THC vs. CBD: Which Marijuana Compound Is More Beneficial?

The marijuana compound CBD, or cannabinol, is surging in popularity in the wellness community, for its alleged health benefits, without the high normally associated with pot. But a new study suggests that marijuana’s main active ingredient, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) — the one that gives users a high — may be more responsible for the plant’s therapeutic effects.

The researchers looked at data from more than 3,00 people who had tried marijuana to relieve medical symptoms. These participants had all tracked their marijuana use with an app on their smartphones.

The study found that higher THC levels were strongly linked with reported symptom relief. In contrast, levels of CBD were not linked with symptom relief. [25 Odd Facts About Marijuana]

“Despite the conventional wisdom… that only CBD has medical benefits while THC merely makes one high, our results suggest that THC may be more important than CBD in generating therapeutic benefits,” study co-author Jacob Miguel Vigil, associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of New Mexico (UNM), said in a statement.

The study was published Feb. 25 in the journal Scientific Reports. [Read more at Live Science]