Marijuana developed a poor reputation in America as it was villainized for decades. Some stereotypes still persist today with the assumption that those who partake in cannabis are couch-potatoes with several snacks scattered around the cushions while they binge daytime television. The truth is, marijuana is much more versatile and offers more benefits than just the high it’s known for.

In fact, getting high isn’t a requirement when it comes to cannabis. At our medicinal and recreational marijuana dispensary in north Portland, Greeley Gallery prides ourselves on offering only the best high-quality cannabis for our customers. It’s also important for us to provide you with any and all information about marijuana to ensure you have the best experience possible. That’s why, in this article, we’re going to discuss the differences and benefits between two of marijuana’s most well known cannabinoids known as THC and CBD.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

THC is one of the 113 chemical compounds in cannabis, and is responsible for the psychoactive high weed is commonly known for. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains this happens because THC causes our brain to release a natural chemical called dopamine, which triggers our reward system. Dopamine is what’s called a neurotransmitter because its purpose is to elevate our moods and increase pleasure. This effect occurs regardless of your method of consumption. Smoking, edibles, oils, and capsules can all produce the psychoactive effects.

Getting high isn’t all that THC is good for. Make sure to check out our previous blog post about 7 Health Benefits THC offers.

Cannabidiol (CBD)

Aside from THC, CBD is another well-known chemical compound found within cannabis. Technically, CBD can be found in both marijuana and hemp plants. Both are technically classified as cannabis plants, but hemp has a much lower percentage of THC. Regardless of which plant CBD is sourced from, it’s CBD you want to use if you’re trying to avoid the experience of being high.

While THC is known for its psychoactive properties, CBD is known for its medicinal ones. The health benefits of CBD are becoming more prevalent and accepted within the scientific community as researchers continue to discover how versatile it is when it comes to aiding an array of health issues.

Benefits of THC and CBD

Instead of dividing up the benefits between THC and CBD, we’re going to combine them into one section. It only makes sense because many of the health benefits overlap and for the most part none of these benefits are unique to only one.

There is still much needed research into the health benefits of cannabis, but there’s evidence that marijuana helps several different medical conditions. New ones are added all the time and the list is already impressive.

For starters, both THC and CBD have shown to help with the following conditions:

• • Anxiety

• • Epilepsy

• • HIV/AIDS symptoms

• • General bodily pain

• • Nausea

• • Opioid Dependence

• • Digestion issues including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

• • Chron’s Disease

• • Insomnia

• • Multiple Sclerosis

However, while some of the benefits such as the ones listed above can be found for both CBD and THC, there are a few benefits which are stronger in one over the other.

For instance, depression, inflammation, seizures, PTSD, and migraines are all more often associated with CBD. Whereas nausea, migraines, arthritis, tremors, and issues with appetite are more commonly affected by THC.

Final Thoughts

Becoming stoned to the point of never leaving your couch is optional. You might have to play around a bit with dosage, but there’s no reason you can’t enjoy cannabis in a healthy and productive way. Both THC and CBD offer a wide range of health befits that are just starting to truly be explored.

Make sure to chat with our staff here at Greeley Gallery if you have any questions about dosage or consumption options. We want to ensure you have the very best experience possible and always enjoy getting to know our customers. We offer a variety of high-quality cannabis products for both THC and CBD. We can’t wait for you to try them.