Many people have been confused or do not know the major difference between CBD and THC. Does CBD get me high? Is CBD marijuana? Will CBD show up on my drug test? It is said that confusion is the first step towards clarity, so we are on our way. Let us first clarify what is CBD and THC and then identify their basic differences.

what is cbd & thc?

CBD and THC both come from the cannabis plant and are both cannabinoids that are found within it. The cannabis plant can be split into two plants called hemp and marijuana. CBD and THC also have the same molecular structures that include: 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms. [1]

what are their differences?

1. THC has psychoactive effects while CBD has no psychoactive effects. When a substance with THC is used, the molecules that enter the body will bind to the CB1 (cannabinoid 1) receptors. On the other hand, CBD does not bind to the CB1 receptors and it actually contains the THC molecules which are currently in the CB1 receptors. [2] CB1 receptors are found in the central nervous system and affect the brain and the spinal cord while CB2 receptors affect all the other parts of the body. “THC will exclusively bind to CB1 and CBD will exclusively bind to CB2.” [3]

2. CBD and THC are more abundant in different plants. THC is more abundant in the marijuana plant while CBD is more abundant in the hemp plant. THC and CBD are found in both plants but the amount of each cannabinoid differs. Marijuana has around 12% THC while CBD has no more than 0.3% THC. [4]

3. The legality of both CBD and THC. As the legality of CBD and THC has been on the rise, many states however have outlawed one or both of the substances. [5] In places where THC is legal, CBD should also be legal to buy but this does not work in an inverse way. CBD may be legal in some states while THC may not.