Hemp is all the rage these days! What was once a unique talking point in college dorms and among rasta music fans has become a booming trend among audiences of all types. Although widely accepted now, there is still a distinct, distinguishable difference between the recently popularized Hemp and its more established psychoactive alternative – Marijuana.
With such a clear difference between the two plants legally, two primary compounds, or cannabinoids, lead to people’s preference for the two. For Hemp, the compound commonly sought after is called CBD. With Marijuana, it’s typically THC. That said, there are some critical differences between the two and even some unique factors that come from the cannabinoids interacting.
CBD vs THC
So, what exactly is the difference between the two? For starters, Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive component of Marijuana that has shown potential in treating certain diseases and disorders. It does not make you high. However, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive component in Marijuana that produces the feeling of being “high.”
That said, there are some other significant differences between the plants known for each. One is that Hemp is a plant that contains minimal amounts of THC while having a proportionately high amount of CBD. At the same time, Marijuana is a plant that typically has a higher concentration of THC than CBD.
Hemp is also generally used for making clothes, building materials, and food, while Marijuana is usually used for recreational purposes.
Can THC and CBD be Used Together?
Some experts believe cannabidiol (CBD) and THC work best when used together. They have found that this combination seems to help with conditions like pain relief. However, others believe that using the two alone has its benefits.
Although there is a lot of research about how CBD interacts with THC, there is little information on whether they work better together or separately.
Others think that the effects of one compound may cancel out the impact of the other. In short, it’s a difficult concept to communicate precisely how these two will synergize.
How Does CBD Modulate The Effects of THC?
One concept covered is how CBD can modulate the effects of THC.
However, we must take a step back and understand these neat compounds and their origination.
Marijuana and Hemp are both cannabis plants that produce compounds called cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are chemicals that activate the cannabinoid receptors in the body. Some cannabinoids are psychoactive. Others are not. These compounds include THC, which is the main psychoactive component of Marijuana. Hemp contains small amounts of THC, but it is not psychoactive.
One thing that is key to how these two cannabinoids interact is dependent on our endocannabinoid system. Our endocannabinoid system is responsible for regulating a variety of functions in the body, including mood, appetite, and pain. This system is what cannabinoids such as CBD or THC interact with to create some of the effects we’re familiar with.
Although more research is necessary, studies have shown that CBD can be an essential component in mitigating some of the effects of THC.
What does this mean?
Well, for starters, CBD can be used to mitigate the adverse effects of THC, particularly in high doses.
For reference, THC is a cannabinoid compound that binds to CB1 receptors in the brain. The result of this is the “high” feelings you get. However, in contrast to this, CBD’s binding affinity to the CB1 receptors is much less significant, in fact, nearly un-measurable.
However, the key thing to note here is that CBD requires THC to bind to the CB1 receptor when consumed.
Long story short, the resulting interaction has been noted to mitigate some of the less-desirable effects of consuming too much THC.
What is The Entourage Effect?
It has been discovered that when people consume cannabinoids together, the overall effect is entirely different than when they consume them separately. IE: consuming THC and CBD together vs. just consuming CBD alone.
There are two ways in which this occurs – it just depends on the potency of the cannabis plant as well as the method in which you consume it.
In short, the entourage effect is a term that is similar to the product that CBD on THC when consumed together. In short, when a multitude of cannabinoids are destroyed together, you can expect them to play off each other and create a unique effect that’s entirely different from what would be expected when consumed individually.
How to Experience the Entourage Effect
As mentioned, there are various ways to experience this “entourage effect.”
The most popular of these two is by smoking hemp flowers.
Because hemp flower is the most un-altered form of Hemp that is consumable, you can enjoy the broad canvas of cannabinoids that is naturally in each bud. This can range from CBD, CBG, THC, CBN, and others. As the hemp industry grows, there are even companies like CBD Hemp Direct. They are innovating new ways to include various alternative cannabinoids into their hemp flower products, such as the recently discovered THC-P. As a result, enthusiasts can synergistically experience an even more diverse array of cannabinoids, allowing a more refined entourage effect.
The second most popular way to experience the entourage effect is via Tinctures.
Tinctures are an oil-based extract from Hemp that allows people to consume hemp products without the need for smoking or vaping. Much like hemp flower, tinctures are extracted with minimal additional processing, so it’s common to find full-spectrum CBD tinctures that include a nearly identical cannabinoid ratio found in the hemp plant it is removed from.
That said, the entourage is a great way to experience how CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids interact.
Final Thoughts
Both THC and CBD have their similarities and contrasts. One thing is for sure, though, that regardless of how you combine these two, or even other cannabinoids, you will feel an effect. If you’re new to the hemp scene, we’d suggest doing some personal tests to see what kind of effect fits you best and reign in the entourage effect!
