CBD Vs. THC: Differences, Benefits, And Effects - Medical News Today

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SubscribeA comparison of CBD and THCMedically reviewed by Eloise Theisen, RN, MSN, AGPCNP-BC — Written by Jenna Fletcher — Updated on October 19, 2023

• Chemical structure
• Where they come from
• Benefits
• Side effects
• Comparison
• Forms
• Legality
• Getting high

CBD and THC are two of many cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. Although they have similar structures, they interact with different receptors. As such, only THC causes the high people associate with cannabis.

Cannabinoids refer to substances in the cannabis, or Cannabis sativa, plant. Besides cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), researchers have identified more than 100 other cannabinoids that can influence the human body. Potential uses of these cannabinoids can include treating the following:

• pain
• nausea
• cancer
• appetite loss and eating disorders
• epilepsy
• spinal cord injury
• glaucoma
• multiple sclerosis
• Tourette syndrome
• anxiety
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• sleep problems

Though CBD and THC interact with the endocannabinoid system, there have some important differences. Notably, unlike THC, CBD lacks the psychoactive effects that many people may associate with the characteristic high of cannabis.

This article explains more about the differences between CBD and THC.

Chemical structure

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Despite having different pharmacological effects, both CBD and THC share a similar chemical structure. They both contain 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms. However, a slight difference in how the atoms are arranged accounts for the difference between CBD and THC.

CBD resources

Visit our dedicated hub for more research-backed information and in-depth resources on CBD.

Where do they come from?

Both CBD and THC are naturally present in cannabis plants. However, different species of these plants may contain varying levels of cannabinoids. For example, when a person takes a CBD dominant version of medical cannabis, they are using CBD from hemp, which is a specific variety of the Cannabis sativa plant.

The main difference between hemp and other cannabis plants is their amount of THC. The 2018 Farm Bill considers C. sativa plants with less than 0.3% THC as hemp. Other strains will typically contain more THC and less CBD. A 2016 analysis notes that the average potency of cannabis plants rose from roughly 4% in 1995 to 12% in 2014. From 2001–2014, the average CBD levels decreased from 0.28% to less than 0.15%.

Learn more about hemp CBD vs. cannabis CBD here.

Benefits

CBD and THC have similar effects on treating medical conditions. However, there is some variation in the uses of each substance.

People typically use CBD to help treat the following:

• inflammatory bowel disease
• seizures
• depression
• inflammation
• psychosis or mental disorders
• migraine

THC has potential uses in treating some of the following:

• glaucoma
• muscle spasticity
• low appetite
• insomnia

People may use either to help treat:

• pain
• anxiety
• nausea

Side effects

There are very few side effects with either CBD or THC.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), CBD is generally safe and does not appear to have abuse potential or the ability to cause harm. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds that potential side effects are likely the result of interactions with other medications a person may be taking. It may also have some impact on the liver and male fertility.

A person consuming THC may experience some temporary side effects. These can include:

• dry mouth
• red eyes
• slower than average response times
• a general feeling of being high
• memory loss
• issues with coordination
• increased heart rate

Teenagers, in particular, may experience adverse psychiatric effects from getting high. This may be because a teenager’s brain is still developing. According to some research, regular or large doses of THC may be a catalyst for schizophrenia in some people with a genetic predisposition or strong family history of the condition.

Read on to learn more about whether cannabis can trigger schizophrenia and if CBD oil can help treat schizophrenia.

Neither CBD nor THC has any apparent side effects that are serious. Neither can be fatal when taken correctly. Also, people who use THC recreationally appear to have little risk of developing an addiction.

CBD vs. THC

The following table summarizes some differences between these two cannabinoids.

