One thing you can always count on in the medical marijuana field is change. We are in a time of incredible advancement, development and innovative therapies involving cannabis. When perusing medical marijuana menus, you may come across a 1:1 product. This is usually a half and half combination of CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).
The THC Component is Important
Combining THC with CBD is showing promising results. The University of Western Ontario showed in 2019 for the first time the molecular mechanisms of CBD at work, block the psychoactive side-effects of THC. Uncovering those “molecular mechanisms” in mice, allowed the team to isolate the reaction of those given a CBD/THC combination. They presented fewer anxiety behaviors and other negative side effects.
The National Institutes of Health reports the 1:1 combination of THC:CBD appears to allow for higher doses of THC without increasing the risk of adverse side effects. It appears that CBD acts to antagonize some of the psychoactive and sedative effects of THC without interfering with intended THC effects, such as muscle relaxation and reduction of spasticity.
I Don’t Want to get High, So Why the THC?
Organic Remedies COO and Pharmacist Tammy Royer says, “THC helps CBD bind to the receptors resulting in increased effectiveness of the CBD, while CBD lowers some of the euphoric effects of THC, without losing the value of THC. A one-to-one ratio has minimal euphoric effects, but can be very helpful for symptom relief for many qualifying conditions.”
Royer also points out an easy way for patients to open discussions about their treatment. All Organic Remedies products label the amounts of THC and CBD, “The higher the percentage of CBD to THC in a product, the less euphoria or psychoactive effect will be experienced,” says Royer.
CBD is beneficial as an anti-inflammatory, for nerve pain relief, and in relieving anxiety. Royer adds, “use of even minimal amounts of THC in a CBD product will mean greater levels of attachment to receptors and more relief, especially if taken regularly to saturate the receptors.”
Some Products to Consider
Organic Remedies offers several choices in a one-to-one formula, including Cherry CBD, Cherry CBD RSO, 1:1 Rest Tincture, and a 1:2 Cherry CBD Tincture.
Dialing in your own CBD:THC ratio and dose can have a learning curve, but Organic Remedies Patient Care Consultants and Pharmacists can help. Ultimately, the goal is finding the right ratio of CBD to THC.
Patients can start off adding 1mg of THC at a time with their normal CBD dose and slowly build up to a level that produces the best result. Organic Remedies Pharmacist Patrick Gladfelter says, “By titrating up slowly, the patient can determine an effective dose, while achieving the desired relief. At the same time, he or she can perform daily tasks with minimal unwanted side effects.”
While both compounds can help reduce symptoms, including inflammation, pain, anxiety, and nausea, the concentration of CBD:THC can affect the experience. Gladfelter says, “When choosing a product and initial dosing, in general, I base my recommendation on THC concentration to avoid unwanted side effects such as anxiety or euphoria. Then as CBD builds up during the 7to10-day loading phase, the synergy of THC and CBD really kicks in!”
Available research and anecdotal evidence show that CBD and THC are a complementary pair. Gladfelter adds, “As new information and data is collected, we are gaining a better understanding of cannabis and its many components. These two important cannabinoids not only work better together, but may also provide the same amount of relief, possibly better, with less euphoria compared to a THC product alone.”
Organic Remedies can help you find the right product and ratio depending on your preference.
An Organic Remedies pharmacist is always available to answer your questions!
