The past few years have created a stir when it comes to the cannabis plant, whether it be touted as a “Magic cure all” to an “evil plant that should be banned.” Thanks to the never-ending surge of social media posts and so-called “experts,” there are many myths and downright lies surrounding cannabis that have been adopted as factual information. Some of these you may be familiar with while others may be new to you. In order to better assist our readers in determining fact from fiction, we’ve compiled a list of the twelve most commonly misconstrued facts surrounding both CBD and THC. Before we get into that, let’s explain what cannabis is and move on to the Facts You Should Know About THC and CBD.
First and Foremost: What Is Cannabis?
Most of us have probably heard the term “cannabis” and assumed it to be simply another word for marijuana. While marijuana has over 100 slang references as compiled by the DEA, which I eagerly recommend you take a look at in your free time for some laughs, cannabis is actually the mother plant to both hemp and marijuana. Both plants have been used for centuries for vastly different reasons. Hemp was primarily used for clothing ropes, and a variety of other non-consumption uses. When smoked, it had little to no noticeable effects and earned itself the association of being “fake weed.” Marijuana on the other hand was prescribed by doctors as a way to quell chronic muscle and joint discomfort, alleviate headaches, and many other strange uses until it was deemed as a dangerous “gateway” drug that should be avoided at all costs.
In today’s world, the most common way to differentiate between the two is its THC content. In fact, the percentage of THC in cannabis is what deems it federally legal. Hemp and all hemp-derived cannabinoids are considered federally legal provided that the THC content is 0.3% or lower. Marijuana and all marijuana-derived cannabinoids contain a substantially higher THC content and as such are only legal in certain states. Now that we’ve got a better grasp on the two cannabinoids, let’s dive into some of the myths and misinformation that currently circulates social media and other information outlets.
Myth #1 THC is for recreational use, while CBD is for medicinal use.
CBD has infiltrated a number of products that tout its holistic properties, including creams, softgels, tinctures, and more. As such, some users have come to think of CBD as the “medical” part of the plant since it does not get the user high.
Fact: THC has been used for centuries as a way to “cure” common ailments due to its intense psychoactive effects. While many users do use THC as a way to get high, the mind-altering cannabinoid actually has a plethora of medicinal uses. THC, specifically the single-molecule known as Marinol, has been studied as a way to reduce nausea, increase appetite, and even studied for dementia related to Alzheimer’s. The federal government classifies that single molecule THC as a Schedule III pharmaceutical, a special classification for low-abuse potential drugs. The confusion lies with THC derived from cannabis, a Schedule I drug that does not contain medical value.
Myth #2: CBD = Good; THC = Bad
If you’re new to the world of cannabis and its compounds (aka cannabinoids), you may gravitate towards labeling non-psychoactive CBD as “good” and psychoactive THC as “bad.” This may be effective for those looking to steer clear of THC for personal or professional reasons, but the mislabeling of both cannabinoids can sour your view on the plethora of benefits that THC can offer.
Fact: Both CBD and THC have their respective uses. Just because the way you use either one of these cannabinoids does not make them better or worse than the other. Instead of referring to cannabinoids as good or bad, try to respect that each cannabinoid has a variety of uses that you may not need but others will (and do!). THC has been villainized for far too long and deserves to be recognized for all the potential it can offer, whether it be to quell uneasiness, to encourage relaxation, stimulate creativity, and so forth. It’s “high” time the world puts aside the notion that “getting high” is a problem that needs to be eradicated.
Myth #3 THC-Free CBD Is More Effective
Some people have embraced the notion that CBD is more effective when it has been stripped of all THC. This couldn’t be further than the truth! Just like cookies are better with milk and spaghetti is better with meatballs, CBD and THC are a dynamic duo that offer more benefits together than apart.
Fact: Studies have shown that CBD can enhance some of THC’s therapeutic effects, anti-inflammatory properties specifically. Other studies have shown that when used together, both CBD and THC are more effective in reducing tumors associated with brain and breast cancer. Still other studies have confirmed that when CBD and THC are consumed together, the combination is more effective in lessening neuropathy discomfort as opposed to just CBD alone.
