THC vs. CBD: What's the Difference?

Every cannabis product sold in Canada lists two numbers more prominently than anything else: THC and CBD. They're both cannabinoids, compounds made by the cannabis plant, but they behave very differently. Understanding the difference is the single most useful thing a new adult consumer can learn.

THC: the one that gets you high

THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main intoxicating compound in cannabis. It's responsible for the "high": changes in perception, mood, coordination and reaction time.

That intoxication is why THC is what the law regulates most closely. It's why edible packages are capped at 10 mg of THC, and why driving after using cannabis is dangerous.

How strongly THC affects you depends on:

• how much you take
• how you take it (smoked and vaped THC acts within minutes; edibles can take up to two hours)
• your tolerance, meaning how often you use cannabis
• what else is in your system, especially alcohol

CBD: the one that doesn't

CBD (cannabidiol) is the second major cannabinoid. CBD on its own doesn't produce a high. Some products are almost entirely CBD, some are almost entirely THC, and many sit somewhere in between.

You'll see products described as:

• THC-dominant: high THC, little or no CBD
• CBD-dominant: high CBD, little or no THC
• Balanced: roughly equal amounts, often shown as a ratio like 1:1

Health Canada's lower-risk guidance suggests that if you want to limit how intoxicated you get, you should choose products with low THC and an equal or higher amount of CBD.

Reading THC and CBD on a label

Canadian labels show cannabinoid content in two ways, depending on the product:

Dried flower and pre-rolls: percent

Flower is labelled as a percentage by weight, for example THC 20%. That means about 200 mg of THC per gram of dried cannabis. You'll often see two figures:

• THC: the THC already present in active form
• Total THC: what the product could deliver once it's heated, which is usually the more useful number

Raw cannabis contains mostly THCA, which converts into THC when heated. That's why "Total THC" is usually much higher than plain "THC" on flower.

Edibles, drinks and capsules: milligrams

Edibles list milligrams per package and per unit, for example THC 10 mg per package, 2.5 mg per piece. That's far easier to dose: you know exactly what you're taking.

Health Canada suggests new consumers start with edibles containing 2.5 mg of THC or less.

Why the same number feels different

A 2.5 mg gummy and a single puff from a 20% joint can both be "a small amount", but they don't feel the same or arrive at the same time. When you eat THC, your body processes it differently than when you inhale it. The effects come on much later and last longer. That timing gap is the main reason people take too much. How Long Do Edibles Take to Kick In? explains it in detail.

What about indica and sativa?

You'll see indica, sativa and hybrid on menus everywhere. They describe how a plant grows more than how it'll make you feel. For predicting effects, THC and CBD levels are a far better guide. More on that in Indica vs. Sativa: Why the Labels Don't Tell You Much.

Quick reference

When you're browsing, comparing THC and CBD side by side is the fastest way to tell products apart. Creator's Choice lists both on its flower and edibles pages.