What are THC and CBD?
Cannabis products have compounds called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC and CBD bind to different receptors in the brain and have different effects on the body.
A main receptor is known as cannabinoid 1 (CB1). CB1 binds with chemical messengers in the brain which can affect a person's mood, sleep, pain perception, appetite, and the immune system. When THC is present, it binds to CB1 receptors. This can cause a psychoactive effect (i.e., a feeling of being high). CBD binds weakly or not all to CB1 receptors and therefore does not usually cause a high.
For questions, please contact cannabis@cdph.ca.gov.
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