With increased marijuana legalization in the United States, there is an increased interest in the medicinal and recreational use of cannabis products.
Whether smoking it recreationally, using it for medicinal purposes or trading your olive oil for hemp oil, we are seeing a greater embrace for cannabis products than ever before.
If you have been following news regarding cannabis adoption, you will likely have heard of CBD and THC. Among the different cannabis products in existence, CBD oil and THC oil are among the most popular.
But what are the differences between these two oils? What do you use the two of them for?
We have put together this detailed guide so you can understand the difference between the two so you can decide what is best for your needs.
The 3 Major Differences Between CBD Oil and THC Oil
You will hear CBD and THC tossed around when learning about cannabis consumption. Before you hastily purchase a CBD oil or a THC oil, make sure you understand what the differentiating characteristics are. This way you can decide which is the best product for your needs.
1. The Components
First of all, their components are different. Here are the components of CBD and THC.
What CBD Is
CBD stands for cannabidiol and is a form of cannabinoid. A cannabinoid is a chemical that you will find in a cannabis plant. It is a natural component of the plant.
Naturally, it will concern people who do not wish to get high. But luckily, CBD does not get you high.
CBD is great for medicinal use and has been used for a variety of ailments from pain relief to treating anxiety and depression.
What THC Is
THC stands for Delta (9) tetrahydrocannabinol. This is another type of cannabinoid and it is THC that leads to the “high” you experience when consuming a cannabis product.
While the high or euphoric experience can be pleasurable for some users, they can carry negative effects for some users, such as paranoia. This is why THC is often a concern and puts people off cannabis products entirely.
However, THC is still used for medicinal purposes, such as treating chronic pain and mood disorders.
2. Medicinal Uses
Both CBD and THC come in many forms, most popularly as oils. Both these oils have medicinal uses.
CBD Oil Uses
CBD oil has become quite popular in fighting against seizures. It has been found to potentially reduce the frequency of seizures. It can also reduce the intensity of a seizure. More clinical trials are being conducted to further understand the effectiveness of CBD oil for epilepsy patients.
And luckily, it does not have negative effects when using CBD oil.
CBD can also reduce levels of anxiety by interacting directly with the endocannabinoid system. THC, on the other hand, can increase anxiety because of its negative effects.
Pain relief is another reason why CBD oil consumption is growing. The pain in our body usually occurs due to inflammation. CBD has anti-inflammatory effects and therefore can help alleviate body pain.
It is likely that CBD will be a great option due to other drugs having side effects. There is currently a cannabis-based drug called Sativex that is used by multiple sclerosis patients who have neuropathic pain.
It is expected that more CBD based medication will be developed to fight against pain.
Additional treatments where CBD is used are for possibly reducing the effects that an Alzheimer’s patient experiences (such as a sense of recognition and loss of cognitive functioning).
Furthermore, CBD may be effective in reducing nausea, shrinking tumors, relieving withdrawal symptoms (such as those experienced when quitting smoking), reducing pancreas inflammation (experienced by Type-1 diabetes patients), and reducing the severity of acne.
THC Oil Uses
What about how THC oil can be used for medicinal purposes?
THC oil can also be used for pain relief, whether for chronic pain or temporary pain. Like CBD oil, this oil can block the inflammatory process.
Furthermore, THC oil can reduce the symptoms experienced by patients of multiple sclerosis and Tourette’s syndrome.
It can be used for nausea relief and has tumor-shrinking capabilities. Best of all, THC oil can be used to kill cancer cells.
Where THC stands apart from CBD is that it used for psychotherapy. While the psychoactive effects of THC may put some people off, it is these effects that can be used for treating PTSD and anxiety. As of now, the science is not clear, but we expect to see further research on THC’s effectiveness on such disorders.
3. The Main Differences
Finally, you want to know the main differences between CBD and THC before choosing which product to use. Always consult your doctor before choosing your product for their expert opinion.
As of now, there are no confirmed side effects of CBD. There have been studies that have observed negative effects after consuming CBD.
There was one study that found patients with dystonic movement disorders experiencing low blood pressure, dry mouth, and lightheadedness among other effects after consuming CBD oil.
THC has been more well-researched and is confirmed to have a few side effects. These include becoming more receptive to psychosis, developing an increased heart rate, and coordination problems.
Among the more serious effects are slower reaction times and memory loss.
As mentioned previously, with the increased acceptance of cannabis products, we are likely to see more extensive research on both CBD and THC. We will know the benefits of both types of oils, as well as any possible negative side effects.
We strongly recommend doing your research just before purchasing a product. You should seek an expert opinion before buying a CBD oil or THC oil. Make sure you always purchase from a trusted retailer such as this CBD marketplace.
Your Well-Being
Now that you know the differences between CBD oil and THC oil, you are better informed in making a decision on which product to purchase.
We want you to look after your well-being. With more cannabis products being developed, we see both CBD oil and THC oil gaining adoption by patients for treating their ailments.
Be sure to follow us for more news on cannabis products, medicinal marijuana, and how these products can help with your ailments.