A hemp field

Breaking Down Cannabidiol: CBD vs THC

Paaez Coleman

Written by Paaez Coleman

For those new to hemp-based products, there may be a question about CBD vs THC. How are they different? Which one is best for you? Do all THC products contain CBD? Do CBD products contain THC? If you're looking to purchase quality CBD gummies, will they get you high?
As it turns out, CBD is a lot different from THC. While they both come from the same plant, they do not have the same effects on users.
Let's break down the differences between CBD vs THC.

Cannabinoids of the Hemp Plant

A tincture of CBD oilFor centuries, the cannabis plant has been a botanical mystery. In it, we find all sorts of different compounds—called cannabinoids—which have different effects on the mind and body. Tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly known as THC, is perhaps the most famous of these cannabinoids.

Each cannabinoid has a different effect. Some have psychoactive components that can temporarily alter your mental state, while others target endocannabinoid receptors throughout your body to promote deeper relaxation and wellness.**
Virtually every cannabinoid will be present in every hemp plant without exception—the difference between strains has more to do with which ones are cultivated to stand out. For example, all cannabis plants contain some amount of THC, but only marijuana is cultivated to maximize it. CBD is also present, but hemp plants tend to contain more of it than marijuana plants.
Some cannabinoids, like THC, are psychoactive. They get you high. Others, like CBD, don't contain those psychoactive components. Broad spectrum hemp supplements often contain CBG and CBN as well and only undetectable amounts of THC.

What CBD Does

When it comes to wellness supplements, CBD is by far the most common cannabinoid included in products. Why? Because it is the most abundant one in hemp! To incite its patented wellness-boosting effects, CBD stimulates the body's endocannabinoid system (ECS).** This is a network of hormone producers and receptors that can affect many areas throughout the body.
The ECS was only discovered a couple decades ago, and because cannabis is a controlled substance, research on its properties is still in its early stages. In that time, however, scientists have discovered some amazing things about how cannabinoids can help people.**
CBD targets receptors in the ECS to provide a range of benefits that span from calming and relaxing to wellness-boosting.** Whether a CBD product is ingested or applied topically, you can feel CBD's effects for total mind-body wellness.**
There's a lot more research that needs to be done before any consensus will come out of the medical community. Until then, it's up to you to try it yourself.

THC by Comparison

While CBD is known for its wellness-boosting properties that don't result in psychoactivity, THC is its much rowdier relative.**
Stories abound of people getting high from THC and experiencing various results. Some people aren't affected much, while others end up glued to their couch and rambling incoherently (only in the worst cases, of course).
If you've ever felt "the munchies", uncontrollable giggles, or had red, pearly eyes after enjoying a cannabis-infused product, you were under the effects of THC. Many claim they can feel this psychoactivity in their brains and bodies, sensations that vary depending on the product's strain and potency.

CBD vs THC: How Cannabinoids Work Together

Two women laughing and smilingWhat if you take CBD and THC together?
Thanks to 2018's Farm Bill, hemp is now legal to grow in the US, so long as growers are licensed to do so. This has made it easier than ever for new vendors to obtain CBD products and sell them to those in need. According to the Farm Bill, legal hemp can only contain less than 0.3% THC, which all of our CBD products do.
The good vendors formulate their own products using not just CBD, but also the terpenes from the plant and other beneficial cannabinoids. Today, you can take CBD products formulated as a CBD + CBG Wellness Tincture, CBD Multivitamin Gummies, and even CBD cream.

Do CBD Products Contain THC?

The answer is a little technical. Most CBD products carry trace or undetectable amounts of THC. The difference here is between full and broad spectrum CBD oil. It all begins after we cultivate the CBD oil. Here, it's rich in all of the organic compounds found in the plant––cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. This list of molecules includes trace amounts of THC, less than 0.3%. This is full spectrum oil. If we take the cultivation process a step further, we can strip away the THC molecules, to the point where they become undetectable. This is broad spectrum. If we take this process a final step further and strip away all molecules that aren't CBD, we end up with CBD Isolate––99% pure CBD.

So, while full and broad spectrum contain THC, full spectrum oil contains detectable amounts, a distinction that is very important for many users.

Choosing the Right CBD Supplement

A tincture dropper of CBD oilIf you've decided that you'd rather take CBD instead of a more THC-centered product, the next question is where to buy it. As hemp products aren't heavily regulated in this country, vendors are popping up all over the place with products that vary in quality. It's important that you buy something that actually works. Otherwise, you won't get the full effect.**

Always Buy Organic

While there aren't many regulations on how CBD products are formulated, organic growing requirements are more strict. If you buy organic products, you can avoid poor quality products that weaken their compounds with synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
Read the lab reports, too. These documents will tell you about what's in your supplement, including the amount of cannabinoids, the presence of toxins and pesticides, and other helpful information. The more you know, the more you can be confident about getting a great product.

Understand the difference between CBD vs THC? Good.
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