained from pursuing action against THC-based businesses and users.

The Medical Applications

Both THC and CBD provide a number of medical benefits, some of which are shared, while others are distinctly different. Oddly enough, despite research supporting these medical uses, in many states, it is illegal for a doctor to actually prescribe marijuana as a treatment due to federal oversight and regulation of the medical profession, however, they may legally recommend that you seek it out and provide you with a medical marijuana card — sometimes called a red card or green card, depending on the state — that allows you to legally purchase, possess, and consume medical cannabis.

THC, both as an isolate and as a full-spectrum product, is used in various applications to provide relief or treatment for:

  • Chronic pain
  • Muscle spasms
  • Insomnia
  • Low appetite
  • Nausea
  • Glaucoma
  • And anxiety

CBD, as an isolate and as a full-spectrum product, has been shown to provide uses for:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Pain reduction
  • Inflammation reduction
  • Certain mental disorders
  • Migraines
  • And nausea

 While only CBD has been approved as an actual medical treatment for certain seizures by the FDA, continuing research into THC is furthering the case for regulation and adoption, which is likely to quickly follow legalization at the federal level, if, and when, that event comes.

The Side Effects

CBD is incredibly well tolerated by the body, even in massive doses, and is largely considered to be free of side effects in and of itself. THC produces some temporary side effects such as an increased heart rate, diminished fine motor skills, dry mouth, red eyes, and memory loss.

Find Hemp-Infused Salve and Other Hemp Topicals From Mary Jane’s Botanicals Today

There’s a lot to learn about THC, CBD, and the many other beneficial components found in hemp and marijuana. If you’re interested in experiencing the healing benefits of cannabis for yourself but don’t want a product with THC, Mary Jane’s Botanicals has what you’re looking for. Our hemp-infused products are made with organic, Colorado-grown hemp that is guaranteed to be virtually THC-free (0.3% maximum). Visit our website to learn more about our products, ask us a question, or to place your order.