CBD vs THC — What's the Difference?
A plain-English introduction to two terms medical cannabis patients hear often.
Medical cannabis patients hear the terms CBD and THC constantly, but the terms are often used loosely and rarely explained.
Both are components found in cannabis. Authorized products contain different combinations of them, which is one reason two patients can be using quite different products for quite different reasons.
CBD
CBD is commonly used by medical cannabis patients in Canada. Products containing CBD are used for a range of purposes, and some products contain CBD alone. How these products are regulated and supplied through a licensed seller is a matter for Health Canada and your healthcare practitioner.
Whether a CBD product is appropriate for you is a decision for your prescribing healthcare practitioner, based on your circumstances.
THC
THC is another component found in some medical cannabis products. Products vary in how much THC they contain, and some contain none.
Different patients are authorized to use different products depending on their healthcare practitioner's assessment. Your authorization reflects that assessment rather than a general rule.
THC is also the component that Canadian roadside drug screening generally looks for. What that means legally depends on federal law and on the province or territory you are driving in, so official sources are the place to check.
Why understanding your product matters
Whatever you are authorized to use, it helps to know the basics of your own treatment:
- what product you're authorized to use
- what dose you're taking
- when you take it
Keeping accurate records of these three things supports a clearer understanding of your own treatment, and makes it easier to answer questions from your healthcare practitioner accurately.
How DriveClear helps
DriveClear lets you record the product, the dose and the intake time for each intake, building an accurate treatment history on your device.
- CBD and THC are different components found in cannabis products.
- Authorized products contain different combinations, and some contain only CBD.
- Your authorization reflects your healthcare practitioner's assessment of your circumstances.
- Knowing your product, dose and timing supports better understanding of your treatment.
- Questions about which product suits you belong with your prescriber.
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