What’s the Difference Between THC and CBD?
Explained in simple terms…
The Top Two
Of the 113 known cannabinoids, the two most frequently discussed are CBD and THC. With cannabis legalization now becoming increasingly mainstream throughout the European Union, many of us want to know the difference. So, let’s get down to it.
As you sit there reading this article, your endocannabinoid system is helping you regulate your mood, appetite, memory and pain sensation. However, THC and CBD can both affect the way this system works. Below is a diagram of the chemical structure of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).
Just a quick glance shows you that the chemical structures of both are almost exactly the same. Not only do they have the same molecular formula (C21H30O2), both of their masses are practically identical. Nevertheless, one very important structural difference is at play and this is what determines whether or not you feel high. THC contains a cyclic ring, but CBD contains a hydroxyl group.
The CB1 receptors in our bodies are affected by a neurotransmitter called anandamide, which controls generation of pleasure, motivation and feeding behavior. It’s released after we perform physical activity, and is what gives that sense of euphoria, otherwise known as a “runner’s high”. But this is where it gets interesting. Since THC’s structure is so similar to anandamide, it connects to the CB1 receptors easily and creates that high feeling too.
However, since the hydroxyl group for CBD is a different shape, it doesn’t slot into the CB1 receptors at all, preventing that high feeling from being created.
Psychoactive — just not psychotropic
Nevertheless, CBD does still bind to other receptors in your cannabinoid system, affecting you in other ways. It just doesn’t make you high. Several studies have been done over the years now. For example, the first signs that CBD could be used to treat social anxiety came 8 years ago. In a 2011 study, several subjects with social anxiety disorder were asked to speak in front of a large audience. Some were given CBD; others were given a placebo. Those who were given CBD reported significantly less anxiety. There are also several animal studies showing CBD’s anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory properties, which could explain why several people report feeling the same benefits. Research is also discovering that THC can actually aggravate psychotic symptoms, while CBD on the other hand may help with psychosis. For a full rundown of all the latest research, this is one of the very best resources.
Working together
So what happens when you consume both CBD and THC at the same time? One study found that CBD’s biochemical shape means it can actually bind to the CB1 receptor. In a process referred to as allosteric inhibition, this turns it off. This means that CBD actually prevents the THC from being able to bind properly, causing you to feel less high. Let’s take an example: if you vaporize cannabis with 20% THC and 0.1% CBD (trace levels), you will feel high because the THC will bind to the CB1 receptor with little interference from the CBD. However if you vaporize cannabis with 20% THC and 5% CBD, this higher level of CBD will inhibit the THC from binding to the CB1 receptor, decreasing the THC’s effect and leading you to feeling less high as a result.
The last word
Ultimately THC is a chemical found in cannabis with a chemical structure that makes you feel stoned. CBD is a chemical found in cannabis with a different chemical structure that doesn’t make you feel high, but it can affect your body in other non-psychotropic ways.
As more of the world wakes up to the benefits of cannabis, legalizing it to various extents, even more research can now be done to continue uncovering more details about how these two wonderful cannabinoids affect us — not to mention the other 111 known so far.
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