CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) are the two most abundant cannabinoids in the hemp plant. They’re also two of the most commonly-used, due to their slew of therapeutic benefits.
But while they’re beneficial on their own, CBD and THC work better when taken together.
Besides adding to each other’s therapeutic benefits, CBD may reduce the adverse effects of THC. Using CBD and THC in combination may also improve your body’s absorption of both cannabinoids.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of using CBD and THC together, the reason this combination is so effective, and what ratios you should use these cannabinoids in for the best effects.
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What is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally-occurring cannabinoid in the cannabis sativa plant (hemp is cannabis sativa that contains less than 0.3% THC by dry weight).
There are more than 100 cannabinoids in the hemp plant, but CBD is one of the most commonly used because of its high abundance and potential therapeutic uses. It’s been researched for pain and inflammation, as well as for things like anxiety, insomnia, and epilepsy.
What is THC?
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9 THC, delta 9, or THC) is a naturally-occurring cannabinoid in the cannabis sativa plant.
Simply put, delta 9 THC is the cannabinoid most people are talking about when they refer to THC. It is what creates the high you feel after you smoke cannabis.
Due to its high natural abundance in hemp (hemp is cannabis sativa containing less than 0.3% THC), THC has been extensively researched for various medical uses.
Can You Take CBD and THC Together?
Yes, you can take CBD and THC together. Doing so is completely safe and, in fact, can be incredibly beneficial in a myriad of ways.
CBD may reduce the adverse effects of THC, and both cannabinoids may improve each other’s therapeutic benefits for things like pain, anxiety, and sleep.
Key Differences & Similarities CBD and THC
CBD and THC have several key differences and similarities:
Source
Both CBD and THC naturally occur in the hemp plant, and they are extracted for use in products due to their high abundance.
Hemp flower typically contains high levels of both cannabinoids.
Effects
CBD renders mild mental relaxation, as well as physical benefits. Most people describe CBD as calming, but report that its benefits aren’t particularly overt – rather, CBD may make discomforts feel less obvious and apparent.
THC, on the other hand, is quite noticeable. It is psychoactive, so it will get you high. Most people report that THC is euphoric, relaxing, and, depending on the dose, mildly sedating.
Legality
Both CBD and THC are federally legal when derived from hemp as of the 2018 Farm Bill. Hemp is cannabis that contains less than 0.3% THC by dry weight.
However, many states have imposed individual restrictions on these cannabinoids, particularly THC, which is illegal in many states even when hemp-derived. It’s always important to check the legality of CBD and THC when purchasing products online or in a retail store.
On drug tests
CBD will not cause you to fail a drug test, as it is neither a target analyte (a drug that tests are screening for) nor is it capable of being perceived by tests as something that is.
THC, however, will show up on standard drug tests – even in its legal, hemp-derived form – as tests screen for THC due to its presence in cannabis, which is illegal in many states.
Benefits of Using CBD and THC Together
CBD and THC render a few main benefits when used together:
Increased therapeutic benefits
Research suggests that when CBD and THC are combined, they may be more effective for pain, anxiety, inflammation, epilepsy, cancer, and fungal infection than when taken separately [1]. This is due to CBD and THC improving each other’s ability to modulate the body’s endocannabinoid system.
CBD and THC offer therapeutic potential for some of the same things (e.g. pain and sleep), however, they also have distinct potential benefits (CBD for epilepsy, THC for appetite).
Reduced side effects
Side effects of THC use include red eyes, dry mouth, memory loss, increased heart rate, a reduction in motor coordination, and feelings of anxiety or paranoia.
CBD won’t reduce all of these effects, but research suggests it may help with many of the worst:
- A 2017 study found that CBD may reduce the detrimental effects that THC has on motor coordination and memory [2]
- A 2013 study suggests CBD may mitigate THC-induced anxiety and paranoia [3]
- A 2019 study found that CBD may lower THC-induced increases in heart rate [4]
Improved circulation and absorption of both cannabinoids
Research suggests your endocannabinoid system may interact better with CBD and THC if they’re used together [5].
Anecdotally, people have found that their body’s absorption of these cannabinoids improves when they use them in combination.
One idea that’s been explored is that CBD can slow your body’s metabolism of THC, thereby increasing the amount of it that’s able to render effects, as opposed to being processed out of your body.
However, more research is needed on how CBD enhances THC’s benefits.
How Do CBD & THC Work Together?
CBD and THC are phytocannabinoids, which work by interacting with your endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a receptor system in your body that regulates your vital functions, including your pain and inflammatory response and stress response.
Currently, the best explanation for why CBD and THC work better together (just as CBG and THC do) is the entourage effect.
The entourage effect is a scientific theory that says taking different compounds in the hemp plant together can deliver unique and elevated benefits when compared to taking cannabinoids in isolation. Compounds in hemp include cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.
The entourage effect suggests that using multiple phytocannabinoids (like CBD and THC) together may cause the endocannabinoid system to more effectively modulate physical and mental discomfort.
CBD and THC also work differently with the endocannabinoid system, so it makes sense that combining them renders a more complete effect on your body.
THC binds to the CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are the main receptor types in the ECS.
CBD, on the other hand, doesn’t bind strongly to either of these types, but instead may have a positive impact on the transmission of anandamide, an endocannabinoid, and serotonin, a neurotransmitter [6,7].
Increased levels of anandamide and serotonin are associated with decreases in mental and physical discomfort.
What is the Best Ratio of CBD and THC?
If you’re looking to combine CBD and THC, you’re probably wondering how much of each cannabinoid you should take.
But there is no “best” CBD THC ratio – it all depends on the benefits and effects you’re going for.
Below, we discuss a few common CBD:THC ratios people use and what each is good for.
