Traditional demand for THC has caused an over-saturation of high-potency products, while consumers are starting to prefer less intense products that are lower in THC and higher in the non-intoxicating compound called cannabidiol and CBD are both cannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant, but they’re different in many ways that may influence your next dispensary purchase. High THC content is a primary reason why particular strain more desirable. CBD is the second-most abundant cannabinoid in cannabis. A strain may deliver CBD and THC in the following ratios: High-CBD strains tend to deliver very clear-headed, functional effects without the euphoric high associated with high-THC strains. They’re typically preferred by consumers who are extremely sensitive to the side effects of THC (e.g., anxiety, paranoia, dizziness). A high-CBD strain would also be a great choice for someone needing to medicate throughout the day to control pain, inflammation, anxiety, or other chronic conditions. Balanced CBD/THC strains will be a little more euphoric than CBD-dominant strains, though they’re much less likely to induce anxiety, paranoia, and other adverse side effects. Strains like these tend to be the most effective for pain relief, and they’re also well-suited for THC-sensitive consumers who’d like a mellow buzz. CBD strains can be consumed just as you would THC strains. You can smoke or vaporize CBD-rich flower, eat a CBD-infused edible, swallow a CBD oil capsule, apply a CBD lotion, or use a CBD tincture sublingual. Hemp products also contain CBD, though it is a less efficient source and lacks the beneficial chemical diversity of cannabis-derived CBD products (more on that here). Medical Benefits of CBD The list of conditions CBD may help with is ever-expanding. Here are some of the most common conditions and symptoms patients combat with CBD: • Epilepsy and seizure disorders • Pain and inflammation • PTSD and anxiety • Crohn’s disease • Multiple sclerosis • Opioid withdrawal Though clinical and anecdotal evidence suggests CBD’s benefits in managing different conditions, it became most famous for treating a rare and debilitating form of pediatric epilepsy. Dravet’s Syndrome is notoriously resistant to currently approved treatment methods. Seizures plague sufferers, often up to hundreds a day, that worsen as they age and can be life-threatening. Now, treatment methods include having the child wear an eyepatch, specialized diets, and brain surgery, but all have mixed success rates. CBD has no lethal dose or known severe medical side effects, but it is still federally illegal. Furthermore, the idea of using cannabis-derived compounds for pediatric conditions remains a touchy subject in a culture where cannabis has been stigmatized. Although THC is best known for its mind-altering euphoria, it too has critical medical benefits. There’s some overlap in what CBD and THC can treat, but THC is particularly useful in relieving nausea, appetite loss, insomnia, among other symptoms. Many patients find that a balance of CBD and THC offers the best symptom relief as the two work together synergistics.