CBD vs THC: Your Ultimate Guide To The Medical Benefits

Did you know that approximately 6.8 million adults suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

Along with this increase in anxiety, about 50 million adults also suffer from chronic pain. Together they make up for over 40% of all groups of people in the United States and these numbers continue to increase.

Do you suffer from an illness that impacts your productivity, happiness, or ability to live? Have you been looking for an alternative way to treat an illness you may be suffering from?

Well, look no further!

Welcome to the ultimate guide of medical marijuana, and the medical benefits of CBD vs THC.

What is Medical Marijuana?

Medical marijuana is now legal in 36 states and 4 territories. Approximately 4 million people in the United States use it on a monthly basis.

Cannabis gets its drug-like effects from the various cannabinoids it contains. The two most notable cannabinoids are THC and CBD. Although they come from the same plant, there are key differences.

Are you interested in becoming a part of the medical marijuana community? Are you looking to learn more about the different ways your health can benefit from cannabis?

Continue reading to discover some of the key differences between THC and CBD to help you on your journey.

The Basics

CBD and THC are composed of the exact same chemicals, but they have different structures. This is why they express themselves differently.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is one of the main compounds found in marijuana. This is the cannabinoid that is most responsible for the high sensation you may feel during, or after, using cannabis.

This sensation is the most recognizable side-effect of THC usage, but there are many other effects that may benefit medical marijuana users.

CBD, or cannabidiol, is another one of the main compounds found in marijuana. CBD can often contain up to 0.3% THC, which is not enough to result in you feeling intoxicated.

While there is a notable difference in the psychoactive effects of THC vs CBD, there are many other reasons for you to consider either for treatment.

The Medical Benefits of CBD vs THC

Although they are similar in makeup, THC and CBD have different medicinal benefits.

Many ailments benefit from THC treatment. They include:

• glaucoma
• loss of appetite
• insomnia
• muscle spasticity

Many ailments benefit from CBD treatment. They include:

• arthritis
• seizures
• depression
• psychosis, or mental disorders
• migraines
• inflammatory bowel disease
• cancer

Another awesome medical benefit of CBD is its use to treat rare forms of epilepsy. Epidiolex is the first prescription medication that has been approved by the FDA to contain CBD. It is currently the only drug developed from marijuana that is federally approved.

You may probably be wondering if there are any ailments that can benefit from either CBD or THC treatment. The answer is yes! A few of these conditions are anxiety, nausea, and/or pain.

All in all, there are a wide variety of medical benefits associated with cannabis. If you are considering using medical marijuana, it is very important to decide what you need it for the most. Then you will need to decide which cannabinoid, whether THC or CBD, is the best treatment for your affliction.

Cannabis affects everyone differently, but it is important to recognize the common differences between CBD and THC before determining what type of medicine you will use.

To further support the benefits of THC vs CBD on different diseases, let’s take a deeper look into the ways they support two of the most common American afflictions: anxiety and chronic pain.

CBD vs THC: General Anxiety Benefits

A simple way to define anxiety is a consistent feeling of worry. We have all experienced stress and anxiety at some point in life, but if it lasts more than 6 months and begins to interfere with everyday life… It can be classified as an actual general anxiety disorder.

Anxiety can present itself differently in different people. The main ways anxiety affects us include, but are not limited to:

• restlessness
• insomnia
• inability to focus
• fear
• muscle tension
• feelings of hopelessness

The most common way to treat general anxiety is usually therapy, but medical marijuana can be a great alternative. Although both CBD and THC support the relief of anxiety symptoms, there is research to consider before choosing either.

Practice makes perfect, so let’s take a look at which of these cannabis components will best serve your anxiety.

THC can have either positive or negative effects on anxiety levels depending on how much is used, and the frequency of use. Lower doses are said to decrease feelings of anxiety, while higher doses are said to increase it.

If you suffer from a more severe version of anxiety, you may probably want to stay away from THC dominant strains.

CBD has remarkably positive effects on anxiety levels. Due to the usually low THC content of CBD dominant strains, they prove to be a better option for treating crippling anxiety in adults.

In the case of CBD vs THC regarding the relief of anxiety, CBD may be more effective for you.

CBD vs THC: Chronic Pain Benefits

Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons American adults seek medical attention. Pain is usually considered chronic when it is high-impacting and long-lasting.

This severe type of pain can cause limitations on the way you live, work, and enjoy yourself. If left untreated, it can lead you to develop depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

There is no specific cause of chronic pain, but fear not! There are ample ways to treat chronic pain, and while we can discuss all of these ways…

We know why you’re here.

