THC vs CBD: Top Differences

We here at Healthy Hemp came across a great article from our friends at GreenCamp. We posted the article below, but check out their site: www.greencamp.com. Article can be found at www.greencamp.com/thc-vs-cbd/

When it comes to the age-old THC vs CBD duel, there is really no clear winner. Both substances are useful in their own right and both are proven to help with a variety of medical conditions and symptoms.

However, if you’re looking for a straight-to-the-point comparison, then you’re at the right place.

Check out the infographic below and discover what exactly THC and CBD do to our minds and bodies, as well as how you can use that information when shopping for your next cannabis product.

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Breakdown of THC vs CBD effects from the infographic

In your journey through the world of cannabis, you’re probably most baffled with cannabinoids and their effect on humans.

Cannabis has been used by people for over 10,000 years and it was initially used for treating medical conditions and reducing their symptoms. The plant was even used by some of the Chinese emperors from way before 2,000 BC.

Talk about heritage.

But the main reason why cannabis has been so popular for such a long time:

Cannabinoids.

Cannabinoids are chemical substances that are produced by the cannabis plant and they have many purposes, both for the plant as well as its users. There are more than 100 of these substances in each cannabis plant and they all have some positive effects – some strains less and some more.

However, the two most prominent cannabinoids in cannabis are THC and CBD.

What’s THC?

THC stands for Tetrahydrocannabinol and is usually the most famous (or at least the most mentioned) substance of them all. If THC and CBD are to be personified into twin brothers, then THC would be the outgoing twin and CBD would be the national mathematics high-school champion.

Jokes aside, THC is the only psychoactive compound in the cannabis plant and is responsible for getting people high (euphoric). That is not to say that it is not beneficial for medical users.

THC tackles a wide variety of medical symptoms rather efficiently and is awesome at relieving chronic pain, increasing appetite & reducing nausea.

What’s CBD?

CBD stands for Cannabidiol and is the second most prominent cannabinoid in most cannabis strains.

CBD is superior to THC at the variety of medical conditions it helps with and is a great substance for treating pain, anxiety and inflammations. However, it is most popular for its relaxing and bacteria killing benefits.

Unlike THC, CBD does not produce a high (euphoric sensation or an altered state of mind) but rather affects and relaxes your body. It can be said that CBD is the primary choice of medical patients, depending on their illness.

How do THC and CBD produce effects?

What may be surprising to you is that THC and CBD actually fit into your body’s receptors like a glove.

See, human bodies have something that’s called an endocannabinoid system.

This is a physiological system that basically regulates your health by ensuring you are in the state of homeostasis (balance).

ECS essentially connects your body and mind, making sure everything is in balance and that no unwanted processes take place.

It does that through a series of stimulators and receptors and has the end goal to make cells in a certain area work as efficiently as possible. So, essentially, it is a system that operates on a cellular level.

The stimulators are called cannabinoids — they can be either endocannabinoids (produced by our bodies), phytocannabinoids (found in certain plants, like cannabis) or synthetic cannabinoids (produced artificially in the lab)

The receptors are called CB1 and CB2 — and they are scattered throughout the body. CB1 receptors are a part of our nervous system while CB2 are found in our immune system.

When a receptor get stimulated, it sets off an avalanche of cellular processes: autophagy, stabilization of nerve cells, reduction of pro-inflammatory cells and many more.

THC, for example, primarily activates your CB1 receptors, that are located in the central and peripheral nervous system. CBD, on the other hand, is more oriented towards promoting anandamide, which is a neurotransmitter that also activates CB receptors.

That explains why CBD has an antagonistic effect over THC (i.e. the higher the CBD concentration, the less psychoactive effects the user experiences).

Essentially, entire appeal of cannabinoids (and mainly THC and CBD) can be contributed to their ability to stimulate various receptors in our bodies and, therefore, regulate cellular homeostasis.

This, in turn, enables us to be happy, uplifted, euphoric and healthy when we consume cannabis products, such as dried flowers or concentrates.

What are the biggest differences between THC and CBD?

Even though both THC and CBD provide a wide variety medical effects, there is an important difference between them, that’s obvious right of the bat:

THC makes you high and euphoric, while CBD does not have any psychoactive effects.

When it comes to relieving symptoms, on the other hand, you should know that you can’t have one without the other. Therefore it’s good to know which symptoms each of them tackle the best.

