In this series we are going to look at a few key cannabis terms you’ve come across since entering the Regulated Market. THC, CBD, Indica, and Sativa are the most common factors that cannabis consumers consider when purchasing their items. These four terms can generally control the potency and sensation of cannabis products, although the exact nature of their relationships can be quite complicated.
Let’s start by looking at THC and CBD to understand how they can affect the potency of your cannabis products.
THC is an abbreviation for tetra-hydro-cannabinol, it is one of over a hundred cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Current research says that THC is the key component responsible for intoxication when cannabis is consumed. It causes intoxication by inhibiting the ability for our body to communicate with itself. Therefore, THC can be credited with determining the potency of a product.
While there is a correlation between the THC percentage of a product and its potential for intoxication, it is not perfect. There are other factors that can influence how intense the intoxication can be and we’ll examine these factors later throughout the series.
CBD is just one of the other hundred cannabinoids found in cannabis. It stands for canna-bid-iol, and unlike THC, is not considered to be intoxicating. CBD is instead considered psychoactive because it can still affect the brain, however it does not inhibit cerebral function to a degree that THC does.
There is evidence that shows CBD can inhibit some of the effects of THC when it is consumed in equal or greater amounts. That is why products containing CBD are often considered a good starting point for new consumers.