Better vs. Best: CBD And THC For Anxiety, Depression, Chronic Pain

Anxiety, Depression, Chronic Inflammation, and Pain are major public health challenges with unmet medical needs. These conditions affect all population ages and groups. A variety of effective and safe drug treatments are available (for example, Prozac or fluoxetine). Similarly, natural herbs and remedies for these conditions are also available and include cannabis products derived from the Cannabis Sativa plant, such as cannabidiol (CBD) and delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Having said that, there is currently insufficient scientific evidence to support the concept that CBD and THC are effective treatments for anxiety, depression, chronic inflammation, and pain. This means that while these drugs may be effective for these conditions, the conclusion to use these drugs as effective treatments for these conditions currently would not be based on rigorous scientific assessments. Nevertheless, CBD was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an effective and safe treatment for certain types of seizure disorders, including two-year-old patients, indicating its overall safety. Thus, while the efficacy is still being determined, the FDA has ensured the safety.

CBD vs THC: CBD and THC are cannabinoids, among many other compounds. The main difference between CBD and THC is that CBD does not (and THC does) produce psychoactive effects on human behavior. In other words, CBD cannot (and THC can and does) produce euphoric effects, making people feel high, which is the typical cause of addiction. Accordingly, CBD is not addictive and does not lead to drug abuse and dependence. Both CBD and THC come in many formulations, including oil, capsules, patches, vapes, etc. Note that the THC level in hemp-derived CBD does not surpass 0.3%, and thus, hemp-derived CBD should be legal in every state. "Existing preclinical evidence strongly supports CBD as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder when administered acutely" (https://adai.uw.edu/pubs/pdf/2017mjanxiety.pdf; Blessing et al., 2015).

"THC appears to decrease anxiety at lower doses and increase anxiety at higher doses. CBD appears to decrease anxiety at all doses that have been tested" (Childs et al., 2Q11; Blessjng et. al., 2015).

CBD Safety: CBD is well tolerated when taken orally at doses as high as 1.5 g/day (Bergamaschi et al., 2011 ).

What about Hemp?

Nothing comes from nothing. A compromise is needed wherever and whenever progress is desired. Hemp is a plant that contains leaves, stems, and seeds. Hemp seeds do not contain CBD and THC, and thus, hemp seed oil or gummies are not as effective in antianxiety, anti-inflammatory, and pain release as CBD oil and gummies. However, CBD and THC are effective, but there is a price to pay- feeling "high," which is addictive for some people. By contrast, CBD is made from the entire hemp plant.

Hemp and marijuana belong to the same species as CBD and THC, Cannabis sativa. Hemp has 0.3% or less THC, meaning hemp-derived products don't contain enough THC to create the "high" traditionally associated with marijuana. Marijuana contains both CBD and THC (more THC than hemp). Marijuana has been shown to produce therapeutic effects and benefits in people with epilepsy, glaucoma, nausea, chronic inflammation, and pain.

Conclusions: In terms of efficacy and safety, CBD seems to be optimal as a treatment for a variety of chronic conditions such as anxiety, depression, chronic inflammation, and pain (Villanueva et al., 2022; VanDolah et al., 2019; Legare et al., 2022). CBD does not induce euphoria and does not seem to exhibit drug abuse potential.

All the best,

Dr. U