Does CBD Counteract THC? [Interactions Explained]

CBD. THC. You have probably heard these acronyms before, especially in the last few years. That’s because big changes have come to the cannabis industry. The federal government legalized hemp-derived CBD with the 2018 Farm Bill, and many states now have legal THC products available. With all the chatter out there, you might wonder how they interact and ask, “Does CBD counteract the effects of THC?” We’ve got your answers right here.

This article will go over the differences between CBD and THC, starting with what they are and how they work. Then we’ll get into how they interact and CBD’s effect on THC. Ready? Let’s go!

What are CBD & THC?

CBD (Cannabidiol) and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) are both cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. THC is the main cannabinoid in marijuana that causes its famous effects. CBD is different. It comes from hemp (a different form of cannabis than marijuana), and it should not get you high.

Cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, interact with our endocannabinoid system (ECS). Every mammal has an ECS, which is a complex network of receptors spread throughout our bodies. The ECS includes two types of receptors: CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors mainly appear in the brain and central nervous system, although they also appear in other parts of the body. CB2 receptors primarily appear in your digestive tract and white blood cells.

Cannabinoids and the ECS

Both CBD and THC have similar structures to the natural cannabinoids in our bodies. That’s right; your body produces cannabinoids of its own! We call these endogenous cannabinoids or endocannabinoids for short.

Endocannabinoids power your ECS. This system regulates many of the most important processes in our bodies and minds. These include:

Sleep
Digestive function
Appetite
Mood
Memory
Immune system

CBD and THC have different ways of interacting with cannabinoid receptors. THC binds very strongly with your CB1 receptors. On the other hand, CBD binds very weakly to your cannabinoid receptors. This is one of the main reasons CBD does not get people high and is not addictive either.

Effects of CBD

CBD offers many benefits thanks to its interactions with your ECS receptors. It is useful for both short-term and long-term needs. Here are some of the key benefits of CBD:

Promotes calm and relaxation
Encourages natural sleep
Supports appetite and digestion
Offers soothing relief from aches and irritation

Many people utilize CBD products daily to maintain homeostasis. This is the optimal, natural balance of all the cellular functions in your body. Maintaining a well-functioning endocannabinoid system is essential to your overall homeostasis.

Effects of THC

THC is famous for being the primary active compound in marijuana. It delivers a sense of euphoria and physical bliss. It may also offer similar benefits to CBD in the form of relaxation and physical relief, but this varies from person to person.

The THC experience appears to be much less predictable than CBD. Many people find that THC helps them relax, but others have the opposite experience. THC sometimes presents negative effects like paranoia and brain fog that many people wish to avoid. Some wonder if CBD can counteract THC to reduce cannabis-related side effects.

When Do The Effects Of THC Start & Stop?

Various factors can influence when the effects of THC start and stop. These factors can include whether you’ve eaten before consuming the THC, your metabolism rate, weight, tolerance, and more. This makes it hard to say with confidence that there is one particular start and stop time associated with THC.

There are onset times associated with different consumption methods. These various consumption methods also result in their associated duration of effects. The main consumption methods for THC are generally through inhaling it or eating it.

Inhaling THC

Inhaling THC by smoking or vaping can quickly provide the effects of THC. The effects of THC are felt almost instantly when consumed this way and should be noticeable a few seconds or minutes after consumption. The effects of THC should last for three to four hours when smoked.

Eating THC

Eating THC products provides the effects for a longer time than inhalation. The effects of a THC edible can last for six to eight hours at a time, a significant amount more than what consumers will notice from smoking or vaping THC. Still, the onset time for edibles is much longer than smoking. That is because the product must first make its way through the digestive system before your body can process it. It can take your body anywhere from 45 minutes to over an hour to process edible THC, depending on when you last ate and how much you’ve eaten.

Benefits of Taking THC & CBD Together

When all of the cannabinoids in the cannabis plant work together, it creates a phenomenon known as the “Entourage Effect.” The entourage effect means that different types of cannabinoids complement each other and work together to reach peak performance levels.

When consumers take THC or CBD separately, they can still reap the benefits. But, when they take them together, the combination will amplify these benefits. Think of it like this: THC and CBD together will stimulate more receptors in the ECS than either can do on its own.

Related article: Should I Take CBD With THC or Without it? [Pros & Cons]

Does CBD Counteract THC?

CBD may be able to reduce the effects of THC in certain circumstances. We just discussed how CBD and THC actually support one another’s effects when you take them together. However, if you take CBD after consuming THC, it can help to reduce the duration of effects.

There are a few factors that affect how THC and CBD work together. Your cannabinoid experience might differ from somebody else’s based on these determining factors:

How much CBD you take
How much THC you take
The type of CBD product you choose
Your tolerance to THC
Your personal biochemistry

Cannabinoid Ratios

The relationship between cannabinoids also depends on the CBD to THC ratio in any given product. A 1:1 CBD:THC ratio means equal parts of each. This would provide a balanced effect, but not everyone wants that. You may prefer to feel more of the CBD than the THC, or vice-versa.

If you have taken THC and want to reduce its effects, you should try taking an equal or greater amount of CBD to balance out the ratio. If you want to lower your chances of experiencing side effects in the first place, choose products with at least a 1:1 CBD to THC ratio or a ratio with more CBD.

How May CBD Counteract THC?

When you take THC, it works by binding with the cannabinoid receptors in the brain, called CB1 receptors. The binding produces a “high” or elevated sense of euphoria.

CBD does not form strong bonds to cannabinoid receptors like THC does. Rather, it forms a weak bond. In doing so, CBD blocks THC molecules from accessing some of your CB1 receptors. This may mitigate the side effects of THC.

Cheef Botanicals CBD Products

At Cheef Botanicals, we provide a wide variety of premium CBD products. Some of our products contain almost no THC (0.3% or less in accordance with federal law). We also offer THC-free products!

How can you tell if there’s THC in your CBD products? Look for the words “Full Spectrum” on the label. Full spectrum CBD contains all of the compounds in hemp plants, including up to 0.3% THC. We also have “Broad Spectrum” products, which contain all hemp compounds except THC, and “CBD Isolate,” which is 99.99% pure CBD.

Whether you prefer full spectrum, broad spectrum, or CBD isolate, you can find what you want at Cheef Botanicals! Let’s introduce you to some of our best-selling products right now.

CBD Edibles

Edibles are any products that you need to ingest before they take effect. CBD edibles are great for providing day-long relief due to their long-term effects that can last up to eight hours at a time. They are also useful for their portability and subtle form factor. The edible products we make at Cheef Botanicals include:

Fruit gummies
Gummy cubes
Full-spectrum oil
CBD capsules
Honey sticks

CBD Flower

For experienced cannabis consumers, flower may be the most familiar way to enjoy hemp. CBD flower is versatile, but it’s best for consumers who enjoy a tactile experience when setting up their smoke session. CBD flower can be rolled into a joint or blunt, packed into a bowl, or smoked out of a bong. However you choose to consume it, smoking CBD flower makes for a great relaxation routine you can enjoy from beginning to end.

You can also find our CBD flower in convenient pre-rolls. We have many strains to choose from. Different flower strains have different effects. To learn more about a specific strain, check it out in the Cheef Botanicals shop! Here are some of our most popular varieties.

Kush Mintz
Zkittles
Cherry Wine
Gorilla Glue
OG Kush
Northern lights
& many more!

CBD Vape Cartridges

Vapes have quickly become one of the most popular ways to consume CBD. Vape cartridges are portable and low-key, allowing for their use in various situations where other methods may not be welcome. Vaping CBD does not create the lingering smells of smoking, and it provides effects quickly so that you can get relief on the go.

Our vape carts contain CBD cannabis extract and natural terpenes for flavor. We provide our vape cartridges in many different flavors, so sample them all and find your favorite! Some of the flavors we offer include:

Lemonade
Pixie Stix
Blackberry Kush
Lychee Ice
Mimosa
& more!

CBD Concentrates

CBD concentrates are the most potent variety of CBD products. Concentrates are best reserved for consumers who are experienced in using CBD, as the effects are powerful and are maybe best suited to help support lessened discomfort.

To consume CBD concentrates, you must use either a vape or a pipe called a dab rig. Dab rigs are essentially bongs outfitted with a piece called a ‘nail’ in place of the standard bowl. You heat the nail is with a blowtorch. Once the nail reaches an appropriate temperature, you place a ‘dab’ of CBD concentrate inside of the hot nail, vaporizing it for your inhalation.

Concentrates come in a few different forms, each with its own unique texture and effects. The concentrate products we carry include:

CBD distillate
Dab wax
CBD isolate

For more information on these concentrates, please visit our website. You can find overviews detailing the specifics of all our products and much more!

CBD Topicals

Topicals include any product that you apply to the exterior of your body. People commonly utilize these products to promote naturally healthy skin and hair but are widely used to give consumers localized benefits wherever the topical has been applied.

Topicals interact with localized cannabinoid receptors located in your skin, making them perfect for addressing soreness, dry patches, and general sites of discomfort. We offer a few varieties of CBD topicals, including:

Lip Balm
Relief Salve
Hand Sanitizer
Body Lotion
Bath Bombs

CBD For Pets

Pets can enjoy the beneficial effects of CBD too! Remember that every mammal has an ECS. This means CBD can deliver the benefits we love to our furry friends!

We produce our premium CBD products for pets through our sister brand, HolistaPet! We offer unique selections tailored to dogs, cats, and horses! Some of the pet CBD products we offer at HolistaPet include:

CBD dog treats
CBD cat treats
Soft chews for dogs & cats
Capsules for dogs & cats
CBD oil for dogs & cats
CBD oil for horses
Catnip spray infused with CBD
CBD shampoo for dogs

Your pets deserve high-quality CBD products, just like you. That’s why we apply the same high standards to our pet CBD as we do for human products. This means using natural, cruelty-free, and plant-based ingredients!

We Also Offer CBG Products!

Aside from our line of CBD products, we also offer CBG products! CBG (cannabigerol) is often called the mother of all cannabinoids. It is the first cannabinoid that young hemp plants produce, and over time it evolves into CBD and other cannabinoids.

However, CBG has many great benefits of its own that you shouldn’t miss out on. That’s why we now offer premium CBG products! Many of them incorporate CBD and low, legal levels of THC to maximize the entourage effect. Some of the CBG products we offer include:

Gummies
Flower
Pre-rolls
Oil
Isolate
Capsules
CBD:CBG wax 1:1 + terpenes

Which CBD Products Counteract THC The Fastest?

If you are trying to counteract THC with CBD, you probably want to feel the effects as quickly as possible. Inhalable CBD products like flower and vape carts have the fastest onset time. When you breathe in CBD, it takes effect within 90 seconds and lasts between 3 and 4 hours.

Edible CBD products take longer to kick in. You should expect to wait around 45 minutes to an hour to feel the effects. However, edibles have the longest duration time of any CBD product. You can experience sustained benefits for 6-8 hours!

Why People Choose Cheef

When you shop with Cheef, you get premium-grade CBD products from an industry specialist committed to quality and natural wellness. We know our CBD products are premium because we manufacture them ourselves!

To ensure you have the purest CBD products available, we also provide lab testing information for all of our product batches. These certificates of analysis (COAs) provide information detailing the product’s contents so that consumers can see exactly what is in it. We post COAs for all of our products right here on our website, and we encourage all of our customers to give them a look.

The premium products aren’t the only great part of shopping with CHeef. We’re proud to offer our customers an array of exclusive deals and perks. This includes up to 25% off subscription products! Subscribe to our newsletter to never miss the latest sales and product launches.

But wait, there’s more! Because we want to provide our customers with as many perks as possible and we also provide a 30-day money back guarantee!

If you need assistance at any step of the shopping process, rest assured. Our customer service team is at your disposal during all of our open business hours (which you can find on our website). Whenever you need CBD products, Cheef is your one-stop shop!

Can Any Other Cannabinoids Counteract THC?

CBG, the source for all other cannabinoids like CBD and THC, is another cannabinoid known to provide calming benefits! CBG provides its effects differently from CBD but can create many of the same effects when consumed. This includes its possible ability to interact with THC to alleviate some of the potential adverse effects associated with it.

Preliminary evidence shows that CBG can interact with our CB1 receptors, giving CBG the ability to essentially ‘compete’ with the THC for a ‘slot’ in the receptor. This possibly lowers the potency of the effects produced through THC consumption.

Other Ways To Counteract THC

Preliminary findings identify that CBD potentially blocks THC’s undesirable effects. Still, besides taking CBD, there are other ways you can lower THC’s negative side effects. Many ways to counter THC involve common household materials and simple practices you can use anytime.

Stay Calm & Relax

Sometimes it is good to remember that any effects you feel from cannabis are temporary. If you are feeling overwhelmed, making a concerted effort to stay calm can make a huge difference in how you are feeling. THC-related side effects often are only present for a brief period, so keep this in mind while you take steps to calm yourself.

To keep calm, try doing some relaxing activities you enjoy! This can include simple things like reading a book, spending time on your phone, taking a bath, or playing a videogame you enjoy. In the end, all that matters is that you enjoy what you are doing and that it can help relax you. Try activities that you know relax you normally, as these should be the most grounding and relaxing for you in these moments.

Drink Liquids

No, this doesn’t mean you should hit the bar or mix yourself a jack and coke! However, drinking plenty of water before and after taking a THC product is a good idea. Drinking water is also a good distraction from the effects of THC, as it is easy to do and requires little energy to do. It also relieves the common side effect of dry mouth.

Eat Some Food

Generally, after taking THC, food can help bring you back down to earth, especially if you are running on an empty stomach. Some foods contain ingredients that can potentially counteract THC.

Black Pepper: Taking the smell of black pepper or eating a little can help to lower the effects of THC. Black pepper contains Caryophyllene, a terpene also found in some strains of cannabis Sativa plants. A study published in 2011 supports this claim.
Pine Nuts: Pine nuts may potentially counteract the effects of THC. Pinene, a compound found in pine nuts, is believed to have a calming quality that may help to provide clarity. Interestingly, pinene is commonly found in many strains of cannabis and imparts it with a pine taste and smell.
Lemon: These zesty fruits also contain the compound limonene, which may help lower the effects of THC. Eating a little lemon or squeezing some juice into a glass of water can be a good way to get some limonene in your system, or try boiling some lemon zest for the most potent concoction.

Walk It Off

Sometimes, we just need a little distraction from our senses to feel better. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try going for a relaxing walk. Keeping your body busy will also keep your mind busy, so going for a walk may potentially help pass time and calm you down while you wait for the effects of THC to subside.

Concentrate On Something Else

It may be more difficult than usual to keep your thoughts straight if you are stressing out over THC’s effects. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it can be helpful to try to concentrate on something else. It doesn’t need to be anything serious; in fact, focusing on something minor and entertaining may be the best option for alleviating stress.

Does CBD Counteract THC – Final Thoughts

Both research and anecdotal evidence support the claim that CBD can counteract some of THC’s effects. However, this only applies in certain scenarios. When you consume products that combine CBD and THC, they actually support each other because of the entourage effect. To potentially reduce the effects of THC, try taking CBD products afterward.

Of course, the best way to avoid negative side effects from THC is to stick with hemp-based products. Hemp only contains up to 0.3% THC, which should not be enough to get you high or cause unwanted consequences. For the best selection of hemp-derived CBD products on the market, visit the Cheef Botanicals shop today!