What is thc

It can be consumed by smoking cannabis. Read on to learn more about these compounds. A slight difference in how the atoms are arranged accounts for the differing effects on your body. This allows them to interact with your cannabinoid receptors. The interaction affects the release of neurotransmitters in your brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals responsible for relaying messages between cells and have roles in pain, immune function, stress, and sleep, to name a few.

CBD is shown to help with anxiety, depression, and seizures. THC binds with the cannabinoid 1 CB1 receptors in the brain. It produces a high or sense of euphoria. CBD binds very weakly, if at all, to CB1 receptors. In the United States, cannabis-related laws are evolving regularly.

However, 33 states plus Washington, D. The cannabis may need to be prescribed by a licensed physician. In states where cannabis is legal for recreational or medical purposes, you should be able to buy CBD.

They can provide relief from several of the same conditions. Some people may prefer to use CBD because of the lack of this side effect. Epidiolex is not currently approved for any of the other conditions listed below. CBD is well tolerated, even in large doses. Research suggests any side effects that occur with CBD use are likely the result of drug-to-drug interactions between CBD and other medications you may be taking.

However, high THC use may be connected to long-term negative psychiatric effects. It is a light yellow resinous oil. Other studies are showing more evidence that, when used properly, THC has many additional medical benefits. For example, THC may be able to improve memory when taken in small doses, according to a study on mice. People tout marijuana as a better drug than prescription pills because it is "all-natural. Just because it grows in the ground doesn't mean it's good for you or healthy.

Edibles , foods containing THC, have become a large problem in states that have legalized pot because of overdosing. It is easier to swallow a cookie and it's very attractive to younger people or those who don't want to inhale it in a smoke form.

Raskin also explained that edibles are extremely high in potency, and when ingested in the gastrointestinal tract, the drug can last longer and with greater intensity. When THC is exposed to air, it degrades into cannabinol, a cannabinoid that has its own psychological effects. THC concentration also depends on the cultivation of the marijuana plant, known scientifically as Cannabis sativa L. A type of cannabis that has a minimal amount of THC, as low as 0.

Hemp is used for industrial and medical purposes. Some strains of cannabis can have as little as 0. In other strains, THC makes up 20 percent of the weight in a sample. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the average THC concentration in marijuana is 1 to 5 percent; in hashish, it is 5 to 15 percent, and in hashish oil, it averages 20 percent.

THC in recreational doses of marijuana is highly variable and the lower the THC content in the marijuana, the more the user must consume to produce the desired effects.

Checkley claims the study seemed to dispel some of the common ideas that THC has more beneficial properties than it may actually possess. According to Dr. Checkley , the study couldn't find any link between cannabis or cannabinoid use and many of its supposed benefits. However, the report allegedly found some connection with THC or cannabis use and certain psychiatric conditions. Checkley continued. And there has also been a small increased risk of depression as well as increased incidents of suicide attempts and completion.

And there was also increased incidents of social anxiety disorder. Other studies done last year have shown similar conclusions, although all remain somewhat skeptical. Apart from psychiatric problems and doubt over its benefits for curing symptoms, THC use has also been linked to reduced motor skills, Dr. Checkley says. The study used 21 studies from different countries with a sample size of almost , participants, claims Dr.

Checkley explained to TheStreet. And so I think the information there was pretty robust, given the number of studies and given the number of countries, and the number of participants supporting that relationships between cannabis use and the increased chances of being in a motor vehicle crash. However, despite numerous studies, all of the experts seem to agree that due to cannabis' classification as a Schedule 1 drug, the limited studies researchers are able to perform leave the substance's actual effects very much still in question.

Although still speculative, THC has been shown to potentially help increase appetite in eating disorder patients, help with neurodegenerative diseases, and even potentially help cancer patients. Studies have shown that THC may help patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, as well as provide pain relief for some patients.

In fact, even Dr. Checkley concluded that THC and cannabis have several proven benefits, including relieving symptoms like vomiting for chemotherapy patients and providing pain relief.

So, you can't say for sure that it's definitely the case, but the research that's out there today and the early indications are overwhelmingly positive. While many doctors are still hesitant to use the seemingly controversial compound, others have only glowing reports of the drug's effectiveness in treating a wide variety of medical issues. One such advocate is Dr. Aung-Din, M. He was formerly skeptical of THC and cannabis -- but a pivotal case changed his mind.

When presented with a case of a year-old male who had suffered brain injuries at 15 and was having intractable seizures, Dr. Aung-Din was persuaded by the patient's mother to try cannabis medication as a treatment -- which worked. Aung-Din explained to TheStreet. After seeing the effectiveness of cannabis for treatment of medical conditions like seizures, Dr.

Aung-Din continued to research and now claims there is enormous potential for cannabis or cannabinoid-based medications.