Check out the table below for a full comparison:

It’s important to take these points into consideration when choosing your preferred cannabis product, just because it may mean the difference between being satisfied with your experience and being disappointed.

How to assess THC and CBD ratios and percentages?

You’ve might have heard it before, but cannabis has a biphasic effect on people. This means that low doses of cannabinoids produce one group of effects and high doses produce something completely different.

THC, for example, can make you paranoid in extremely high doses (especially if you are a novice user) and relaxed in low doses.

That being said, beginners should almost always stick to lower and moderate doses. Just avoid smoking 7 joints at once and you’ll be fine. As they say — ease into it.

With volume out of the way, we can now talk about percentages.

You will see strains that have:

● High THC and low CBD percentages — mainly used by recreational users, as they get you really high. The higher the THC percentage, the stronger and longer lasting the high.
● High CBD and low THC percentages — perfect for medicinal users who want to experience multiple medical effects without getting high or euphoric.
● Equal CBD and THC percentages — quite rare nowadays, but great for consumers who are looking for a minimal high with a strong focus on relieving symptoms.

As you know by now, CBD suppresses the psychoactive effects of THC, so if you’re looking for a more mellow experience either buy a more potent strain and consume a little, or buy a CBD dominant strain and have no worries.

Another thing that characterises every strain is that it has a certain ratio of cannabinoids, which make it what it is. This is broken down very neatly in this article, but here’s a quick recap for you:

It is extremely important to take THC:CBD ratio into consideration when buying a strain, as it will help you tailor the experience to your exact symptoms and desired effects.

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Charlotte’s Web Hemp Extract Infused Summer Recipes!

*Originally published by https://www.cwhemp.com/

 

Tomato and Mint Salsa

1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes

½ tbsp red onion, diced

¼ cup celery, diced

¼ cup cucumber, peeled, diced

1/16th tsp sea salt, plus more to taste

2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, gently torn

1 tbsp flax seed oil, divided

2 droppers CW Everyday Plus

2 cups baby kale, or baby mixed greens

Fresh ground black pepper to taste

In a small bowl, combine cherry tomatoes, onion, celery, CW, sea salt, fresh mint and ½ tbsp flax oil, andset to the side. When ready to serve, toss mixed greens with ½ tbsp flax oil and a pinch of sea salt. Plate and then scoop tomato mint salsa onto bed of greens. Enjoy as you would a fresh green salad. Add avocado, optional.

CW Mocktail Margarita 

2 ½ tbsp fresh lime juice (about 1 large lime, or 2 small)

2 cups sparkling spring water, chilled

1 tsp agave nectar to taste (optional)

½ cup ice

2 sprigs fresh cilantro

2 droppers Everyday Plus 

In a small pitcher, or bowl with a spout, combine, cilantro, and fresh lime. Use clean fingers to roll mint leaves back and forth for 5 seconds. Do this gently to release their essential oils without bruising. Add mint to bowl. Set aside for 30 minutes or keep in the fridge until ready to enjoy. Flavors will come together. When ready to enjoy, add two cups of sparkling water, and two droppers of Everyday Plus. Pour over ice.

 

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How advocates are inspiring members of Congress to champion national CBD oil legalization

*Originally published by http://www.thecannabist.co/

By Alicia Wallace, The Cannabist Staff

Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive cannabis compound touted for its medicinal promise — but marijuana- and hemp-derived extracts rich in CBD and low in intoxicating THC are facing a future yet to be determined.

The Cannabist’s special report “CBD, TBD” explores a regulatory and legal landscape pockmarked by federal-state conflicts, national drug policy, pioneering research efforts, and disparate avenues toward the compound’s full legalization. This is the second installment in an ongoing series.

Part I – Forbidden medicine: Caught between a doctor’s CBD advice and federal laws

---

Paige Figi continues to trumpet the medicinal benefits and potential of cannabidiol.

The Colorado Springs-area mother credits a whole-plant hemp extract oil that’s rich in the cannabis compound better known as CBD with drastically reducing her daughter Charlotte’s seizures caused by Dravet syndrome, a type of epilepsy.

“It was her golden ticket,” Paige Figi said of the CBD oil that has since been branded Charlotte’s Web.

