CBD has become almost commonplace throughout the country, as you can find it in beverages, chewing gum, chocolate, and even ice cream! The once feared term of “cannabis” is almost comical now as more states are adopting the legal use of both hemp and marijuana. The villainized marijuana plant still has some hurdles to overcome, but the stigma is slowly fading away as more people are slowly realizing its holistic properties in both recreational and medicinal use. But the familiar seven-tipped plant isn’t out of the woods yet; some people remain skeptical of marijuana (more specifically, THC) due to its intoxicating effects and overwhelming high. Yet some studies have shown that there is remarkable improvement to the overall efficacy of CBD with small doses of THC. Let’s take a look at what both these cannabinoids are and whether or not CBD+THC products are right for you.
Eliminate Unfair Bias
In order to fully understand the purpose of CBD+THC products, it’s important that you don’t let the negative bias regarding getting high prevent you from getting the relaxation and relief that you need. The cannabis industry is swirling with misconceptions regarding both THC and CBD, a topic we’ve touched on in previous articles (see here and here). As for right now, it’s important that you don’t associate the mentality of good/medical with CBD only and bad/recreational only with THC. Each cannabinoid has a plethora of uses that is dependent on the consumer. Understanding and acknowledging the benefits of both THC and CBD can help ensure you enjoy your hemp-infused product, regardless if it gets you high or not. Once you are able to see the potential for greatness in both THC and CBD, you can start to realize the incredible benefits that both these compounds can offer.
How Are THC and CBD Different?
Your body contains a magnificent system that interacts with cannabinoids called an endocannabinoid system. This system, shortened to ECS, is made up of various receptors that transmit signals to your brain. THC forms a strong bond to the body’s CB1 receptors, while CBD bonds to the body’s CB2 receptors. This is why you get high when you consume THC and why you do not get high when consuming CBD. However, just because CBD doesn’t get you high does not mean you won’t feel anything at all. You may notice an improvement in your mood, an increase in energy, an easier time falling asleep, and so forth. THC has incredible relaxing properties that may make you feel drowsy, can increase your sense of humor, can encourage appetite, and much more. Both compounds contain anti-inflammatory effects as well as analgesic ones, which may help those suffering from various physical and mental ailments.
Why Consuming CBD and THC Is Recommended
Cannabis has traditionally been more focused on its CBD content rather than the total amount of THC. Yet in today’s world, cannabis growers have gained valuable knowledge about strains and prices that helped us better understand the potential of consuming both cannabinoids in tandem. While CBD has incredible benefits, it does contain trace amounts of THC (no more than 0.3%). that can either be lessened in broad spectrum products or eliminated completely in CBD isolate. The problem with utilizing this method is that it eliminates some of the benefits that THC can offer. THC does indeed get the user high, but it shouldn’t be classified as the “bad” cannabinoids and CBD as the “good” cannabinoid. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits that CBD+THC offers that you may not have been aware of.
The Entourage Effect
It’s been said by multiple cannabis users that consuming whole-plant blends is highly beneficial as it offers the “entourage effect.” Science has yet to confirm this phenomenon, but cannabis consumers believe that consuming the naturally available blend of cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes delivers greater benefits as opposed to separating the plant via chemical processing.
Helps Negate Feelings of Uneasiness In Marijuana
Some of the most undesirable side effects of marijuana consumption are the overwhelming feelings of uneasiness, memory impairment, and emotional distress. These emotions are typically brought on by consuming too much in one sitting or opting for a powerful strain when it isn’t necessary. A study done in 2012 showed that harrowing emotions brought on by THC could be substantially reduced when CBD was consumed at the same time as the THC.
Joint Effort Against The Effects From Cancerous Tumor
The California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, California conducted an interesting study on brain and breast cancer patients. The study found that when THC and CBD were consumed together, the effects of anti-tumors were noted to be more potent. Interestingly enough, the cannabinoids were not as effective when taken separately.
A separate study conducted in 2010 noted that intractable cancer patients suffering from physical discomfort found relief with medicines containing a blend of both THC and CBD. In comparison, extracts containing pure THC were not as effective. More research is needed to confirm the results of both studies, but it’s encouraging to see how both compounds used together are noticeably more effective.
How To Find Your Ideal Dosages
Finding your ideal dosage requires a good bit of trial and error. There is no exact dosage amount that works the same across the board. Every consumer’s body will react differently to the cannabinoids based on weight, age, metabolism, previous exposure to CBD or THC, and other factors.
If you’re consuming either THC or CBD for the first time, it’s strongly recommended to start off with low amounts. For readily available CBD + THC products, anywhere between 5-15mg is a good place to start. Once you have a working knowledge of how your body reacts to this low dosage, you can gradually adjust your disease by 5 until you feel comfortable with the consumption amount.
If there aren’t any CBD+THC products near you or easily accessible, you may need to consume various products that contain CBD and THC, respectively. For example, the dosage suggestion for softgels is two while the inhalables is 1-3 puffs. You may want to down a CBD capsule and inhale a hit from your vape pen an hour or so later.
Conclusion
Cannabis, specifically marijuana, has been regarded for centuries as an evil gateway drug used by unmotivated individuals to get high and lounge about all day. Thanks to the wonders of modern science and an ebbing negative bias, the country is able to look past previous stigmas and embrace the cannabis plant for its many benefits. It’s true, consuming THC will get you high while CBD will not. But CBD+THC together offer many more benefits than consuming either cannabinoid alone. Consuming appropriate amounts of both cannabinoids may help you enjoy a smoother more enjoyable high, offers a plethora of medicinal benefits that have been confirmed by various studies, and may deliver the “entourage effect” where you reap multiple benefits from consuming the whole plant as opposed to consuming either CBD or THC.
Here at Erth Wellness, we’re proud to offer a variety of CBD that contain full-spectrum hemp, CBD+THC tinctures, and THC Gummies. For more hemp-derived cannabinoid products that will get you high, be sure to check out our sister site Two Hawk Extracts for all your federally legal THC needs. All of our products have been certified as both potent and pure by independent third-party labs. You can view the results of these tests as they are embedded in the product description and viewable via a QR code on the product’s packaging. In our next article, we’ll be talking about whether or not it’s possible to overdose on how CBN works to help you catch a restful night of sleep. As always, feel free to leave a comment below that details your experience with our CBD and THC products. We look forward to reading about how the cannabis plant has helped improve your overall health and wellness on a daily basis!
