We know you’ve probably been hearing a lot about things that may or may not make complete sense to you – but we’re here to fix that.

One of the main things that trip people up when it comes to understanding, discussing, and utilizing the cannabis plant is that they’re not sure what the differences between CBD and THC are. Both are products of the cannabis plant, and they’re both referred to as cannabinoids. They’re even made up of the same chemical compounds, but those compounds are arranged differently. When it comes to atoms, how they’re arranged can completely alter the end result, creating the distinction between CBD and THC. This is also the reason why they each affect the human body differently.

The more you know…

THC and CBD each talk to their own receptors in our brains, which explains why our bodies process them differently. For instance, the characteristic “high” that is often associated with the cannabis plant is actually only associated with THC. CBD, on the other hand, does not have any psychoactive effects. While this is the biggest and most profound difference between the two, there are a few others you may find interesting.

Both

To start, let’s talk about how they’re alike. Both THC and CBD are used to treat pain in the body as well as nausea and anxiety. For this reason, cannabis is often prescribed to cancer patients to help relieve them of the pain associated with cancer and nausea associated with chemotherapy.

THC

The benefits associated with THC include relief from glaucoma, insomnia, and low appetite.

It can be consumed in a few different ways, but most notably and unlike CBD, THC can be consumed through smoking.

There are a few side effects commonly associated with THC, as well. For instance, people have reported slow response times, red and dry eyes, dry mouth, and elevated heart rates.

CBD

As mentioned earlier, there is no “high” feeling associated with CBD, so it is consumed primarily for its many health benefits.

Those benefits include, but are not limited to relief from seizures, anxiety, migraine headaches, inflammation in the body, and irritable bowel syndrome. It has also been shown to have positive effects on muscle soreness, and it can even affect mental issues such as depression and psychosis.

Consuming CBD is super simple and convenient as it is available in several different forms. CBD can be taken orally in tincture or edible form, or unlike THC, it can be applied topically. If muscle soreness is a problem, for example, just rub some CBD-infused lotion or oil on the spot to find relief from your symptoms.

As far as side effects are concerned, there really aren’t any. Some have reported dry mouth or drowsiness when taking CBD orally, but these effects are rare.

Overall, THC and CBD, while related, don’t actually have too much in common with one another, at least not in the practical sense. Concerning the ways in which you’d normally interact with CBD, it’s very easy to incorporate into your daily routine without disrupting too much of what you’ve already got going on.

By Yasmin Khan