Do you ever feel like the more you hear about cannabis products, the more it feels like someone is creating new acronyms just to mess with you?
To help, we’ve created a basic primer, so your next visit to the dispensary won’t leave you feeling like you’re drowning in confusing three-letter abbreviations.
And for the less dramatic reader who’s simply wondering, “What’s the difference between THC and CBD?”…we’ve got you covered there, too!
What is CBD?
These days, it really seems like CBD is absolutely everywhere, but this is largely due to its numerous uses. But what is CBD? Cannabidiol – or CBD – is the second-most prevalent active ingredient in cannabis.
So, CBD is found in cannabis, but it’s not the ingredient that gets you high (more on that below). Further, most CBD-only products are derived directly from the hemp plant, a cousin of marijuana, and won’t get you high.
CBD can help patients by changing the brain’s response to serotonin, releasing stress for patients with anxiety, insomnia and symptoms of PTSD.
CBD can also have anti-seizure properties and is sometimes used for patients suffering with epilepsy, and may be neuroprotective with studies currently ongoing regarding the CB1 receptor in patients who’ve suffered strokes, with Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and alzheimers.
Finally, CBD is sometimes used for pain management in patients with arthritis, chronic pain, spinal cord injuries, muscle pain, and pain from multiple sclerosis.
So, which cannabis gets you high?
THC on the other hand, is the component of cannabis that does get you high and that’s responsible for all the stereotypical, Harold and Kumar-esc effects that cannabis is so commonly known for.
But these aren’t the only two cannabinoids within cannabis products – in fact, not even close!
Of the more than 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis, CBN is another being seen more and more in local dispensaries.
CBN can be described as a less potent version of THC, with the common consensus that its effects are close to around 25 per cent of the effects of THC.
When THC ages inside of the plant, it breaks down and leads to the formation of CBN.
Still, although CBN is a milder psychoactive product, and shares many of the same medicinal qualities as CBD, it’s important to remember to take it slow, as it can bring the same effects from over indulgence as THC.
For some people, a downside to CBN is that it’s typically sold in the form of concentrates, most commonly in vaporizer cartridges, and it’s usually combined with either CBD, THC, or both, so it’s important to double check that you’re buying the right acronym – I mean cannabinoid.
What about the other CBC?
The other popular cannabinoid being seen in Canada is CBC – and no, not the national broadcaster.
Derived from the cannabis plant, CBC is also non-psychoactive, sharing many characteristics with CBD.
Often found in topicals and concentrate products, CBC may be beneficial when combined with THC – known as the entourage effect. While research is ongoing, it’s suggested that the two cannabinoids bind to separate receptors in our brain and work to increase the body’s level of naturally appearing cannabinoids, bringing potential benefits for pain management and inflammation in the body.
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