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CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound derived from the cannabis plant, just like THC, or marijuana. Both are cannabinoids that have been found to have health benefits because they mimic the natural chemicals produced by the body and reduce inflammation. The question is, what about the other hundreds of cannabinoids in the Cannabis plant? What are they, what are they made of, and could they be the answer to a variety of health problems as well? Since more and more research is being done on CBD, scientists are naturally looking into the other compounds and their potential benefits.
CBD vs. THC
There are a lot of differences between CBD and THC even though they are derived from the same cannabis plant family. CBD is not addictive, doesn’t create a psychoactive, “high” effect, and is mostly legal across the nation. THC, on the other hand, can get you high, is addictive, and has been fully legalized in only 11 states. View this map of marijuana legality by state to see where your state stands. Both CBD and THC interact with receptors in the brain and body, affecting it for either good or bad. Both compounds have been found to help with pain, inflammation, epilepsy, and a number of other ailments out there, and some research claims that they actually work better when combined. However, there is still much more studying to be done on both CBD and THC, and it’s difficult to know the long-term effects of either. As we discover more about these compounds and their healing benefits as well as any adverse side effects, we’ll continue to unravel new information about the cannabis plant and all that it has to offer.
New Cannabinoid-THCP
According to recent research, there are two new cannabinoids that have been discovered in the Cannabis plant and one of them may be 30 times more powerful than THC, which is the high-inducing compound found in marijuana. It looks like THC, but is called
tetrahydrocannabiphorol, or THCP and it could explain why consuming different blends of marijuana could produce a variety of different experiences. According to this study, this new chemical compound interacts with the same receptor as THC and the only difference is in a chain of atoms, called an alkyl side chain which allows THCP to bind almost perfectly with the receptors in the brain, almost 30 times more reliably than THC. This means that THCP may be able to have the same effect as THC at a much lower dosage. According to a VICE article, we just don’t know enough about THCP to make any confident claims. For example, we haven’t exposed this new compound to humans, it appears to be present in very small amounts in plants, and we don’t know if it would cause a high or any medical benefits similar to THC.
Other New Cannabinoids
If THCP is a look-alike to THC, then the same could be said for CBDP, or cannabidiphorol to CBD. This compound doesn’t bind well to any receptors in the body, so it is difficult to tell how it would perform. In fact, researchers are saying it is low on the research priority list because based on the little they know at the moment, it doesn’t look promising. Some other cannabinoids that have been recently discovered are tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), which may be able to help with obesity by regulating glucose levels. CBDB and THCB are others that have potential, but we just don’t know enough about them to say for sure.
Want to Know More?
Everyone is buzzing about THC and CBD because they are both potentially beneficial in many ways and could be a great natural alternative to over the counter medications. However, there is just still too little-known research to say definitively what is best for any one person or condition. We don’t know long term effects, and we’re still discovering new cannabinoids all the time. It’s exciting, because the more we find out, the more options we have. If you are interested in learning more or wondering if either THC or CBD could benefit you, talk to your doctor about what they would recommend. Since CBD is not yet regulated by the FDA, it’s crucial to be wise about what brands you are purchasing. You should also start with the lowest dosage and slowly increase the amount week by week until you start to notice some benefits. Every day we get closer to finding out more and the future of CBD and its relative compounds looks optimistic.
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