With the growing awareness of CBD as a potential health aid, there's also been a proliferation of misconceptions about THC's role in healing.
The science makes clear that whole-plant cannabis extracts (full-spectrum CBD Oil) are superior to single compounds because the plant's complex mix of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids interact to create an "entourage effect" that enhances each other's therapeutic effects.
Cannabis's two most well-known cannabinoids are THC (main psychoactive compound) and CBD (non-psychoactive compound). When they are together, THC and CBD are a match made in heaven that combines to offer comprehensive benefits that neither could accomplish alone.
Understandably, those who want to use CBD without getting high are concerned when they hear about products that contain CBD with THC. If this is the case, you probably have nothing to worry about. Trace amounts of THC are improbable to produce any noticeable effect. This article explores the truth behind the small amounts of THC in our full-spectrum CBD oil products and whether there is any reason for you to worry.
The relationship between CBD and THC
Both CBD and THC are cannabinoids, meaning they are active compounds found in cannabis plants. The two are relatively similar in this sense, but they have plenty of differences.
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is a psychoactive and intoxicating. It is responsible for the high that people get from using marijuana. THC alters the mental state and causes users to experience a range of euphoric feelings, too much THC can sometimes lead to anxiety and paranoia.
However, THC, in lower doses, has incredible therapeutic properties. Scientists at the Scripps Research Center in San Diego reported that THC inhibits an enzyme implicated in the formation of amyloid-beta plaque, the hallmark of Alzheimer's-related dementia. The federal government recognizes single-molecule THC (Marinol) as an anti-nausea compound and appetite booster. But whole-plant cannabis, which is the only natural THC source, continues to be illegal.
CBD (cannabidiol) is technically psychoactive, too, but this is simply based on the definition of the word 'psychoactive' - which means something that "affects the mind." CBD may, for example, produces positive changes in thoughts or moods. CBD is used to boost general health and well-being.
However, CBD is entirely non-intoxicating in the sense that it does not produce any high.
CBD and THC have the same chemical formula - 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms. The difference lies in the way the atoms are arranged. That gives CBD and THC different chemical properties, and they affect your body differently.
Both CBD and THC are chemically similar to your body's endocannabinoids allowing them to interact with your cannabinoid receptors, releasing neurotransmitters in your brain. They are chemicals responsible for relaying messages between cells and have roles in pain, immune function, stress, and sleep, to name a few.
Does CBD Work Better with THC?
CBD has demonstrated powerful and many health benefits associated with your body's cannabinoid receptors. Researches report that CBD helps with complex problems like arthritis, Crohn's disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and cancer treatment. CBD is also being considered a treatment and prevention for head trauma, diabetes, pain, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, depression, anxiety, and addiction research.
As a stand-alone molecule, CBD has an impressive resumé.
Access to CBD-only supplements and high-CBD strains is a major breakthrough for patients, wellness consumers, and cannabis industry professionals alike.
However, with all the hype around CBD, it's important not to forget its close relative, THC. There is reason to believe that, for some conditions, CBD may be most beneficial when consumed with a little THC.
A growing body of research suggests that when both cannabinoids are together, the compounds work with each other to produce synergistic health effects.
This means that while the cannabinoids may be powerful on their own, mixing the two can produce different and powerful effects. This phenomenon is often called the 'entourage effect.'
CBD and THC are quite different regarding how they interact with the body. Both compounds interact with the endocannabinoid system, but they do so in different ways.
CBD may encourage or promote the body's various systems to produce more endocannabinoids, which are cannabinoid compounds that the body produces naturally on its own. THC, meanwhile, binds directly with cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system to produce a range of effects.
For instance, since THC binds directly to CB1 receptors, which are found predominantly in the brain and nervous system, they trigger the perception of 'being high.' Small amounts of THC, have no impact on perception relating to the central nervous system.
That said, taking CBD oil with THC might be more effective than taking a CBD Isolate product (CBD-only).
For this reason, many users prefer to purchase full-spectrum CBD oil products. Plus, many CBD products on the market today are Farm Bill compliant, meaning they contain less than 0.3% THC. As a result, you don't need to worry about getting high, but the product might be slightly more effective.
The cannabis physician Dr. Jordan Tishler confirms that the benefits of CBD seem to wear off after a few months unless a little THC is added.
In all, the sum of the two is greater than either part.