Myth #4 Cannabinoids are More Effective When Isolated Rather Than Using The Whole Plant.
This particular myth is a bit tricky due to inaccurate wording by the FDA. The federal government states that certain compounds (THC and CBD) do indeed have medicinal value, but the entire plant is not necessary. It’s no secret that Big Pharma looks out for themselves and can misrepresent the overall benefits if they do not appear to have financial merit, regardless of the actual medicinal value.
Fact: The hemp plant contains over 100 cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes that offer a plethora of benefits. Isolating just one cannabinoid that has proven to be beneficial leaves out all the other benefits offered by the remaining compounds. Many users strongly advocate the “entourage effect,” a widespread belief that consuming the whole plant offers more benefits together than separate. This belief has yet to be scientifically proven, but the overwhelming confirmation from unaffiliated consumers lends credibility to this phenomenon.
Myth/Misconception #5: “CBD Isn’t Psychoactive”
One of the most common ways to differentiate between THC and CBD is their respective effects. The difference lies in what “psychoactive” actually means. Many people refer to CBD as non-psychoactive in the sense that it does not contain any mind-altering effects and will not get you high. Yet psychoactive can refer to any mood alteration, particularly when dealing with uneasiness, depressive tendencies, and other mental issues.
Fact: CBD does not get you high, but has mood-altering properties which loosely qualify it as somewhat psychoactive. If taken in extremely large quantities, the low THC content in CBD may cause some unpleasant side effects including disorientation and a slight “buzzed” feeling. The consumption of recommended doses of CBD can positively impact your psyche, which does in turn make it psychoactive. A better way to phrase this misconception is CBD isn’t psychoactive in the same way that THC is.
Myth #6 “CBD Makes You Sleepy.”
CBD comes with an array of uses, with one highly popularized use being as an effective sleep aid. Yet CBD does not make you feel sleepy; in fact, consuming a moderate dose of CBD can actually help energize you throughout the day! However, consuming extremely large doses of CBD can make you feel lethargic and dizzy to the point where you just want to go lay down.
Fact: CBD contains relaxing properties that can help you unwind after a long day. This ability to help your mind relax and let go of the daily stress can help you fall asleep and stay asleep. A specific terpene found in hemp called myrcene has sedating properties and can also help with muscle and joint discomfort, which may be present in certain full-spectrum CBD products. But CBD does not make you sleepy in and of itself. The relaxing properties that come about may in turn help you fall asleep.
Conclusion
There is much to be learned about the intrinsic world of cannabis, hemp, marijuana, and their respective cannabinoids. Certain myths and misconceptions can be detrimental to those who have considered using it but are skeptical about what they’ve heard. CBD is not a magic cure-all that can be used to fix any and all of your ailments and THC is not a dangerous cannabinoid that should be avoided at all costs. Both cannabinoids, when properly understood, can provide relief and comfort from a variety of physical and mental issues.
Here at ERTH Wellness, we’re serious about educating our customers with the truth about cannabis, particularly with cannabidiol. If you’re more interested in getting high with federally legal cannabinoids, check out our sister site TwoHawk Extracts. Regardless of the cannabinoid-infused product you choose, you can buy with confidence knowing that you’re getting a premium product. All of our products are thoroughly tested by third-party independent labs for purity and potency. The results of these tests are embedded into the product’s description via a clickable link and are also printed on the product’s packaging via a QR code.
We’re so dedicated to excellence that we offer a “Try Before You Buy” program, where you can try out $15 worth of our sample sizes for free! Whether it be CBD, Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC, HHC, or THC-O, there’s something for everyone on our shelves. Feel free to browse our collection of premium gummies, tinctures, pre-rolls, and CBD vape juice. In our next article, we’ll be continuing to explore other myths and misconceptions about CBD to ensure you understand what you’re consuming and why. Join us as we continue to learn about the wonders of cannabis and all it has to offer!