1:1 CBD:THC
A 1:1 CBD:THC product contains equal amounts of CBD and THC. You will still get high after taking a 1:1 product, but it won’t be the same experience you get from taking THC alone.
This ratio is ideal if you want or need the benefits and effects of THC but don’t want to feel as strong of a high – or the potential side effects of THC, like anxiety and paranoia.
4:1 CBD:THC
A 4:1 CBD:THC product contains four times as much CBD as THC, and it’s perfect if you want the therapeutic effects of both CBD and THC, but only want a very mild high effect.
You may experience some psychoactive effects, but they won’t be very strong unless you have a low THC tolerance.
10:1 CBD:THC
A 10:1 ratio of CBD to THC is perfect if you don’t want to feel any sort of high but want the additional physical therapeutic benefits offered by THC.
Ratios where the ratio of CBD exceeds 10:1 are more akin to full-spectrum CBD, which contains very small amounts of THC; enough to make it more therapeutically beneficial than CBD alone, but not enough to create any noticeable effects.
Is CBD Still Beneficial Without THC?
While adding THC can give CBD a boost in effects and benefits, research suggests that taking CBD by itself may still be therapeutically beneficial in a variety of situations:
- Pain & Inflammation – Research suggests CBD may have analgesic (pain-reducing) and anti-inflammatory properties [8].
- Anxiety & Stress – A 2021 review found that CBD may reduce physiological and behavioral responses to stress and anxiety [9].
- Sleep – A 2017 research review found that CBD has therapeutic potential for insomnia [10].
- Epilepsy – A 2018 study found that CBD may have antiseizure properties [11]. CBD is FDA-approved for some forms of epilepsy in the form of the prescription Epidiolex.
- Addiction – Research suggests CBD may have therapeutic potential for people addicted to opioids, cocaine, and psychostimulant drugs, as well as cannabis and tobacco [12].
Conclusion: CBD and THC, Better Together
Many people who would otherwise enjoy THC end up not liking it because it gets them too high, thereby negating any potential benefit it has to offer.
Adding CBD allows you to enjoy the good parts of THC without feeling the anxiety, paranoia, and extreme inebriation that THC may sometimes cause. And CBD has a host of its own benefits, so a CBD-THC combination is always much more beneficial than THC-only.
CBD and THC Together: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions our customers frequently ask us about using CBD and THC together.
Does CBD cancel out THC?
CBD may reduce some of THC’s inebriating, anxiety-inducing, and paranoia-inducing effects, but it won’t reduce THC’s therapeutic benefits.
What is a good combination of CBD and THC?
While there is no “best” ratio of CBD:THC, one of the most popular ratios is 1:1 CBD:THC, which renders a noticeable head high, but without anxiety or paranoia – and with the addition of CBD’s therapeutic benefits.
How much CBD and THC can I take?
Starting out, we recommend taking 10-30mg of CBD:THC. This will ensure your dose is large enough to feel the benefits, but not so large that you feel overwhelmed.
Can you take CBD and THC for pain?
Yes, you can take CBD and THC together for pain. CBD may increase THC’s physically-relaxing properties while reducing the high feeling it creates.
Sources
[1] Russo, Ethan B. “Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects.” British journal of pharmacology vol. 163,7 (2011): 1344-64. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01238.x
[2] Boggs, Douglas L et al. “Clinical and Preclinical Evidence for Functional Interactions of Cannabidiol and Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol.” Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology vol. 43,1 (2018): 142-154. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.209
[3] Niesink, Raymond J M, and Margriet W van Laar. “Does Cannabidiol Protect Against Adverse Psychological Effects of THC?.” Frontiers in psychiatry vol. 4 130. 16 Oct. 2013, doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00130
[4] Resstel, Leonardo B M et al. “5-HT1A receptors are involved in the cannabidiol-induced attenuation of behavioural and cardiovascular responses to acute restraint stress in rats.” British journal of pharmacology vol. 156,1 (2009): 181-8. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2008.00046.x
[5] Boggs, Douglas L et al. “Clinical and Preclinical Evidence for Functional Interactions of Cannabidiol and Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol.” Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology vol. 43,1 (2018): 142-154. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.209
[6] Hua, Daniel Ying-Heng et al. “Effects of cannabidiol on anandamide levels in individuals with cannabis use disorder: findings from a randomised clinical trial for the treatment of cannabis use disorder.” Translational psychiatry vol. 13,1 131. 21 Apr. 2023, doi:10.1038/s41398-023-02410-9
[7] De Gregorio, Danilo et al. “Cannabidiol modulates serotonergic transmission and reverses both allodynia and anxiety-like behavior in a model of neuropathic pain.” Pain vol. 160,1 (2019): 136-150. doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001386
[8] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Committee on the Health Effects of Marijuana: An Evidence Review and Research Agenda. The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2017 Jan 12. 4, Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids.
[9] García-Gutiérrez, María S et al. “Cannabidiol: A Potential New Alternative for the Treatment of Anxiety, Depression, and Psychotic Disorders.” Biomolecules vol. 10,11 1575. 19 Nov. 2020, doi:10.3390/biom10111575
[10] Babson, Kimberly A et al. “Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Sleep: a Review of the Literature.” Current psychiatry reports vol. 19,4 (2017): 23. doi:10.1007/s11920-017-0775-9
[11] Porcari, Giulia S et al. “Efficacy of artisanal preparations of cannabidiol for the treatment of epilepsy: Practical experiences in a tertiary medical center.” Epilepsy & behavior : E&B vol. 80 (2018): 240-246. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2018.01.026
[12] Prud’homme, Mélissa et al. “Cannabidiol as an Intervention for Addictive Behaviors: A Systematic Review of the Evidence.” Substance abuse : research and treatment vol. 9 33-8. 21 May. 2015, doi:10.4137/SART.S25081