Figi doesn’t know if the hemp-derived extracts that have stabilized her daughter’s health for more than five years would do the same for those suffering from epilepsy and other ailments.

But she thinks people deserve the opportunity to find out for themselves.

Now Figi, founder and executive director of the Coalition for Access Now, a national nonprofit organization that lobbies on behalf of hemp and CBD legalization, has thrown her weight behind efforts in Congress to remove CBD — and plants rich in cannabidiol and low in intoxicating THC — from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

The Republican-sponsored legislation is the “quick fix” patients deserve, she said.

“These people have a case”

Earlier this spring, GOP lawmakers Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado and Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania revived a bicameral push from the 2015-16 congressional session that would remove CBD and “cannabidiol-rich plants” — defined as any parts of the Cannabis sativa L. plant with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of not more than 0.3 percent — from the definition of marijuana in the CSA.

Perry is behind a measure called the Charlotte’s Web Medical Access Act of 2017 (House Bill 2273). Gardner introduced the Therapeutic Hemp Medical Access Act of 2017 (Senate Bill 1008).

In short, the bills would allow unfettered access to develop and research CBD extracts.

Both legislators told The Cannabist that they were spurred to craft their respective bills after meeting with constituents who shared their personal experiences using the CBD oil to reduce instances of seizures.

“When you hear from families that they could treat their child with this natural product … that’s life-changing,” Gardner said.

Similar stories from families in Pennsylvania prompted a change of heart in Perry, who said he previously was a staunch opponent of anything remotely having to do with marijuana legalization.

Perry talked with patients who use CBD, he dove into existing research into cannabinoids and even discussed CBD with the founders of Colorado-based CW Hemp, the company that makes Charlotte’s Web.

“It seems to me that these people have a case, and I can’t see any reason not to be a supporter,” he said.

The Pennsylvania congressman said he’s not interested in waiting 10 to 15 years for CBD to clear U.S. Food and Drug Administration approvals, noting that this legislation could present a faster track to research.

“It’s a natural supplement,” Perry said.

Pumping the brakes

Kevin Sabet, co-founder of anti-marijuana legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), said he has “deep reservations” about the Perry-Gardner bills.

If CBD were to be reclassified in the federal drug schedule, that should occur by the hands of the Food and Drug Administration’s eight-factor analysis, he said.

“To do so by sweeping legislation, doesn’t make sense,” Sabet said.

Sabet also criticized the recently proposed bicameral CARERS Act (Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States Act, SB 1374 and HB 2920), which would allow for states to set their own medical marijuana policies and also prohibit federal law enforcement intervention.

Sabet’s organization does not yet have a position on the Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (SB 1276) introduced last month by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.

The Feinstein-Grassley bill’s provisions include: requiring the attorney general to determine whether CBD should be listed as a controlled substance; allowing the possession of non-psychoactive components of marijuana solely for epilepsy treatment; allowing research on CBD to be conducted using a Schedule II registration; and creating a pathway for the commercial production of FDA-approved, marijuana-derived medications.

Feinstein and Grassley could not be reached for comment.

“As a rule, as a matter of principal, SAM does not oppose the development of CBD into a proper, FDA-approved medication,” Sabet said. “What we do oppose are efforts to circumvent the scientific process.”

‘A very gray area’

Domestic producers of CBD oil, frequently described and labeled as “hemp extract,” have built an industry on the foundation of a 2004 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on hemp foods that exempted parts of the cannabis plant — the stalk, fiber, sterilized seed and seed oil — from marijuana’s Schedule I status in the Controlled Substances Act.

Hemp industry advocates argue that an amendment in the Agricultural Act of 2014, a.k.a. the Farm Bill, allowing states to create pilot programs for growing industrial hemp, further extracted hemp from the Controlled Substances Act.

Bottles of CBD oil can be bought online with the click of a button, and dozens of states have adopted laws that allow doctors to recommend CBD-rich extracts for certain ailments.

But DEA officials have said in recent months that CBD and other marijuana extracts always have been — and will remain — illegal.

In March, the agency released a clarification on its stance and final rule notice for a new code for marijuana extracts. The DEA statement specifically addressed CBD substances made from products exempted from the Controlled Substances Act, notably hemp.

DEA officials also were quick to note that they believe scientific literature showing, “it is not practical to produce extracts that contain more than trace amounts of cannabinoids using only the parts of the cannabis plant that are excluded from the CSA definition of marijuana.”

