THC and CBD - what it is and what it affects

If marijuana were a person, she would be horrified at the thought of how many myths swarm around her bright name. But it is worth taking a closer look at this issue and getting to know better what CBD and THC are, how the terrible “hemp beast” turns into a controlled and even useful pet, which progressive societies have long taken control of and use for good. The online store of the best cannabis seeds in Ukraine Coffeeshop® offers to bite into this bottomless topic about the benefits and harms of using marijuana and find out what cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol and other “swear words” are.

Why do people love cannabis?

The therapeutic properties of cannabis have been known to mankind for several millennia. Previously, no one thought about the chemical composition of plants, but with the development of science, they began to talk about 400 substances contained in hemp. Today's scientists already know much more about what THC and CBD are, because it is their mechanisms of action that have been studied most closely. It is not surprising, because it is these compounds that have the most noticeable effect on the body.

So, marijuana contains substances of the cannabinoid group, namely tetrahydrocannabinol (THC or THC) and cannabidiol (CBD or CBD). Interestingly, they both have the same molecular structure, but the different arrangement of atoms in the molecule leads to different effects. It is THC that has the greatest psychoactive effect, which affects behavior, cognitive function and perception. CBD is responsible for non-psychoactive effects.

What is tetrahydrocannabinol

THC is the main physical active ingredient in marijuana. It directly affects the brain's CB1 receptors and induces the euphoric sensation that has made cannabis the sweet dream of many rastas.

But how do you determine THC in marijuana? For this, there are special tests that are often used not only by adherents of Rasta culture, but also by advanced plant growers. They are available at many horticultural stores and measure the THC content of herbs, oils, and other products containing cannabinoids.

What is cannabidiol (CBD) in marijuana

This substance has long been in the shadow of the more famous tetrahydrocannabinol. But scientists have learned to harness the power of CBD to combine with THC to increase the effects of drugs on the body while at the same time reducing the “euphoric” effects.

The use of marijuana grown from CBD-rich strains can relieve pain, stop seizures during an epileptic seizure, and recent studies even show that it can cure breast cancer. Cannabidiol saves more than 250 pathological conditions. For the plant itself, the presence of CBD is beneficial, because it is both an antimicrobial defense and an antioxidant.

Who can and who can't use marijuana

So how do you know if marijuana use is good or bad for the body? Doctors identify two risk groups for which marijuana smoking has negative consequences:

1. Persons under 16 years of age. Cannabis is most active in white matter when consumed. It is responsible for the processes of communication, learning and memory, and the use of marijuana in childhood can harm the harmonious development of these processes. After about 18-20 years, this risk is reduced to zero.
2. People whose relatives are diagnosed with serious paranoid disorders. However, it should be understood that in the case of medical marijuana, the doctor may prescribe its use, despite the patient's history of predisposition to mental illness. This is because the real benefit of relieving pain at the moment often outweighs the hypothetical risk of a disorder that may not occur in the future.

Unlike other drugs, there is no risk of overdose when using cannabis, it is not addictive, and even with prolonged use it does not provoke a life-threatening or health-threatening withdrawal syndrome. The maximum that an abrupt cessation of the use of even powerful varieties of cannabis can lead to is irritability and sleep disturbance, which pass through a week or two. In practice, “hemp” withdrawal is even easier than sugar withdrawal, which is experienced by everyone who decides to quit sweets and buns once and for all.

We do not encourage self-medication or the cultivation or smoking of illegal substances in countries where it is punishable by law. But even in a society filled with restrictions, everyone has the right to study information, as well as to know about scientific discoveries and medical developments, and not just about what politicians dictate.