A lot of people have been wondering if CBD oil has the same benefits if you remove the THC. As known, THC is the psychoactive component of the cannabis plant.
THC, basically, is the part responsible for producing the “high” that many people associate with cannabis. But bare in mind that THC does not produce all the benefits, health-wise, that cannabis is known for.
But, to answer the question short: CBD without THC behaves in a different way.
Below we’ll try to break down the difference between THC and CBD, and the benefits of taking CBD with no trace of THC in it.
CBD vs THC
Before we can give you a clear view of their differences, let’s review what they actually have in common. Both of them are formed identically molecular-structure-wise. They both have 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and 2 oxygen ones. What’s different is the way these particular atoms are arranged in the line. And this small detail is responsible for them to both have different effects on your body.
Another similarity between the two is the endocannabinoid in your body. That’s why they’re able to interact with the respective receptors. The endocannabinoid system is responsible for balancing out the major organ systems in your body – digestive, endocrine, immune, etc.). And because of this, CBD and THC have very much effect on your digestion, hormones, mood, and immunity.
How do they remove the THC from CBD?
There are different ways of doing this, but the most common one is done via a process that has a couple of steps.
First of all, the cannabinoids and terpenes are extracted from the hemp plant by using a CO2 extraction process. After the initial removal, a solvent extraction takes place using a process called vacuum distillation.
This then leaves a mixture of CBD, cannabinoids, and terpenes with a very small trace amount of THC.
Next, this mixture is taken to the next step and used on a chromatography technique that easily allows the extraction of any toxins – including the small said trace of THC that remains.
At the end of this process, literally zero THC is left – even in the strongest CBD oil.
Does CBD Oil work without THC?
Yes.
CBD oil does work even without THC being present. Not to say that THC doesn’t offer any kind of benefits and side effects, but CBD oil provides unique health benefits even without it.
First of all, it promotes a healthy mental state. Which one of us hasn’t been through a stage in our life that we just feel blue all the time. CBD helps turn those blue times into a more positive state of mind.
It does so because of the fact that it acts as an agonist of 5-HT1A receptors. Basically, these receptors are also known as serotonin receptors, which are also known as “happiness receptors”. And by interacting with them, CBD helps promote a more positive state of mind.
And along with this, CBD promotes a healthy functioning of the nervous system. When this system gets out of balance, you’ll feel extreme stimulation and very intense sluggishness. The endocannabinoid system works wonders towards this and makes sure that neither of these two extreme states affect your mental state.
There are a couple of reasons why you might want to avoid THC such as:
- CBD will not show up in a drug test without THC
- THC is illegal in many states
- THC also has several side-effects you might want to avoid
- The psychoactive effects all come from THC