The benefits of whole plant medicine - The Entourage Effect
CBD and THC are just two of at least 113 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.
The theory of whole-plant medicine suggests that opting for full-spectrum extracts and flowers containing a wide variety of cannabis compounds is preferable to using just one compound alone.
It's also now known that combining CBD and THC reduces the psychoactive side effects of the latter cannabinoid. CBD can also lessen the sedative and appetite-inducing effects of THC. This type of interaction between CBD and THC is known as the entourage effect.
The entourage effect helps maximize the beneficial effects of CBD oil. It occurs when hundreds of different hemp compounds interact simultaneously to produce a synergistic physiological effect.
In 1998, doctors Raphael Mechoulam and Shimon Ben-Shabat were the first to suggest that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) demonstrated an 'entourage effect.' According to Israeli researchers, various inactive metabolites and related molecules appeared to boost the activity of primary endogenous cannabinoids in the human body (namely 2-AG and anandamide).
CBD alone plays a tremendous role in the synergistic effects produced by dozens of hemp compounds working together and interacting with one another. However, it is not the most important compound of the entourage effect. All the "working internal compounds" of hemp play a role.
While CBD can reduce some of the anxiety and paranoia caused by THC, THC is expected to have more significant potential as a muscle relaxant and sedative.
Theoretically, combining the two would create a product with more outstanding muscle relaxant capabilities yet reduced cognitive impairment. Indeed, one biopharmaceutical company has already created a successful multiple sclerosis drug, Sativex, containing a one-to-one ratio of CBD and THC.
In cancer research, combining THC and CBD has produced more successful results in preclinical research than either cannabinoid alone in some forms of cancer. In glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, adding CBD to a high-THC treatment enhanced the anti-proliferative effects of THC in cell cultures. In breast cancer, CBD was more effective in animal models.
Combining the two cannabinoids may also be useful in cancer symptom management. A 2013 study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management compared the efficacy and safety profile of a THC/CBD spray and a THC-solo spray.
While THC alone can be habit-forming, patients given the combination THC and CBD spray medication did not seek to increase the dose, and it was well-tolerated over a two-week-long study.
Further evidence suggests that combining CBD and THC can improve the pain-fighting properties of the compounds.
Both CBD and THC have value.
Far more research is needed to identify when these cannabinoids are best to use in tandem and when it would be better to keep them separate.
However, the two molecules are an excellent match. Those hoping to give their CBD supplements an extra boost may want to consider adding in a little THC.
If CBD with THC sounds like your thing, then you're in luck. Here at Legalizing CBD and many other reputable brands throughout the industry offer an assortment of full-spectrum hemp oil products that contain THC levels under 0.3%.
Will CBD oil with trace amounts of THC influence a drug test?
While there isn't necessarily a guarantee that the trace amounts of THC in CBD oil won't show up on a drug test, drug testing guidelines for the federal workplace now include a cutoff value to avoid a positive test for trace amounts of THC. Though different types of drug tests vary in their thresholds of THC detection, it's improbable that any of them will pick up trace amounts. If you want to be entirely sure that your CBD oil won't result in a positive drug test, better go for a CBD Isolate Product.
CBD Oil with THC: The Bottom Line
It's natural to be cautious of CBD oils with THC. After all, there is a lot - a lot - of misinformation out there online. When combined with confusing product descriptions and hard-to-interpret labels, consumers can understandably get confused and frustrated quite easily.
As far as users that are afraid to use CBD with THC for fear of getting high, this is not something you need to be concerned about as long as the product has been extracted from hemp.
All in all, CBD oil with THC is certainly not a negative thing. CBD oils with THC contents of less than 0.3% cannot get you high, and in fact, full-spectrum products may offer enhanced benefits compared to a CBD isolate.
We recommend giving both full-spectrum products and THC-free products a try at some point. Every CBD user is unique, and experimenting is the only way to know what works best for you and your body. Just make sure that whatever you're buying is safe and reputable. Please do some research on the brand you're using, and be sure that it's a reliable company, just like Legalizing CBD.
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Disclaimer: The Legalizing CBD page contains general information about health, diet, lifestyle, and nutrition. Any information provided should not be considered or treated as medical advice, and always consult a medical professional before making any lifestyle changes. Products and information mentioned on the Legalizing CBD blog are not intended to be used as a substitute for medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment. Any links to third-party websites are provided conveniently, and Legalizing CBD is not responsible for their content.
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