Cannabis, CBD, THC

THC vs. CBD:  What’s the difference 🤔

Posted, Edited and Photos Added by Valkyrie Extractions Admin

 

Cannabis consumers have long prized THC potency as one of the main factors that makes a particular strain more desirable. Yet in reality, traditional demand for THC has caused an oversaturation of high-potency products.

Consequently, consumers are starting to prefer less intense products that are lower in THC and higher in the non-intoxicating compound called CBD (cannabidiol).

 

THC vs. CBD

Unlike THC, CBD will not intoxicate you.

CBD can also block some of the intoxicating effects of THC. By binding to cannabinoid receptors, it will keep THC from activating those receptors. This translates to a less intense psychoactive effect, which is why products with a mix of CBD and THC are great for first-time consumers.

This does not mean that CBD, by itself, cannot offer an effect. High doses of CBD often produce a profoundly relaxing experience. Like stepping out of a hot tub. Your body may feel tingly and relaxed, and your brain may feel clearer and more focused.

 

What are the medicinal effects of CBD?

The list of conditions CBD may help with is ever-expanding. More research is needed to better understand the efficacy and range of CBD’s benefits, but it’s popularly used to manage the following symptoms and conditions:

Epilepsy and seizure disorders

Pain and inflammation

PTSD and anxiety

Crohn’s disease

Multiple sclerosis

Opioid withdrawal

Clinical research suggests CBD can help manage different conditions. CBD became most famous for treating a rare and debilitating form of pediatric epilepsy…

Dravet’s Syndrome is notoriously resistant to current treatment methods. People with the condition are plagued by seizures, often up to hundreds a day, and they usually worsen as people age and can be life-threatening.

Currently, treatment methods include having a child wear an eyepatch, specialized diets, and brain surgery, but all have mixed success rates.

 

How to find the best CBD cannabis product for you

One of the earliest success stories involves a young girl named Charlotte Figi who was given an ingestible oil derived from a cannabis strain called Charlotte’s Web. This CBD strain was specifically developed to provide her with all the benefits of the drug without the high.

Charlotte Figi

In less than two years, Charlotte went from a monthly seizure count of 1,200 to about three. Other success stories followed and more parents have begun to speak out. Particularly parents desperate for access to this life-saving treatment.

CBD has no lethal dose or known serious side effects. The idea of using cannabis-derived compounds for pediatric conditions remains a touchy subject in a culture where cannabis has been stigmatized.

Although THC is best known for its mind-altering euphoria, it too has important medical benefits. There’s some overlap in what CBD and THC can treat. THC is particularly effective in relieving nausea, appetite loss, insomnia, among other symptoms. Many patients find that a balance of CBD and THC offers the best symptom relief as the two work together synergistically.

 

CBD Strains:

CBD is typically the second-most abundant cannabinoid in cannabis, but this isn’t always the case. A strain may deliver CBD and THC in the following ratios:

High THC, low CBD (e.g.,10-30% THC, trace amounts of CBD)

Balanced CBD/THC (e.g., 5-15% THC and 5-15% CBD)

High CBD, low THC (e.g., 5-20% CBD, THC under 5%)

High-CBD strains tend to deliver very clear-headed, functional effects without the euphoric high associated with high-THC strains. They’re typically preferred by consumers who are extremely sensitive to the side effects of THC (e.g., anxiety, paranoia, dizziness).

A high-CBD strain would also be a great choice for someone needing to medicate throughout the day to control pain, inflammation, anxiety, or other chronic conditions.

Balanced CBD/THC strains will be a little more euphoric than CBD-dominant strains, though they’re much less likely to induce anxiety, paranoia, and other negative side effects. Strains like these tend to be the most effective for pain relief, and they’re also well-suited for THC-sensitive consumers who’d like a mellow buzz.

CBD strains can be consumed just as you would THC strains. You can smoke or vaporize CBD-rich flower, eat a CBD-infused edible, swallow a CBD oil capsule, apply a CBD lotion, or use a CBD tincture sublingually. Hemp products also contain CBD, though it is a less efficient source and lacks the beneficial chemical diversity of cannabis-derived CBD products.

Keep in mind that with CBD cannabis strains CBD levels may vary from crop to crop—even from plant to plant.

We recommend checking with dispensaries about the specifics of their strains’ CBD levels.

 

 

Links:

Vape Shop Canada | Valkyrie Extractions

Marijuana Products & Services in Canada | Leafythings

Medical Marijuana Canada (mmjpr.ca)

 

 

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