CBD vs THC – Every little thing You must know In relation to Medicinal Cannabis.

[Jhon Dolton]

CBD and THC are two of typically the most popular chemical compounds present in marijuana (Cannabis sativa) plant. Recent studies demonstrate the potential of these cannabinoids to be utilized in medical treatments. However, they could still cause some negative unwanted effects specially when not taken properly.

As an employer, it's best to understand how CBD and THC can impact your workers'health and performance. Understanding the impacts of medicinal cannabis on your own employees will help protect your company from potential workplace accidents.

What's CBD?

A jar of CBD oil

Cannabidiol (CBD) is just a non-intoxicating component of the cannabis plant, also called marijuana cbd side effects. It is the 2nd most prevalent of the substances alongside THC. However, unlike THC, CBD doesn't produce any psychoactive effects. It doesn't alter the user's mind, emotions or behaviour. This means you won't get high from taking CBD as you'd from using THC.

How CBD affects mental performance

Both CBD and THC affect the human brain but in different ways. Upon taking the substance, it is likely to make its way to the part of the brain called cannabinoid 2 (CB2) receptors. It will then bind itself to the CB2. However, the action won't release any dopamine as would normally happen if it were THC. For this reason taking CBD doesn't trigger any feelings of high or euphoria in users.

CBD may also bind with cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors, nonetheless it won't be as strong as THC and CB1. To get this done, you'll need to pair CBD with THC to manage to bind properly with CB1 receptors. It will help minimise the psychoactive ramifications of THC such as sedation or euphoria.

Medical uses

Scientists have already been exploring the likelihood of CBD use for medicinal purposes for years. Many began by studying the health impacts of medicinal marijuana. But as more data are gathered, the more it's become apparent that CBD is the one that has got the potential. A few of the medical great things about CBD include:

CBD will help people deal with the impacts of anxiety. In a study, researchers gave participants experiencing social anxiety with 600mg of CBD. It helped them manage their condition before they gave a speech. Meanwhile, earlier studies involving animals also showed promising results. CBD can help relieve anxiety by lowering stress levels and reducing its physiological effects such as increased heart rate. It might also help improve symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and induce sleep for insomniacs.

Another study indicated that CBD can also help manage pain and inflammation. Researchers applied the cannabinoid on your skin of animals. It helped reduce steadily the pain and inflammation due to arthritis. A separate study also looked into potential of CBD to inhibit inflammatory and neuropathic pain. They're two of the most difficult kinds of chronic pain to deal with in patients.

CBD can also hold the key in treating people who have epilepsy. Research is ongoing to learn how much the cannabinoid will help lower how many seizures in epileptic patients. They're also trying to determine just how safe it's to use.

In a 2016 study, researchers gave oral doses of 2 to 5mg of CBD per day to 214 people who have epilepsy. They added the cannabinoid to the patients'already existing anti-epilepsy medications. The researchers then monitored the participants for 12 weeks, taking note of any negative unwanted effects of the CBD doses. In addition they recorded how frequent the participants had any seizures.

At the end of the program, the participants experienced 36.5% fewer seizures per month. However, 12% of the patients suffered severe adverse effects.

For cancer patients experiencing chronic nausea, CBD may manage to help you manage the condition. Nausea and vomiting are two of the most common unwanted effects of cancer treatment, particularly chemotherapy. In 2016, researchers looked into the results of CBD on the serotonin receptors of animals. Serotonin is just a hormone that affects a person's well-being, mood, and behaviour. The outcome indicated that the cannabinoid can help alleviate the feeling of nausea. However, the team believes that THC is more likely to reduce nausea and vomiting than CBD.

Meanwhile, in a 2016 study, researchers examined how Sativex will help people experiencing chemotherapy-induced nausea. The drug contains both CBD and THC. Participants said Savitex had a far more significant impact on the condition than any other similar medications.

What's THC?

A bottle of THC

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may be the chemical compound most in charge of the psychoactive ramifications of marijuana. It acts similarly to the naturally occurring cannabinoid chemicals in the body.

How THC affects mental performance

THC binds with the CB1 receptors in the brain. This causes users to feel a higher or euphoria after taking the cannabinoid. It may affect the user's memory, pleasure, movements and thinking. It can also alter their concentration, coordination, sensory and time perception.

Medical uses

People use THC mostly included in medicinal marijuana. However, drug manufacturers developed synthetic types of cannabinoid to serve as medicines. These generally include Marinol (dronabinol), Cesamet (nabilone) and Savitex. The US FDA has approved the usage of dronabinol and nabilone to deal with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Some doctors prescribe THC to deal with people experiencing glaucoma, low appetite, chronic pain and muscle spasticity. In addition they supply the cannabinoid to patients with anxiety and insomnia.

How CBD or THC use can impact workplaces

Researchers continue steadily to investigate the impacts of medicinal cannabis on people's power to work safely. Some evidence claim that taking CBD alone and without any other sedatives doesn't produce any impairing effects. However, utilising the cannabinoid alongside THC or some other sedative can increase the chance for adverse effects.

Impairment

CBD and THC can impact driving ability

Using medications with CBD and THC can lead to driving impairment

One of the major issues involving medicinal cannabis use is impairment. Marijuana significantly impairs a user's judgment, motor coordination and reaction time, according to the US National Institute on Drug Abuse. Several studies have even suggested a primary relationship between blood THC concentration and impaired driving ability.

In reality, marijuana may be the illicit drug most frequently present in the machine of drivers in vehicular accidents, including fatal ones. Drivers with THC in their blood were roughly two times as apt to be associated with a deadly crash. That's in comparison to people who'd not used drugs or alcohol just before driving a vehicle. The info comes from two studies conducted in Europe.

However, it's not yet determined just how large a function marijuana plays in road accidents. The drug can nevertheless be detected in body fluids for days as well as weeks after intoxication. Marijuana users also have a tendency to take the drug alongside alcohol. People associated with crashes with THC in their blood were three to seven times more likely to cause the accident. It becomes a lot more problematic for individuals with high levels of THC in their system. The risk for vehicular crashes seems to increase when marijuana can be used alongside alcohol.

Pure CBD oils aren't detectable through drug screening. However, you need to be careful in choosing these products you use. Many dubious CBD oils contain trace levels of THC. Some sellers also spread cannabis extracts in coconut oil as genuine CBD oils to mislead customers.

Meanwhile, THC has the exact same detection window as smoked cannabis. The cannabinoid is detectable via urine testing for up to 72 hours. However, this doesn't carry much weight because it doesn't necessarily correlate with impairment.

To detect impairment, it's best to use oral fluid testing. Saliva analysis can detect THC between 8 to 24 hours, with regards to the dose. If a person tests negative, then they're assumed to be unaffected by impairment.

Have a look at our video below to understand more about CBD and THC. Inside it, SW Labs Chief Toxicologist Dr. Phil Tynan explains the differences between the two cannabinoids and how they could impact workplaces.