Does CBD reduce the effects of THC? Recent studies question a common belief

Cannabis research can be a fickle beast. Decades of Prohibition have created a lot of bureaucracy for researchers, so scientific understanding of the plant is still in its infancy. Because cannabis has not been extensively studied, research on it can go back and forth, and something that was proven one day may later be disproved or reversed, leaving cannabis users scratching their heads.

A recent example are two studies published in the last few months, both of which claim that CBD does not decrease the psychoactive effects of THC, reversing a widely held notion of one of CBD’s benefits.

To find out what cannabis users can take away from this new information, let’s look at the history of research on the subject and what the new studies say.

What does previous research say about CBD and THC?

For decades it has been believed that CBD can reduce the negative effects of THC – if you are too high or don’t want to get too high, take a little CBD or consume a THC product that also contains a little CBD to get around that to mitigate high. Many studies have claimed this, and we’ve even reported on it here at Leafly.

The idea is that CBD molecules block receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system, preventing THC from fully activating these receptors, which reduces the high.

Many older studies have made claims about CBD’s ability to dampen THC: as early as 1982, a study said that CBD can reduce paranoia and anxiety induced by THC; and a 2010 study states that CBD and THC have opposite effects and that CBD can reduce paranoia with THC.

Notably, a 2013 review examined nearly 1,300 studies from the past few decades and concluded that “the few existing studies on the effects of CBD indicate that this cannabinoid may counteract some of the negative effects of THC.” However, the authors emphasize that “their results were not always consistent.” The study also said that there have been surprisingly few studies on the interactions between THC and the potentially protective effects of CBD.

Related

What is the endocannabinoid system and what role does it play?

What do the recent studies say about CBD and THC?

Two studies published in the last few months contradict the notion that CBD dampens THC. In a UK study last November, 46 participants vaporized oil with various ratios of CBD to THC to determine the effects of CBD on THC. They tested products with CBD:THC ratios of 0:1, 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 with 0 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg of CBD and found no difference in effects.

According to the study authors, “We found no evidence that CBD reduces the acute side effects of THC on cognition and mental health. Likewise, there was no evidence that it altered the subjective or pleasurable effects of THC.”

Another study out of the UK earlier this month supports this data. It examined the effects of cannabis on adolescents versus adults and how THC and CBD affect both. Forty-eight participants, 24 teenagers and 24 adults, vaped a 3:1 CBD to THC product (24 mg to 8 mg) and a THC only product and found no difference in the subjective feeling of effects in individuals.

The authors eventually concluded that “our results lend further weight to the claim that doses of vaporized CBD close to naturally occurring concentrations do not mitigate the acute harms of THC.” As an aside, the study also found no differences in of impact between teenagers and adults.

Related

CBD vs. THC: Why isn’t CBD intoxicating?

How should consumers absorb this new information?

It’s often assumed that products containing CBD are less potent or can reduce negative THC effects, but the results of both studies suggest that CBD may not be a determining factor in a product’s potency. Consumers who buy products with CBD believing they are getting “Weed Lite” or less potent products may be wrong.

But because cannabis research is so young, it’s hard to tell if these studies are the final word on the matter or just another blow down the road. There are still some caveats.

In last November’s review, the authors cite a previous study showing that CBD blunts some of the effects of THC, but participants received exceptionally large doses of 600 mg CBD to 5 mg THC – a 120:1 CBD to CBD ratio THC! The authors concluded that it is impractical to fit such a large amount of CBD into a commercial vape cartridge. So CBD can moderate the effects of THC, but astronomical amounts of it may be needed.

At the end of the day, it can be difficult to separate and clearly delineate these two compounds and their effects due to the entourage effect – or how all compounds in the cannabis plant work synergistically to produce the feeling of being high, including the cannabinoids, terpenes and more. The sum is greater than the total of the parts, so examining each compound separately can be difficult.

Cannabis research is getting better as more states legalize it, but there may not be a definitive answer on how CBD and THC interact just yet. There’s a growing body of research leaning towards the idea that CBD doesn’t mitigate the effects of THC, so buyers should keep that in mind next time they’re in the dispensary.

As always, we tell our readers that everyone has different body chemistry and will experience weed differently. You could get incredibly high or paranoid from a hit or two on a joint while your friend will hardly feel a thing; A certain strain can put you to sleep while the same one can make your friend go for a walk. It’s important to understand how your body reacts to weed.

CBD has shown tremendous potential in treating seizures and epileptic conditions in children, however, the medical benefits of CBD beyond that, or its ability to tame the intoxicating effects of THC, have not been conclusive.

Pat Goggins

Pat Goggins is a senior content editor at Leafly, specializing in cannabis cultivation after working for a commercial grower in Oregon. When you’re not correcting typos, chances are you’ll find him on a boat or in the mountains.

Check out Pat Goggins’ articles

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