Difference Between THC and CBD – an AI blog post
It has been suggested that the difference between THC and CBD is the cause of much marijuana related news and confusion in recent years. Since most people are well aware of the side effects of cannabis, they also are worried about whether CBD can do the same thing as THC. So, to clear up some misunderstandings and alleviate some anxiety, let’s discuss exactly what constitutes CBD and THC. Then, we can determine if CBD is really a good thing or just another example of cannabis science gone wrong.
The primary difference between CBD and THC is their molecular structure. While the latter cannot be found in the human body, THC is a very fatty compound that easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and then enters the human brain. There, it continues to work nonstop, causing the brain to produce an intense, “high,” similar to those achieved by recreational consumers of cannabis. This highly unusual response is not typical of most other compounds. It is believed that CBD mimics the human brain’s natural opiate receptors, thus providing a key differences between CBD and THC.
However, what some medical cannabis users consume for relief is actually not CBD at all. Instead, what they are taking is a derivative of the main chemical in cannabis – THC. This substance is known as THC-A. Medical cannabis users who are taking this derivative do not suffer from the side effects of THC, but they do report some temporary nausea and memory loss. This is because THC-A is not actually derived from cannabis, but rather from the psychoactive ingredient taurine.
But, is there a reason to think that the chemical makeup of THC-A could be any different than that of cannabis? Not really. Recent studies have shown that THC is becoming more like the chemical makeup of cannabis. The two chemicals are very similar, and it is believed that taurine is what causes the similarity. In short, this means that THC-A can mimic some of the beneficial medical properties of marijuana without actually having to ingest it.
Is this a threat to the medicinal cannabis user? Probably not. There are many strains of cannabis that contain little or no CBD, so even if THC-A was introduced into the marketplace, it would not have much of an impact on users. On the other hand, there are strains of cannabis that contain high levels of CBD, so using marijuana without CBD is simply foolish.
The discovery that THC and CBD are alike explains why CBD can help treat chronic inflammation without causing any side effects. Chronic inflammation occurs when the body has to go through a wide range of changes to repair itself. When the body is in its fight or flight mode, inflammation is a normal thing. However, chronic inflammation can lead to a host of health problems, including cancer, depression, and Parkinson’s disease.
In recent years, scientists have been trying to determine how the body works when it comes to regulating these two chemicals. While they have been testing mice for memory, obesity, mood disorders, epilepsy, and even anxiety, they have not found anything yet that shows cannabidiol can have any effect on these conditions. That may be because of the lack of specific cannabidiol receptors in the brain. If researchers could find a way to make CBD available to the body through the nose, or via a vaporizer, they could potentially create a cannabis plant with all of the benefits of THC without any of the negative side effects.
Until then, patients can take the prescription of Sederma to reduce some of the effects of chronic inflammation. Although it can work effectively in that regard, it does not work at preventing or curing a patient’s underlying disorder. If patients want to get off of prescription drugs, and use a more natural method, Sederma may not be the best choice. Instead, patients should look into other options for reducing their symptoms. Like mesalamine, it might not be a bad idea to discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist.