Unless you’ve lived under a rock for the past decade, you probably know CBD and THC among other cannabinoids.
But have you ever heard of cannabichrome or CBC? This mysterious cannabinoid was discovered 50 years ago and is considered one of the “big six” essential cannabinoids. The other three cannabinoids that matter are CBG, CBN and THCV.
While it doesn’t draw much attention, the benefits of CBC are quite promising. Like CBD and THC, CBD comes from cannabigerolic acid (CBGA).
CBGA is produced in cannabis plants and is the precursor of the three primary cannabinoid acids: cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCA), and cannabichromene acid (CBCA).
Research on cannabinoids is intriguing because they interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which is not fully understood today. CBC also interacts with ECS, and below shows a deeper insight into this unknown cannabinoid and its differences with CBD.
What is CBC?
Although it is among the cannabinoids included in many medical studies, only a few people know of its existence, let alone how it affects the body. CBC was first discovered in 1966 by Dr. Raphael Mechoulam and Y. Gaoni. It is a natural phytocannabinoid found in hemp and marijuana.
Like CBD, it is not intoxicating and is the second most prominent cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. In fact, in some cases, CBC can account for up to 64% of the plant-wide cannabinoid profile.
In terms of functions, CBC has a few similarities to both CBD and THC.
CBC vs CBD differences
CBC is hard to find
One of the main differences between CBC and CBD is that one is very easy to find and the other can be problematic to find. But the good news is that most CBD oils also contain CBC.
So how do you get CBC from CBD oil?
We typically have three types of CBD oil: Isolated CBD, Full Spectrum CBD, and Broad Spectrum CBD. Most CBD users will prefer CBD isolation because it only contains CBD and nothing else.
Broad-spectrum CBD contains other terpenes and some cannabinoids apart from CBD. There are numerous claims that this form of CBD tends to be more effective than CBD isolate due to its “environmental effect”.
Full spectrum CBD oil also contains terpenes and other cannabinoids, but it also has THC, which can be a pro or a downside depending on your opinions on THC. It also gives “the entourage effect.”
Broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD oils are likely to contain CBC within them.
Which is better between CBC and CBD?
Between CBC and CBD, you probably know which works best. Well, the simplest answer is both. Each of these cannabinoids has its own health benefits, and both would be great for you.
But when it comes to making research-based statements, there are many more positive statements about CBD than about CBD. The reason is that CBD is well researched compared to CBC for its popularity and large number of users.
But there are numerous resources on CBC where you can learn more about the benefits of CBC oil.
What are the effects of CBC compared to the effects of CBD?
Both cannabinoids: CBD and CBC are not intoxicating, but you will notice some changes after using them. Unlike CBD, CBD does not interact directly with CB1 receptors.
Instead, it interacts with the TRPV1 and TRPA1 receptors, resulting in an increase in anandamide that could make CBC users feel much more relaxed and happy. Many users report that it provides more or less similar effects to CBD and THC combined but without the psychoactive episodes.
What is CBC for?
As a standalone cannabinoid, CBC has a number of benefits. Some of these benefits include:
- Antiviral: plays a role in the antiviral effects of cannabis.
- Analgesic: reduces pain.
- Antimicrobial: CBC fights bacteria and fungi.
- Anti-inflammatory properties: CBC can help reduce swelling and inflammation.
- Antidepressant: Fights depression and can contribute to the mood-enhancing properties of cannabis.
- Stimulates brain growth: CBC increases the viability of brain cell development (neurogenesis).
- Antiproliferative: CBC inhibits the growth of cancerous tumors as a result of its interaction with anandamide.
- Migraines – CBC is a successful remedy for migraines.
Research suggests that CBC is more effective when it works with other cannabinoids to produce the environmental effect.
Is CBC legal?
Unlike CBD, the legality of CBC is quite vague. While medical marijuana is mostly legal in most states, the number of states that now allow recreational marijuana use is growing exponentially.
Despite this, marijuana is still illegal at the federal level. CBD and other cannabinoid oils with a THC content greater than 0.3% are considered illegal. CBC is part of an illicit substance; therefore, it can be considered illegal.
Conclusion
CBC was found only a few decades ago, but it is one of the most abundant compounds found in marijuana. Most research on CBC was done in the 1980s, and since then, CBD and THC have been the main interests of studies among the scientific community.
You may be wrong to assume that the benefits of CBD and CBC are more or less the same, but that could not be further from the truth. Yes, they do share some similar benefits, but CBC is a useful cannabinoid in itself.
References:
https://www.thezoereport.com/p/cbc-cannabinoids-benefits-are-actually-very-different-from-cbd-19212842
https://www.raowellness.com/mFNx0b-cbd/1niV-difference-between-cbc-oil-and-cbd-oil