Additionally, the agency left the door open for further legal interpretation with a footnote on hemp-derived substances:

Nor would such a product be included under drug code 7370 (tetrahydrocannabinols). See Hemp Industries Association v. DEA, 357 F.3d 1012 (9th Cir. 2004) (Hemp II). However, as the Ninth Circuit stated in Hemp II, “when Congress excluded from the definition of marijuana ‘mature stalks of such plant, fiber . . . , [and] oil or cake made from the seeds,’ it also made an exception to the exception, and included ‘resin extracted from’ the excepted parts of the plant in the definition of marijuana, despite the stalks and seed exception.”  Id. at 1018. Thus, if an extract of cannabinoids were produced using extracted resin from any part of the cannabis plant (including the parts excluded from the CSA definition of marijuana), such an extract would be included in the CSA definition of marijuana.

“No matter what the ‘Farm Bill’ says, and (no matter) what people believe the law is … (CBD) is in a very gray area,” Figi said.

She wasn’t surprised to learn that a state-run facility in New York for people requiring long-term care had barred doctor-recommended CBD oil from being administered to an epilepsy patient. There also have been reports of CBD products being seized from store shelves in multiple states.

Some organizations and institutions remain bound by the Controlled Substances Act, even in states like New York where medical marijuana is legal, Figi said.

The current patchwork quilt of state laws and amendments to federal omnibus legislation have allowed limited access to CBD, she said, but they also created a perception of success that is detrimental to the greater cause of national legalization.

“People have moved on from CBD,” she said. “They clamored for access and now that they have it … they’re moving on to (advocate for) medical marijuana and recreational marijuana.”

 

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Good Gut Health = Better Mental Health

Thank goodness mental health issues are no longer a taboo topic!

*originally published by CWHemp.com

At this point, if you haven't personally had the joy of even mild anxiety or depression, you likely have a friend or loved one who's experienced some mood issues. In fact, nearly seventeen percent of Americans are filling prescriptions for psychiatric drugs to treat these diagnoses, among others (1). Clearly, we have mental health on the mind.

One of the most interesting, reassuring and exciting developments in mental health is that potty talk has also lost its stigma with the discovery that our gut influences how we feel, and it’s not to be confused with gut stress after eating a spicy curry. Scientists now call our gastrointestinal tract our “2nd brain” (2) because while high-level reasoning and detailed thought processes are still handled by the brain brain, many of our ideas and feelings are dictated by the 30 feet organ running from the end of our esophagus to the anus.

This lengthy tract is where a network of 100 million neurons (2) carries information from the gut to our brain’s gray matter. Meaning, our enteric nervous system and gut microbiome (both science-y names for our GI tract) inform what goes on in our head. This has led scientists to reason that the source of anxiety and depression – in some cases—could be the war-torn lining of a gut that’s battled (among other things) over-the-counter and prescription drugs, everyday toxins in our environment, or low-quality, antagonistic foods (and not just the occasional spicy Indian dish).

Finding good solutions for matters of the mind has been tricky, with many turning to the long-term use of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). These pills can come with side effects that may not be desirable, chief of which is the recent discovery that their medical formulations disrupt the lining of the gut. And if the gut is disrupted, so is our brain.  So yes, you read that correctly – the drugs many take for anxiety and depression could create symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Thankfully researchers have found many alternative and complementary ways to calm our mind – easy, daily changes for soothing the gut and a few other key areas of the body.

Foods

The Journal of Neuroscience noted, "changes to the gut microbiome can affect emotional behavior and related brain systems.”(3) Thankfully this works both ways - meaning that you can double down and add beneficial foods to bolster healthy bacteria in your gut, while also eliminating foods that cause the 2^nd brain incite internal warfare. (And you do NOT want to get caught on that firing line.)

 Remove the bad - Gluten, dairy, soy, refined sugar, and alcohol may cause "neuropsychiatric disorders including major depression" according to a study in Biological Psychiatry (4). Decreasing intake of these foods can reduce the angst in your digestive system and mind. But don't just take our word for it. Try a 30-day elimination diet to see what reactions, if any, these foods cause within your body.

