What do you need? CBD extract or CBD with THC

Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill in the US, CBD has been a hot topic, to say the least. Legislation effectively legalizing industrial hemp has significantly opened the market for hemp-derived CBD. From cosmetics to ointments to tinctures and more, CBD seems to be in everything these days.

In many ways, the CBD craze is overblown. Mainstream media and wellness experts praise cannabidiol as the swan of the cannabis plant and dismiss the rest of the cannabinoids as ugly ducklings. Consumers unfamiliar with cannabis may gravitate towards pure CBD extract, as CBD is often associated with many of marijuana’s health benefits.

But while CBD is the main player in treating a condition like severe seizures, it’s actually an entourage effect that makes CBD work. For those who don’t know, the entourage effect is when individual cannabinoids like CBD increase their potency when they work in conjunction with other cannabinoids like THC or CBN. This is true even if the presence of these other cannabinoids is minimal. The whole in this equation is greater than the sum of its parts.

RELATED: Do I really need both CBD and THC?

Although CBD is a potent extract, it is important for consumers to understand that they may lose some potency if they choose pure hemp-derived CBD rather than cannabis-derived CBD, which may contain low doses of THC.

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In a study titled “Potential clinical benefits of CBD-rich cannabis extracts versus purified CBD in treatment-resistant epilepsy,” the conclusion states: “There were a higher number of patients who reported improvement after using CBD-rich cannabis extracts ( 318/447, 71% than those treated with purified CBD (81/223, 36%), with valid statistical significance.”

RELATED: What is Marijuana’s Entourage Effect and Why Should You Care?

CBD-rich cannabis extract is completely different than CBD isolate. Cannabis contains many components ranging from other beneficial cannabinoids, including the still stigmatized THC. We haven’t even mentioned terpenes, which you also lose if you choose a pure CBD extract. Terpenes not only contribute to the taste and aroma of the plant, but are also instrumental in how the cannabinoids interact with our endocannabinoid system.

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Some oils with zero percent THC contain other non-psychoactive cannabinoids and can still be sold. The combinations likely make them more effective medications for any ailment, including anxiety, inflammation, and depression, but there’s something about having a portion of THC in there, no matter how small, that activates the rest of the potion .

The real CBD medicine is rich in CBD. Some CBD-rich medications have a 1:1 to THC ratio, others have a 30:1 CBD:THC ratio, and while they work wonders, they are not without side effects. CBD-rich marijuana in large medical doses can cause diarrhea and make you very, very sleepy. But if it is a serious illness, you have to weigh the pros and cons. It’s worth noting that cannabis medications have far fewer side effects than the prescriptions they replace in states where at least a little THC is allowed.