Study shows that mixing THC and CBD can increase the health benefits of cannabis

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THC and CBD alone improve health, but combining them increases the advantages

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the most common cannabinoids in cannabis, and they share a very special relationship. The marijuana plant produces hundreds of different phytochemicals that belong to several families: cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, etc. Of these, the cannabinoids THC and CBD stand out as the two most popular chemicals. Finding the ideal balance may not be so easy, but a new study has come to identify the benefits obtained by mixing both compounds.

All these cannabis compounds have their own purposes, but their effects tend to be more intense when combined. This chemical synergy is called the entourage effect. According to this theory, it is not only cannabinoids such as THC and CBD that form a synergistic relationship but also terpenes and other compounds. Researchers from the Addiction and Mental Health Group at the University of Bath conducted a systematic review in order to obtain more details.

The study indicates that THC-predominant cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of experiencing psychosis. However, many of these effects can be effectively counteracted when CBD joins the equation. Kat Petrilli and Tom Freeman were the lead authors and commented on the topic.

“Our findings suggest that people who use cannabis may reduce their risk of harm by using lower potency products,” they stated. “These results are important in the context of harm reduction, which aims to minimize the negative consequences associated with high-THC cannabis use.”

Researchers are just beginning to understand how CBD affects the body. Like THC, CBD also interacts with the endocannabinoid system, but it does so in a different way. This molecule does not bind to cannabinoid receptors with many affinities, and the fact that it does not explains why CBD does not have a psychoactive effect.