Add the good - After removing the unfriendly foods, add some nourishing ones, supportive of a happy enteric nervous system, such as:

Prebiotic foods (foods that feed beneficial bacteria) - onions, bananas, onions, raw garlic, and fresh dandelion greens, to name a few.

Probiotic supplements or probiotic-dense foods – this includes sauerkraut, pickles, kefir and other fermented foods.

 Other positive ways to influence your mental health:

Supplements

Cannabidiol (CBD) - We bet you can guess our favorite way to boost gut health...cannabinoids! Non-psychoactive and non-addictive, cannabinoids have shown positive effects for anxiety and depressive behaviors. (5) And, Charlotte's Web is better than CBD alone. It contains a full spectrum of beneficial cannabinoids and plant compounds missing in single isolate CBD versions. (Many believe that these compounds work together to heighten their positive effect. Scientists call this the Entourage Effect.) Our Charlotte’s Web Everyday Hemp is a specially formulated blend of cannabinoids, naturally occurring antioxidants, and neuroprotectants.

Omega 3s- The positive effects of eating fish twice a week or supplementing for similar levels with a high-quality fish oil high in omega-3s has scientists intrigued as they've seen repeated studies showing polyunsaturated fatty acids as a valuable addition to depression treatments, and a possible aid in lowering future risk of depression. (6) (7)

Vitamin D - This vitamin plays a massive role in our mood. "Increasingly vitamin D deficiency is being associated with a number of psychiatric conditions," according to an Australian research study (8). Since “Vitamin D is a member of the superfamily of nuclear steroid transcription regulators…[it] exerts control over a large number of genes.”(9) And it’s these genes that “regulate the immune system and release neurotransmitters that affect brain function and development.”(10) All of which is science talk to say- Vitamin D is a big player in the normal processes of our body, including mental health.

Physical Activity

Want to hear something awesome? Research studies show aerobic exercise being as effective in reducing depression as prescription medications.(11) This could be from supervised classes at the gym or at-home online sessions. …Suddenly Zumba class sounds a lot more appealing.

Whichever options you choose, we salute you and support you in caring for your -- not one, but -- two dynamic brains.

Have you experienced a correlation between your gut health and your mental health? Has taking CW seemed to improve digestion or food allergies? Tell us more!

References:

1. One in 6 Americans Take Antidepressants, Other Psychiatric Drugs: Study

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/one-6-americans-take-antidepressants-other-psychiatric-drugs-n695141

citing:

Adult Utilization of Psychiatric Drugs and Differences by Sex, Age, and Race

http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2592697

2. Think Twice: How the Gut's "Second Brain" Influences Mood and Well-Being

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-second-brain/

3. Gut Microbes and the Brain: Paradigm Shift in Neuroscience

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4228144/

4. Inflammation and its discontents: the role of cytokines in the pathophysiology of major depression.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19150053

5. Cannabidiol, neuroprotection and neuropsychiatric disorders

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292679412_Cannabidiol_neuroprotection_and_neuropsychiatric_disorders

6. Mayo Clinic.org: Depression

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/expert-answers/fish-oil-supplements/faq-20058143

7. Omega-3 fatty acids as treatments for mental illness: which disorder and which fatty acid?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17877810

8. Vitamin D, effects on brain development, adult brain function and the links between low levels of vitamin D and neuropsychiatric disease.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22796576

9. Vitamin D and the brain.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21872806

10. Psychology Today

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-breakthrough-depression-solution/201111/psychological-consequences-vitamin-d-deficiency

11. Exercise and pharmacotherapy in the treatment of major depressive disorder. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17846259

Original Post Here: Good Gut Health = Better Mental Health

How Cannabis Could Turn the Opioid Epidemic Around

2016 had the highest rate of opioid overdose deaths in the history of man! Those fortunate enough to only know the word “opioid” outside the context of personal tragedy may not realize what this addiction looks like up close. Opioid abuse is a scary-sounding statistic, with something to the tune of 19,000 Americans dying of overdose in 2014 alone, and a four-fold increase in opioid prescriptions written since 1999!

Visit https://www.leafly.com/news/science-tech/high-cbd-cannabis-pain-and-opioid-addiction to read the full article!

Post Source Here: How Cannabis Could Turn the Opioid Epidemic Around

Summer Sale!

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High quality Charlotte’s web oil

Originally Published Here: High quality Charlotte’s web oil