CBD vs. THC: Differences, Benefits, and Effects
There is a clear distinction between CBD and THC, even though they are both chemical elements present in Cannabis (commonly known as marijuana). These substances are used in medical treatments but, if not taken correctly, can have some unfavourable side effects.
Knowing how CBD and THC may impact your employees’ health and productivity is crucial as an employer. This can help you safeguard your business from possible workplace accidents and unwanted legal and financial liabilities.
What Is CBD?
Marijuana contains cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating substance. Next to THC, it is the active ingredient found most frequently. But CBD doesn’t have any psychoactive effects as THC does. It does not impact the user’s thoughts, feelings, or actions. As opposed to THC, CBD won’t cause you to become intoxicated or “high”.
Gummies and other edibles can be a simple, delectable, and covert way to take CBD. Managing pain and seeking relief from anxiety or depression are a few common uses for CBD.
What Are the Side Effects of CBD?
Despite not being a psychoactive substance, CBD can still have some observable adverse effects on users. However, even in high doses, the substance is thought to be more tolerable by the body than THC. Among the most frequent negative effects of CBD use are:
- Diarrhoea
- Loss of weight
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- The appetite shifts
What Is THC?
The chemical compound that gives marijuana its psychoactive properties is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It functions like the body’s naturally occurring cannabinoid chemicals.
THC is primarily used as marijuana treatment. Drug companies created synthetic marijuana that can be used as medicines, such as dronabinol and nabilone, to treat chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting. In addition, some medical professionals recommend THC to patients with glaucoma, poor appetite, persistent pain, muscle spasticity, insomnia, and anxiety.
What Are the Side Effects of THC?
- Anxiety
- Increased heart rate
- Memory loss
- Red eyes
- Dry mouth
- Coordination issues
- Sluggish response times
Differences Between CBD and THC
There are a few critical differences between CBD and THC despite the fact they are both cannabinoids. THC and CBD are present in marijuana but interact with different brain receptors.
After being ingested, CBD will travel to the region of the brain known as cannabinoid 2 (CB2) receptors. Then, it will attach itself to CB2. However, unlike what would typically occur if it were THC, the action won’t release any dopamine. This explains why using CBD doesn’t make users feel euphoric or high.
On the other hand, after ingesting THC, users experience euphoria because THC binds with the CB1 receptors in the brain. The user’s memory, pleasure, movements, and thought processes may all be impacted. Additionally, it may affect how they perceive time, senses, and concentrate. THC causes the high that people feel when using marijuana for leisure.
Benefits
THC and CBD both have therapeutic benefits for a variety of ailments. However, there are some differences in how each substance is used. For example, CBD is frequently used to treat conditions such as depression, inflammation, psychosis, or other mental disorders, such as migraines and inflammatory bowel disease. While THC may be used to treat problems like muscle spasticity, glaucoma, lack of appetite, pain, nausea, anxiety, and sleep disorders.
The Impact of CBD and THC on the Workplace
Taking CBD alone without using any other sedatives doesn’t cause any impairment. However, combining the cannabinoid with THC or another sedative can make adverse effects more likely.
Impairment is one of the main problems with the use of medicinal Cannabis. THC can significantly impair a user’s judgement, motor coordination, driving performance, and reaction time. In fact, marijuana is the illegal substance that is most frequently discovered in the systems of drivers involved in fatal auto accidents. THC-positive drivers have a roughly twofold increased risk of being in a deadly collision. This is in contrast to people who did not use alcohol or drugs before operating a vehicle.
After intoxication, marijuana can be found in body fluids for days or even weeks. Additionally, marijuana users frequently combine the drug with alcohol. THC users are three to seven times more likely than non-users to be the cause of accidents. It becomes even more problematic for those whose blood levels of THC are high. When marijuana and alcohol are combined, there seems to be an increased risk of auto accidents.
CBD and THC medicinal marijuana users should refrain from operating heavy machinery or driving. Their risk of workplace accidents may rise due to the impairment brought on by combining both cannabinoids. Additionally, they should stay away from risky situations, especially in the first 8 to 18 hours after use.
Your employee should restrict their use of CBD to the cannabinoid alone if they are using it as part of their treatment. You can conduct a drug test according to your workplace policy to confirm that the substance they’re using is free of THC or any other sedatives.
How to Detect CBD and THC With Drug Testing
When it comes to marijuana drug testing, people who use CBD oil for treatment don’t need to worry. Pure CBD oils do not have psychoactive effects on users and are not the focus of a drug test. However, you have to be careful in choosing the products you use because many questionable CBD oils have minute traces of THC.
THC, on the other hand, has the same detection window as smoked marijuana. Urine testing can identify the cannabinoid for up to 72 hours. Oral fluid testing is the most effective way to determine impairment. Depending on the dose, THC can be detected in saliva between 8 and 24 hours after consumption. It is assumed that if a person tests negative, they are not impaired.
Conclusion
The most significant distinction between THC and CBD is that THC will get you high while CBD won’t. Before purchasing and using CBD or THC for treatment, people must ensure that they comply with state laws and workplace policies.
Australia Drug Testing provides superior drug testing kits for the detection of THC and other illicit drugs. These kits are not only reliable but are among the best products in the market for workplace drug tests.
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