CBD vs. THC - What's the Difference?

CBD & THC: Where do they come from?

CBD and THC are the hottest new celebrities, and they are certainly the talk of the cannabis world. But these rising stars are also often misunderstood, partly due to the confusion between terms of where these two compounds come from, like “hemp,” “Cannabis,” and “marijuana.” These terms are NOT interchangeable.

Perhaps some clarification is in order… Cannabis is a species of plant family; of which there are three primary types of cannabis in Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica, and Cannabis Ruderalis. Now here’s the kicker – what if I told you that hemp and marijuana weren’t actually “types” of plants, but rather just primarily legal terms denoting the above types of cannabis that are grown to have either less than 0.3% THC (hemp) or more than 0.3% THC (marijuana)? So, this is to say that hemp is federally obligate to be below that 0.3% threshold, where generally in flower, THC can be found to be at or above 20% naturally. 

So, to further set the record straight:

Graphic provided by Medium

Now onto CBD vs. THC

CBD stands for cannabidiol and is one of hundreds of phytochemicals found in the Cannabis plant. THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol (Gesundheit!) and it is also a phytochemical, like CBD, but it is a different compound. 

Molecular Difference?

Cannabinoids are molecules found within the hemp plant. THC and CBD are only 2 of over 100 cannabinoids, each a completely different molecule.

Even though CBD and THC have the same basic molecular structure and chemical formula (That’s 21 carbon, 30 hydrogen, 2 oxygen for all you nerds out there), they are two different compounds with different properties.

Let’s pretend all the cannabinoids found in the hemp plant were a bag of marbles. Each unique marble represents a new molecule. THC, for instance, is the little blue and green marble. CBD is the radical orange, swirly one. Their chemical structure is the same (they are both marbles), but the chemical properties are different.

THC has a psychoactive effect (feeling high), while CBD on the other hand does not.

Pros and Cons

THC is the cannabinoid that brings that euphoric “high” sensation. Its legality is still confusing and difficult to navigate. Not only this, but this psychoactive effect itself can of course be a pro or a con, depending on your view on this feeling. Some would rather choose a cannabinoid without the high.

CBD, on the other hand, is not psychoactive, and hemp grown for CBD is federally obligated to stay below that 0.3% THC threshold.

At the end of the day, there are always going to be strengths and drawbacks to the cannabinoid that you choose to go forward with. Ultimately, it’s always best to be as informed as you can, take into account the pro’s and con’s, and choose for yourself if THC, CBD, or a combination of the two are best for you.

Have a friend or family member who might be confused between these two? Share this article to your network below!