Let’s dive right into the ways medical marijuana, CBD or THC dominant, can alleviate any chronic pain you may feel.

CBD will not give you the high you may seek when looking for pain relief, but that does not take away from the many positive effects it possesses. For example, CBD has been proven as a highly effective treatment for pain caused by inflammation.

Arthritis is one of the most prevalent manifestations of chronic pain in older adults. Due to those strong anti-inflammatory properties, CBD can be a huge help in treating this disease.

THC is the more common way people choose to treat chronic pain. This is because it will oppositely give you the high you may seek when looking for pain relief. Patients who use THC to treat chronic pain rely on that high sensation to help them take their minds off of the pain they may be experiencing.

Regarding the relief of chronic pain, both are equally effective. You can even opt to use a mix of both. Your decision ultimately depends on the origin and severity of your pain and the way you would like to feel after usage.

You’re probably thinking: “This all sounds great, but how exactly will medical marijuana affect me?”

Well, you know we’ve got you covered!

CBD vs THC: The Side Effects

There are a very low number of side effects associated with both CBD and THC. While CBD use is said to have no known side effects when used alone, THC use can result in a few temporary side effects.

The temporary side effects of THC consumption that can occur include:

• dry mouth
• slowed reaction times
• the feeling of being “high”
• red eyes
• lack of coordination
• increased heart rate

Research suggests that alone CBD is safe to use in large quantities, but if it is used with any other medications there may be temporary side effects as well. These effects include:

• appetite change
• fatigue
• weight loss
• dizziness
• diarrhea
• upset stomach

The only proven adverse effects of THC consumption occur almost exclusively in teenagers. Negative psychiatric effects may be in conjunction with the underdeveloped teenage brain.

Due to the psychoactive properties that exist in CBD vs THC, there are some side effects to watch out for. The wonderful thing though, is that neither of them has fatal consequences. When taken correctly, both of these compounds will do more good than harm.

CBD vs THC: The Ways to Use It

The most well-known ways to use CBD and THC is to smoke or vape them. Unfortunately, people with certain conditions may not be able to smoke or vape either. If you are unable to smoke or vape, you’re in luck! There are many other ways to take these medicines.

You can use CBD by:

• applying a topical gel, lotion, body cream
• taking a supplemental pill, capsule, or tablet
• eating a gummy, candies, or any snacks
• applying or ingesting the oil
• a tincture
• using CBD isolate to cook, bake, add to drinks, or consume in edible ways

You can use THC by:

• eating a gummy, candies, or any snacks
• taking a supplemental pill, capsule, or tablet
• a tincture
• applying or ingesting the oil
• using cannabis-infused, and THC dominant, butter to cook, bake, or consume in edible ways
• applying a topical gel, lotion, body cream

Aside from the more common ways to use CBD vs THC, there are a few other ways to use either that are more unique. Upon deciding to take advantage of medical marijuana, you should always consider your current health and how the ways of consuming it might affect you.

CBD vs THC: The Law

Medical marijuana is now legal in many different areas in the United States.

Although it is now legal, you must remember that each of the 36 states, and 4 territories, that allow for the legal use of medical marijuana have their own guidelines.

For example, Pennsylvania has allowed for the legal use of medical marijuana since 2016, but there are still rules that must be followed if you are eligible. An example of this is no smoking (dry leaf, vaping is allowed) as a form of consumption.

While CBD has always been more widely accepted than THC, recent developments in the law now allow for higher levels of THC to be present in marijuana prescribed as medicine. This opens up a whole new realm of health benefits you can receive from using cannabis.

It is very important to check the legality of cannabis in your area. If you are considering using products containing significant trace amounts of either CBD or THC, this will help you avoid any legal issues regarding medical marijuana use.

Are You Ready to Pick a Side?

The great thing is you don’t have to. You can choose both!

Cannabis can be very beneficial to both our physical and mental health. Whether the medicine you choose is THC or CBD dominant, or even a hybrid, there will without a doubt be noticeable health benefits.

Remember that different strains of cannabis contain different cannabinoid potencies. These varying levels of concentration contribute to the potential medical benefits as well as side effects.

If you would like to learn more about cannabis or its chemical properties, contact one of the best marijuana specialists in Pennsylvania. Don’t delay, reach out today! They can help you with anything from eligibility to obtaining your medical marijuana id card. Let them help you, help yourself.