You've probably already wondered what the difference is between CBD and THC. Since both cannabis extracts are very popular and widely used, it's important to know how both substances work in the body and what the current legal situation is in Germany. This article will explain everything you need to know.
Table of contents
BRAINEFFECT HACK : With us you get high-quality CBD oil smartly combined with vitamin E against oxidative stress in RECOVER HEMP 10 or in its pure form with HEMP 5 .
1. Ingredients of cannabis
In cannabis, a distinction is made between active and inactive ingredients. While the inactive ones play virtually no significant role for you, the active ones are all the more important.
The two most important active ingredients in cannabis are THC and CBD. THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol and is the main psychoactive substance in the cannabis plant.
CBD is short for cannabidiol. Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive . Both substances are used in extracted form for medicinal and therapeutic purposes.
2. The effects of THC
For THC to take effect, it is either inhaled, for example, in the form of smoke, or ingested through food. The method of consumption makes a difference. When inhaled, THC enters the bloodstream very quickly and from there reaches your brain in just a few minutes.
When taken with food, your body takes significantly longer to absorb THC, and it can take up to two hours before you feel the effects. The slower absorption into the blood also leads to a longer duration of effects.
THC acts like a neurotransmitter , sending signals between neurons in the brain and throughout the nervous system. To do this, THC molecules bind to the receptors of the body's endogenous cannabinoid system.
Once the connection to the receptors is established, THC has a psychoactive effect . This means that your ability to think and concentrate , as well as your movement and coordination , are affected.
THC can also cause your sensory perception to malfunction. [1,2] It also promotes the release of the happiness hormone dopamine , which increases feelings of euphoria and well-being .
3. The effect of CBD
It's already known that CBD can prevent the breakdown of the body's own endocannabinoids . This allows your body to better utilize its available resources and function more smoothly. This is why CBD is widely known among high-performers. Learn more about the different forms of administration available to improve your performancehere .
CBD also changes the shape of the CB1 receptor in the endogenous cannabinoid system, preventing THC from directly binding to the receptor and making the effects of THC milder.
In addition to its ability to modulate the CB1 receptor, one study also found that CBD activates the 5-HT1A receptor, which plays a role in the development of restlessness and stress. In the study, patients with anxiety disorders were treated with CBD.[3]
The World Health Organization (WHO) makes it clear that CBD does not cause addiction in humans – unlike THC – and that there is currently no evidence of health concerns when using pure CBD.[4]
CBD, as a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, serves primarily therapeutic purposes . Despite its widespread popularity and prevalence, further studies and research into its health benefits are necessary before health claims can be approved at the European level .
BRAINEFFECT HACK : With us you get high-quality CBD oil either as RECOVER HEMP 10 with vitamin E against oxidative stress or in pure form as HEMP 5 .
4. Legal status
As always, the question of the current legal situation regarding THC and CBD arises. The current situation in Germany is that THC continues to be subject to the Narcotics Act due to its psychoactive effects .
This means that the purchase, sale , production , manufacture , cultivation, import , or export are prohibited. Although the law does not mention the prohibition of THC consumption, a reversal of the law suggests that where does the consumed THC come from if not from one of these sources?[5]
And regarding private possession, each state has its own limits and tolerances for THC and marijuana.
However, the law is much more relaxed for CBD. Since CBD doesn't negatively impact your mental performance , it is not subject to the Narcotics Act .
Accordingly, it is legally permitted to buy and consume CBD oil , for example . Manufacturers are required to ensure that the THC content does not exceed 0.2%. There are a few things you should keep in mind when purchasing CBD oil. You can learn more about thishere.
BRAINEFFECT HACK : Our high-quality RECOVER HEMP 10 with vitamin E effectively combats oxidative stress.
5. Conclusion
CBD is permitted in Germany and is widely used as an oil in therapies and among athletes who want to support their regeneration.
Its health effects have already been widely researched, but there are still no recognized health claims for CBD oil.
It is important to know that CBD – unlike THC – does not negatively affect your mental performance, mobility, or mood.
6. Sources
[1] Englund, A., Morrison, et. al. (2013). Journal of Psychopharmacology, p. 19-27. Cannabidiol inhibits THC-elicit paranoid symptoms and hippocampal-dependent memory impairment. doi: 10.1177/0269881112460109 [http://jop.sagepub.com/content/27/1/19.short]
[2] Blanco‐Hinojo, L., Pujol, J., Harrison, BJ, Macià, D., Batalla, A., Nogué, S., Torrens, M., Farré, M., Deus, J., and Martín‐Santos, R. (2017) Addiction Biology, p. 1036–47. Attenuated frontal and sensory inputs to the basal ganglia in cannabis users. doi: 10.1111/adb.12370. [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/adb.12370]
[3] Blessing, EM, Steenkamp, MM, Manzanares, J., & Marmar, CR (2015). Neurotherapeutics: the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics, p. 825-836. Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. doi: 10.1007/s13311-015-0387-1 [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/]
[4] World Health Organization (2017). Cannabidiol (CBD) Pre-Review Report. Agenda Item 5.2 [http://www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled-substances/5.2_CBD.pdf]
[5] ndm/dpa/red (2018). German Lawyers' Information. Cannabis: What is permitted [https://anwaltauskunft.de/magazin/gesellschaft/strafrecht-polizei/cannabis-was-erlaubt-ist]
