THC vs. CBD: How Are These Cannabinoids Different?
As more and more Vermonters become acquainted with THC and CBD products, the topic of THC vs. CBD is sure to come up quite a bit. If you’re reading this post, you’re aware of both and know that they’re different, and hopefully, the rest of this post can flesh out the nuanced differences between cannabis’s two predominant cannabinoids.
How Different Are THC & CBD?
THC and CBD, short for delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol respectively, are naturally occurring compounds (cannabinoids) in the Cannabis Sativa L. plant. They both interact with your body’s native endocannabinoid system. So what’s the difference between CBD and THC?
THC vs. CBD: Molecular Distinctions
THC and CBD have similar chemical makeups. In fact, their molecular formulas are the same. Both molecules contain:
21 Carbon Atoms
30 Hydrogen Atoms
2 Oxygen atoms
The difference lies in how those atoms are arranged, which ultimately changes how each interacts with specific receptors in your brain and different organs. THC and CBD are chemically similar to endocannabinoids (cannabinoids that your body already produces). The similarity allows them to interact with specific neurotransmitters and triggers specific bodily functions that we’ll get to below.
THC vs. CBD: Endocannabinoid System (ECS) Interactions
THC and CBD interact with our endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors and neurotransmitters that help the human body regulate functions like,
Sleep
Mood
Stress
Appetite and metabolism
Memory
Inflammation response
Whereas THC has been observed bonding directly with certain CB1 receptors in the brain, CBD is believed to protect our naturally produced endocannabinoids. One can think of CBD as a more passive cannabinoid when compared to THC.
THC vs. CBD: Psychoactivity
THC, and more specifically delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, is famous because of the psychoactive, or “high,” feeling you get after consumption. Other THC isomers like delta-8, delta-10, and other synthetically-derived THC derivatives likely cause psychoactive effects, but we’ll stick to delta-9 in this post.
Juxtapose the high of THC to CBD. After consuming CBD hemp flower (containing only trace amounts of THC) one doesn’t experience that same “high” at all. That’s because CBD is considered a “non-psychoactive” compound. In fact, it’s thought that CBD actually curbs some of THC’s less-desirable effects.
THC vs. CBD: Side Effects
While neither CBD nor THC is physically dangerous just by itself at any conceivable consumption level, both can cause an array of side effects.
THC can cause temporary side effects like:
Elevated heart rate
Dry mouth (colloquially known as cottonmouth)
Red eyes
Slowed reaction times
Anxiety
Memory loss
Problems with coordination
Appetite changes
CBD can cause side effects like:
Fatigue
Weight loss
Dizziness
Dry mouth
Diarrhea
Of course, we want to stress that these side effects can occur from lone use of that cannabinoid. They don’t take into account the interactions between THC and CBD and any medications you may take.
THC vs. CBD: Legality
THC is a Schedule I Substance
As of this writing in March 2023, THC is still sitting atop the DEA’s Schedule I banned substances list, meaning that said substance is not considered to have any medical use and presents a high potential for abuse.
This author would like to point out the confounding designation considering that 37 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical and/or recreational cannabis, Vermont being one of those states.
CBD Derived From Hemp Is An Industrial Commodity
CBD was more or less federally legalized via the 2018 Farm Bill. Hemp containing less than 0.3% of THC by dry weight was henceforth considered a legal industrial commodity.
Because CBD was and is considered a legal industrial commodity, its transport and shipping was legalized shortly after the 2018 Farm Bill went into effect. Judge James Gilbert ruled as such in the KAB vs. United States Postal Service case when he declared that products derived from hemp were allowed to be shipped via the postal service.
Most drug tests look for the presence of THC metabolites. Full-spectrum CBD products, and THC cannabis products can make users fail office drug tests.
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THC vs. CBD: Drug Tests
THC, even in the trace amounts that are legally allowed to be present in whole-plant (also known as full-spectrum) CBD products, can still show up on a drug test. As of now, all CBD hemp plants contain some amount of delta-9 THC and THCa (the precursor to delta-9 THC)
Most urine-based drug tests are looking for the presence of THC metabolites. When you consume either full-spectrum CBD or THC products, whatever THC is present will break down once your body is done with it and be expelled. Unfortunately for CBD users, drug tests are unable to discern an “acceptable level” of these THC metabolites. Instead, a user is often judged on the presence of the metabolites.
