You may have some familiarity with marijuana itself. Yet, the dual influences of legal distinctions and emphasis on understanding chemical effects mean the industry is full of acronyms and jargon. It all gets somewhat confusing.
The two you’ll likely see most often are THC, short for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and CBD, short for cannabidiol. They’re the primary components of cannabis plants. They provide all the effects and benefits you might be looking for.
Let’s learn more about the pros and cons of both THC and CBD.
What Are the Pros and Cons of THC?
THC is the component of marijuana that causes you to feel high. It is the main draw for most people who consume marijuana recreationally. If this high is what you seek, then you need a product with higher levels of THC. However, most governments around the world consider THC an illegal drug. In these areas, it’s illegal to possess and consume. Depending on where you live, obtaining THC-containing marijuana products is more complicated.
In the United States currently, recreational marijuana is legal in 24 states. 38 states allow the use of medical marijuana, which you can obtain with a medical marijuana card.
Some advantages of THC are as follows:
Relief from Nausea
THC reduces nausea. It’s a remedy for the side effects of other treatments like chemotherapy. People who experience side effects from chemotherapy find that marijuana eases their symptoms and helps them recover more quickly.
Pain Relief
Marijuana is effective for pain relief. You can combine it with CBD or use marijuana alone. Either way, marijuana is generally more effective for pain than CBD.
Muscle Spasms
If you experience muscle spasms, marijuana can help with this condition as well. It reduces muscle spasms and the pain associated with them.
THC also possesses several cons, primarily related to its psychoactive effects:
Memory Impairment
When using marijuana, you may experience memory problems. THC interferes directly with the hippocampus. This is the area of the brain responsible for retaining memories.
Anxiety and Paranoia
Some people experience anxiety when experiencing a marijuana high. These feelings can persist even after the high subsides.
Habit-forming Risk
There’s a habit-forming risk for users who frequently use marijuana. It’s important to note that cannabis does not create chemical dependency like alcohol or other addictive drugs do. Yet, frequent use is liable to make a potentially harmful mental dependency.
What Are the Pros and Cons of CBD?
CBD is found in marijuana plants. This means that any THC product is likely to contain CBD as well. Most of its distinctiveness is in its lack of psychoactive effects. It’s not a controlled substance in most jurisdictions. You can easily purchase CBD like any other over-the-counter product. It’s derived from the hemp plant. A hemp plant is the same species of cannabis plant as marijuana but a different cultivar with much lower THC levels.
CBD’s positive effects can still be highly sought after, including:
Pain Management
CBD helps with pain management. As mentioned earlier, THC is more effective, but CBD has a significant soothing effect for chronic pain sufferers.
Anxiety and Depression
CBD works well to treat anxiety and depression. It’s especially effective when paired with other medications. Adding CBD to other medications can enhance the effect, decreasing depression.
Epilepsy Treatment
If you experience convulsive seizures, CBD may help. CBD is known to help with epilepsy treatment, especially for convulsive seizures.
No Dependency Risk
No risk of dependency of any kind has been observed with CBD use. Its lack of psychoactive effects does not contribute to any habit-forming behaviors.
If you’re concerned about CBD’s cons, don’t be.
CBD’s cons are as follows:
CBD’s cons are pretty mild. Side effects are limited to minor ailments like dry mouth or fatigue. The most significant hurdle is likely finding a vendor. Depending on your location, you may not be able to find CBD that easily. Not everyone makes CBD readily available. There are reputable companies that sell CBD online, however. Do your research before purchasing to ensure it doesn’t contain THC.
Conclusion
No matter which product you consume and in what form, like most chemicals, your body takes in, you will build up a tolerance over time. Occasionally, suspending use and resetting your marijuana tolerance can keep effects at a desirable potency. (Learn how to reset your marijuana tolerance naturally here.)
Due to its status as illegal in most of the world for many decades, research into THC and CBD products is still ongoing. Discoveries and applications are coming in all the time.
If you do choose to seek out THC or CBD-containing substances for health or for pleasure, be aware of the risks. You must understand what you put in your body. Furthermore, learn all about the potential benefits and risks.