What’s the Difference Between CBD and THC Edibles?

Cannabis edibles are not new to the cannabis market. In fact, they are an over 1 billion dollar industry, and their popularity is not waning.

As more and more people turn to edibles, thanks to the many benefits they offer, more and more types of edibles are also hitting the market. In addition to cannabis edibles, you can find THC edibles and CBD edibles.

But as you browse the selection of edibles available from your online retailer, do you know the difference between THC and CBD edibles? Let’s take a look.

What are Edibles

The term “edibles” can refer to a wide variety of cannabis products include:

• Brownies.
• Cookies.
• Chocolate bars.
• Gummies.
• Hard candy.

Basically, cannabis edibles are any type of food (or even drink) that has been infused with cannabis.

These are popular for many reasons, including:

• They taste good.
• They make it easy to monitor dosage.
• They are discreet.

In addition to purchasing edibles online, consumers can make their edibles at home. There are many different recipes out there to help you do it. But, purchasing edibles does offer consumers convenience.

Now that we understand what edibles are, let’s look at the difference between THC edibles and CBD edibles.

A Look at THC Edibles

Cannabis plants are made up of more than 100 different compounds. Of these, the most common compound is tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly known as THC.

THC is known for providing people with a variety of different effects. When describing the effects of THC versus CBD (which we’ll cover more below), THC gives effects that you can feel. It can help you feel more relaxed and even improve your mood. But most importantly, THC is the compound that is responsible for getting you high.

Because of the effects THC offers, some people prefer to use products that contain THC only. So, manufacturers will extract specific compounds from the cannabis plant. They often extract and use THC to make many products such as oils, concentrates, and, you guessed it, THC edibles.

Instead of being created by infusing them with an actual cannabis plant, THC edibles are made by infusing edibles with just THC. THC can be used to create all the same edibles as a cannabis plant, but they will offer only the effects of THC.

Products made with just THC tend to contain high amounts of it, giving people a more potent high. So, users should be cautious when trying THC edibles for the first time and start with a low dose. Then allow plenty of time for them to take effect before taking more if needed.

A Look at CBD Edibles

As we mentioned, cannabis plants contain many compounds. Though THC is the most prominent, the second most prominent is CBD or cannabidiol. This unique compound is used to make many products in addition to edibles. Like THC, CBD can be used to make oils and capsules. Lately, it has also been infused into beauty and skincare products.

CBD offers many benefits, including promoting relaxation but has one very distinct difference from THC. CBD does not get people high. In fact, CBD can actually inhibit the effects of THC.

Because CBD does not get people high, many people prefer to use it. They may want the effects cannabis can offer but not tolerate THC well, or maybe they don’t want to use THC as they don’t wish to get high. CBD allows people to experience most of the benefits of cannabis without the high.

Some believe that CBD has been shown to help alleviate pain. In addition, CBD might reduce redness and inflammation in the joints and other body areas, and more. These properties are one reason CBD has seen such a surge in popularity lately, particularly in the CBD-skincare market.

Unlike THC, taking too much CBD won’t get you high, so watching your dosage isn’t as important. But, taking too much CBD can have other effects that you might not want. For example, if you take a large amount of CBD, you may feel super tired when you had hoped the CBD would increase your energy. So it is still essential to start with a lower dose and slowly increase it until you reach your desired effects.

THC Vs. CBD Edibles: Which Is for Me?

As you shop for edibles, should you buy THC or CBD edibles? Or do you want just traditional cannabis edibles? The answer depends on you and your preferences and needs.

If you want the effects cannabis offers, you’ll probably want to try just traditional cannabis edibles. These will contain both THC and CBD, as well as the other compounds found in the cannabis flower used to make them.

If you want an intense high, THC edibles are the way to go. These edibles only have THC extract, meaning they will be more potent than others. If you choose THC edibles, be sure to monitor your dosage and remember there will be no CBD to counteract its effects like it would if you smoked a flower.

If you need help relaxing, need to soothe sore muscles, or are scared of getting high, CBD edibles are the best option. Because CBD doesn’t get people high, you can experience some of the effects of cannabis (such as relaxation) without the high and with the effects that CBD has to offer on its own.

Figuring Your Dosage

You’ve made your decision and have purchased your edibles. They’ve arrived at your door, and you open them up. But you freeze. How many should you take?

We’ve mentioned a few times the importance of dosing when it comes to all kinds of edibles. But figuring out how much cannabis, THC, or CBD is there in the products can be a little confusing. You’ll need to look at the amount of cannabis (or THC or CBD) in the bottle, then divide that by the number of servings. Be sure only to eat a serving at a time.