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You may have heard about cannabis plants. People have been using this plant as the source of many daily life ingredients. The practice has been going on since ancient times. Now, we have found a better purpose to use them. Science has revealed that cannabis plants have high medicinal value.
Cannabis plants contain a set of elements known as cannabinoids. We can use them for many health benefits. One of those cannabinoids is THC. It is one of the most found cannabinoids. Besides, it is also the most used element. Thus, we will talk about what is THC and its attributes. If you want to learn more about THC and its comparison with CBD, then follow us.
What is THC?
A cannabinoid is a well-known term for us. It is a set of elements that comes from cannabis plants. Currently, there are more than 100 cannabinoids. Although, most of them are on the minor side. Their ratio stands lower than 1%. Among the most found elements, THC stands the highest. Another one is CBD. As we are going to talk about THC, let’s save CBD discussion for another day.
So, what is THC? THC is a cannabinoid that is the component in marijuana responsible for the plant’s psychoactive effects. When you feel “high” after using marijuana, that’s because of THC. But, what does it do? Usually, it can affect our nervous system. The effect is not just a simple reaction. It can highly affect our mental condition. If you have seen people getting high from medicines or different drugs, then THC is the reason behind it.
History of THC
The history of THC doesn’t have any major references. People have been using this element for a long time without knowing it. From old times, people used cannabis plants for different drugs and medicines. Because of THC, people would lose their consciousness. They also lose the feeling of pain temporarily. It may feel pretty good, but people abused its usages for many criminal activities.
During the 19th century, the first THC isolation was done. The progress has reached forward after that. There is another reason behind its medical development. Research has shown that taking more than 0.3% THC can cause us to get high. As getting high leads to many criminal activities, most countries have issued restrictions over it. Thus, the medicinal usage of THC has become higher than random natural remedies. Besides, it also causes numerous side effects in the short and long term.
After the WHO announcement over THC, the agricultural act reduces the use of THC. But, it does have so much potential in medical value. From 2020, any product that contains 0.3% THC is said to be restricted. Although, more and more research is going on. Currently, we have two types of THC delta-8 and delta-9. We will talk about them in the later sections.
How THC Works
Now that we know what THC means and its history, let’s see how it works. THC’s working procedure is pretty similar to any other cannabinoids. You may have heard about the endocannabinoid system. It is our physical system to manage cannabinoid elements. Upon mixing with the bloodstream, THC directly goes into the brain.
Then, it affects the brain receptors and takes control temporarily. Because of that, people get high and lose regular consciousness. It also gives pain relief by reducing the sensitivity factor. It is also known as a euphoric effect. Because of that, THC for anxiety or THC for depression is a pretty known term among users.
Amount of THC in Marijuana
Usually, marijuana extraction can contain more than 50% of THC! The number is unreal. That’s why using marijuana directly can cause extreme problems. In the long term, it can even cause permanent mental difficulties. According to international rule, any element that contains more than 0.3% THC is prohibited. So, you are only allowed to use such marijuana as the source. But, the product has to be under that rule.
Forms Of THC
As for now, there are two types of THC. It is delta-8 and delta-9. Delta-8 is an inferior version. Its effects are pretty low. On the other hand, delta-9 is what we call THC. It is highly effective.
As for the forms, there are 3 types. They are Herbal, Hash, and Hash Oil. Although, there are additional forms as well. Vap, spray, tincture, and similar forms are also available. In the near future, we may get as many forms as CBD oil, tincture, capsule, vape, gel, and more.
CBD vs. THC
Now, we have a real discussion here. CBD and THC are two of the most used cannabinoids. They are also the most found cannabinoids in natural sources. You can get more than 25% of THC and CBD from cannabis plants. Some modified cannabis strains may contain way higher than that.
In terms of effects, they are pretty similar. But, they have a lot of differences as well. So, learning CBD vs. THC is really important. Let’s start with the elemental part. CBD is known as cannabidiol. But, THC is known as Tetrahydrocannabinol. It may be a little harder for you to grab their chemical structure. So, it will be better to learn directly from their effective part.
In terms of effect, CBD’s health benefits are pretty much on the positive side. It gives you a better appetite, digestion, mood control, and more. In addition, CBD gives you mental relief. Dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and low sleep is part of CBD effects. In addition, it reduces inflammation and gives better skin health. And also CBD oil dosage varies from person to person.
On the other hand, THC also gives similar effects. But, it focuses more on the mental part rather than physical improvement. With a high euphoric effect, they can totally give you mental relief. You may even lose consciousness temporarily. Dealing with extreme PTSD, anxiety, or depression are the best effects of THC. People often feel quite happy and forget their pain because of THC.
In terms of popularity, both are on par. Although, THC is more popular for commercial usage. But, CBD is more acceptable because of international restrictions. CBD is even acceptable for commercial growth, while THC is pretty limited. As for available forms, CBD has way more forms than THC. However, many CBD products also come with a THC mixture.
Safety And Side Effects
Side effects of THC are many, so you should be cautious around them:
- Mood change
- Careless
- Problem-solving difficulties
- Slow decision making
- Appetite change
- Short vision
- Hallucination
- Heart issues
- Fatigue loss
- Digestive issue
- Dehydration
These are some of the known THC side effects. If you are planning to use it, then a few safety measures are necessary. First of all, you have to take enough water and food. It will help to deal with stomach issues and dehydration. As for fatigue loss and similar issues, you need enough sleep. As for getting high, you need to maintain several things. Some additional medicine or ingredients to get rid of the euphoric effect.
As per the government rule, you can’t use more than 0.3% THC. So, you should always keep it under that portion. Besides, using less than that is pretty much safe.
Is THC Addictive?
As we have mentioned earlier, THC causes a euphoric effect. Natural marijuana contains a high portion of THC. It is highly addictive and causes several side effects. Thus, you can use only less than 0.3% THC. It is controllable and doesn’t cause addiction. Many people also use delta-8 instead of delta-9 THC because delta-8 has a similar THC effect but is lower.
Is THC Legal?
Cannabis laws are always changing. Many states permit the use of THC-containing medicinal marijuana for a variety of purposes, but it remains illegal under federal law. Some states have legalized recreational marijuana containing THC for personal use. However, it is also prohibited under US law.
In December 2018, Congress legalized hemp as part of the Farm Bill. However, there are still restrictions on where and how CBD products can be sold. Some products, for example, cannot be sold beyond state boundaries. If CBD products are offered with the claim of medicinal advantages, they are all illegal. Before purchasing CBD or THC-containing products, check your state’s legislation.
The Bottom Line
Users often get confused while deciding between THC vs. CBD. We have mentioned a lot of necessary information about THC. Our discussion started with what is THC and progressed its history, forms, side effects, and differences with CBD. THC is one of the most used cannabinoids that can give us mental relief. Not only does pain reduction, but it also helps users to deal with anxiety, depression, and similar issues. But, you need to use them under a given prescription.
Because using more than 0.3% of THC is prohibited. While choosing THC products, make sure to get from the best THC brands. If you use THC mixed CBD products, then explore the best CBD brands.