CBD	THC
Is illegal	no — see paragraph below	yes — see paragraph below
Produces a high	no	yes
Interacts with endocannabinoid system	yes	yes
Has side effects	some	psychoactive side effects
Shows on drug test	possibly	yes
Relieves pain	yes	yes
Reduces nausea	yes	yes
Eases migraine	yes	yes
Reduces anxiety	yes	yes
Eases depression	yes	no
Decreases seizures	yes	no
Is anti-inflammatory	yes	yes
Helps with insomnia	yes	yes
Helps with psychosis	yes	no
Increases appetite	no	yes
Is used for various other conditions	yes	yes

Forms and ways to take

Both CBD and THC are naturally present in cannabis plants. Many people choose to smoke or vape cannabis, but this may not be possible for people with certain conditions. Instead, people can also purchase many different products that contain these cannabinoids.

CBD is available in a variety of forms. These include:

• oils
• gummies
• capsules
• tinctures

THC can also come in different forms, including:

• smokable products
• oils
• tinctures
• edibles, such as brownies

Legality

Many states in North America have approved of people having at least limited use of medical cannabis. Each state varies slightly on how they define and regulate the legal use, prescription, or sale of cannabis. There is no federal law allowing the legal use of medical cannabis. As a result, it is illegal to use or prescribe medical cannabis in any state that does not have a law allowing people to do so.

Several states have approved the use of cannabis for recreational purposes. As with medical cannabis, recreational usage is not legal federally.

A person should research the laws in their state before acquiring medical cannabis. If the state does not explicitly allow its use, a person could face legal issues for obtaining or using cannabis for medical or any other purpose.

Laws surrounding the use of medical and recreational cannabis are changing rapidly. A person who is considering using CBD or THC should check their local laws regularly as they may change or be changing.

Is CBD legal?The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC federally legal. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3% THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them federally illegal but legal under some state laws. Be sure to check state laws, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the FDA has not approved nonprescription CBD products, and some products may be inaccurately labeled.

Can both cause a high?

Despite both being cannabinoids, CBD and THC interact with slightly different cannabinoid receptors in a person’s brain.

Evidence notes that THC can bind to the main cannabinoid receptors as it has a similar chemical structure to anandamide. This chemical belongs to a group of cannabinoids that the body naturally produces, known as endogenous cannabinoids or endocannabinoids. Due to this structural similarity, THC is able to interact with these receptors and cause the high people associate with using cannabis recreationally.

Unlike THC, CBD does not create the high sensation that people associate with cannabis use. Experts are not exactly sure how CBD interacts with receptors but believe it binds differently to THC. Instead, CBD may increase the effects of other cannabinoids or binds to other receptors that researchers have not yet discovered.

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How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

• (-)-delta9-trans-Tetrahydrocannabinol. (2023).https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/delta9-trans-Tetrahydrocannabinol
• About cannabis policy. (n.d.).https://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/about-cannabis-policy
• Cannabidiol. (2023).https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Cannabidiol
• Cannabis (marijuana) and cannabinoids: What you need to know. (2019).https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cannabis-marijuana-and-cannabinoids-what-you-need-to-know
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• Kendall, D A, et al. (2017). Cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system: Their signaling and roles in disease.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2016.00294/full
• Malone, T. (2021). CBD, marijuana and hemp: What is the difference among these cannabis products, and which are legal?https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2021/cbd-marijuana-and-hemp
• Medical marijuana. (n.d.).http://www.drugpolicy.org/issues/medical-marijuana
• Scherma, M, et al. (2019). Brain activity of anandamide: A rewarding bliss?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6460372
• Segal-Gavish, H, et al. (2017). BDNF overexpression prevents cognitive deficit elicited by adolescent cannabis exposure and host susceptibility interaction.https://academic.oup.com/hmg/article/26/13/2462/3574683
• State medical cannabis laws. (2023).https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx
• What you need to know (and what we’re working to find out) about products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds, including CBD. (2020).https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis
• Zou, S, et al. (2018). Cannabinoid receptors and the endocannabinoid system: Signaling and function in the central nervous system.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5877694

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Medically reviewed by Eloise Theisen, RN, MSN, AGPCNP-BC — Written by Jenna Fletcher — Updated on October 19, 2023

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