Both THC and CBD are cannabinoids. In other words, both are two of the 121 cannabinoids present in marijuana. Recently, CBD for anxiety treatment has become an alternative to psychiatric drugs and a substance to treat epilepsy.
Moreover, there are some researches about CBD and its possible anti-carcinogenic properties. Nonetheless, more research is needed about it.
CBD and THC have different properties. On one hand, CBD is used for anxiety treatment and on the other hand, THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid with recreational an entheogenic properties. An “entheogen” is not just a hallucinogenic substance, but a substance that induces some sort of spiritual experience.
As a consequence, THC has been used for religious and spiritual purposes by many civilizations, included Iranian people, Scythians, Caucasians and also Siberian and Altaic people.
What’s a cannabinoid?
The active chemicals in marijuana are similar to substances produced in our body. Moreover, the cannabinoids, act on brain receptors called the endocannabinoid system.
Apparently, the endocannabinoid system is involved in physiological and cognitive processes.
For instance, the CB1, or cannabinoid receptor 1, are found generally in the nervous system and brain. On the other hand, endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is involved in the regulation of functions such as immune system, pain management and appetite.
In addition, the endocannabinoid system plays and important role in the regulation of appetite. For instance, THC acts on CB1 receptor to increase appetite. Probably, this explains why we get so hungry after THC intake, specially craving for sweet food.
Effects of CBD: what’s CBD used for?
We use CBD for a wide variety of reasons. Firstly, CBD is used for anxiety treatment and also for the treatment of epilepsy. For instance, CBD oil for anxiety treatment (vaping CBD oil) has been widely used for many users who suffer from chronic anxiety.
To sum up, CBD is effective in the treatment of anxiety symptoms and users experience a reduced anxiety. Moreover, CBD for anxiety treatment is considered a healthier alternative to psychiatric drugs. In other words, patients can achieve a reduced anxiety and at the same time, patients can benefit from an alternative to dangerous and highly addictive psychiatric drugs. It’s important to emphasize that psychiatric drugs kill more people than other highly addictive substances.
Then if CBD oil for anxiety treatment is so beneficial, why was cannabis and still is illegal in so many countries?
The war on drugs is a lost war. People that want to take drugs for recreational or medical use still do it. However, in many cases, they can’t find top quality products as drugs are generally bought in the black market. Hence, this also carries consequences, as substances are adulterated with other compounds. For instance, we have recent cases of THC vape oil intoxication in the United States because of product that were bought in the black market.
What’s THC used for?
THC or tetrahydrocannabinol was mainly used for its psychoactive properties. Although cannabis hasn’t been approved as a medical substance, there are synthetic cannabis drugs that are used as appetite stimulants, especially for people who suffered from AIDS.
Moreover, THC and CBD sprays are used to treat patients with multiple sclerosis to alleviate chronic pain, neuropathic pain among many other symptoms. The most famous one is nabiximols, commercialized as Sativex.
Furthermore, THC is an effective treatment for chronic pain and more people are using it every day. As a matter of fact, medical cannabis is legal in many countries: Colombia, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Germany or the Netherlands. Furthermore, it’s also legal in the United States, 33 states have legalized medical cannabis.
Prohibition of cannabis
Undoubtedly, there is a cultural background in accepting or prohibiting one or another substance. For instance, in the western culture, alcohol and tobacco are widely accepted, but cannabis or other psychoactive substances are prohibited, and their use is discouraged.
Moreover, back in the 1950s, we started to classify substances into two main categories: dangerous toxic substances and “familiar and common substances”. For example, cannabis or cocaine were classified as dangerous and toxic while alcohol and tobacco were classified in the latter group.
Nonetheless, tobacco smoking is the primary cause of heart disease and lung cancer whereas alcohol is the drug behind most of violent incidents, traffic accidents or the primary cause of potentially lethal disease such as cirrhosis or pancreatitis.
To sum up, from a strictly logical point of view, it doesn’t make any sense that alcohol is legal, but cannabis is illegal.
Is THC safe?
Hippocrates, the great Greek physician in Classical Greece said: “Everything in excess is opposed to nature”. In other words, it’s about controlling what we intake, our habits and not doing anything in excess.
We all have met “potheads” or caffeine addicts. In general, the problem isn’t the substance, but the use we do of that substance. For instance, CBD for anxiety treatment has helped many users with their anxiety issues. The problem is: why do people take drugs? Is it just recreational use? In my opinion, it’s a combination of experiences. For instance, if someone suffers from anxiety, they will find CBD useful in their lives. On the other hand, when someone needs to feel awake or active, caffeine will help them. Does it mean that coffee lovers are coffee addicts?
THC, if taken in excess, has health consequences. For instance, if smoked, it can cause lung irritation and memory impairment after a long-term use.
However, any substance if taken in excess carry mental and health consequences. Perhaps, the most common issue reported by heavy consumers of THC is the development of paranoia and anxiety. At least, I have met cases of people that stopped using cannabis after developing some intrusive thoughts.
I think it’s important to emphasize that abusing any substance bring health consequences. For instance, alcohol users may develop delirium tremens (a severe form of ethanol withdrawal) which oftentimes leads to death.
THC or CBD for anxiety treatment or for any other use, will not kill you. In other words, it’s not possible to get an overdose of THC or CBD.
In conclusion, if we take this into account, THC or CBD for anxiety treatment are much safer than alcohol.
THC and recent vaping intoxications
We have recently read many news about vaping and lung disease. Due to misleading news, many users were concerned about the negative effects of vaping. Furthermore, many users of CBD for anxiety treatment start developing concerns about vaping e-juices.
However, authorities have determined that the cause of this serious pulmonary problems were caused by black market THC e-juices.
The problem isn’t vaping THC, but vaping THC with other toxic substances that can negatively impact your health.
CBD vs THC: conclusion
Both THC and CBD are cannabinoids that cause different effects. On one hand, CBD for anxiety treatment is widely common and there are a wide variety of CBD products such as CBD oil, shampoos, gummies and many other products. On the other hand, THC is commonly labeled as a “recreational drug”. However, as I explained in this article, THC is an entheogen that helps people seeking “spiritual experiences”. Therefore, THC has been used by many religious groups for ritualistic purposes.
In addition, we have recently read news about “the dangers of vaping” that were actually caused by black market e-juices that contained toxic substance. Obviously, we recommend users to only buy high quality products from reputable brands.
Finally, CBD for anxiety treatment or to treat epilepsy, has shown positive results for many people. Moreover, THC is used to relieve pain in patients who suffer from serious conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
Moreover, some investigations suggest that CBD might be useful for the treatment of cancer. However, we need more research to determine if CBD as anti-carcinogenic properties.
Basically, a lack of regulation causes the development of a THC black market. In other words, the development of unregulated products that could be potentially dangerous for human consumption.
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