The terms THC and CBD are now being heard everywhere, as a lot of products are now available in the market that contains these compounds. Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are two compounds that are present in the cannabis plant. There are also many other cannabinoids present in cannabis, however, these two are among the most prominent compounds present in the plant.
These compounds are becoming more popular as they are now used in some medicines and healthcare products. CBD is usually extracted from the hemp plant, which is a special breed of cannabis that contains only 0.3% of THC. However, normal cannabis or marijuana will have higher concentrations of THC in them.
THC, as you might already know, is the psychoactive component present in cannabis that is infamous for creating the “high” effect. Hence, any product should have only 0.3% or less THC present in it, otherwise, the product will be considered illegal and it will also create intoxicating effects as well as addiction.
Even though THC and CBD are two components present in the same plant, their characteristics and properties are entirely different. Therefore, through this article, we discuss the differences between THC and CBD for helping you to distinguish between them.
Chemical Structure
When it comes to the molecular structure, CBD and THC are the same. They consist of 21 carbon atoms along with 30 hydrogen atoms and also 2 oxygen atoms. However, these compounds exhibit a slight difference in the arrangement of atoms, and this difference accounts for the varying effects they produce in your body.
THC and CBD are chemically similar to the endocannabinoids in your body. Therefore, it is possible for them to interact with your body’s cannabinoid receptors. This interaction can affect the release of different neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are responsible for relaying a wide range of messages between cells and they play an important role in controlling pain, sleep, stress, immune system function, etc.
Psychoactive Effect
CBD is a non-psychoactive component, hence it does not produce any intoxicating effects. However, THC can create a sense of euphoria in people and will also cause addiction.
Legality
Even though many states consider CBD as legal, THC is still illegal. The maximum level of THC that is allowed in a product is 0.3%. Hence, when you use these products, you have to be really careful. If the product you use has high concentrations of THC in it, you can get into trouble.
