Product labels have become a source of controversy as medical cannabis has gained popularity in the states. Concerns or product label accuracy have led several states, including Utah, to enact specific labeling requirements. For example, some states require that labels include an accurate THC-CBD ratio.
THC and CBD ratios can be confusing to new patients who do not know a lot about medical cannabis. It is important to understand the differences between the two cannabinoids, and how they affect symptom relief, in order to apply the ratio found on a product label. Why? Because THC-CBD ratios are of little value if you don’t know which of the two cannabinoids is more appropriate for your treatment.
A Simple Explanation of the Ratios
THC-CBD ratios are simply a measurement of one cannabinoid against another. The ratio is based on volume. The simplest to understand is a 1:1 ratio. It tells you that your product has equal parts THC and CBD. A 10:1 ratio dictates that there is ten times more of one cannabinoid than the other. Which cannabinoid has the higher volume matters.
Here is where it pays to read product label details. Ratios can be based on THC:CBD or CBD:THC. A label should designate which ratio it is displaying. The first cannabinoid in the ratio relates to the first number. The second cannabinoid relates to the second number. It’s pretty simple just so long as you understand the exact ratio the manufacturer chose to utilize on its label.
All of this is important because THC and CBD have different effects on the brain. THC is rather intoxicating. It is the cannabinoid that causes the intoxicating effects cannabis is known for. On the other hand, CBD offers no intoxicating effects. So a product with ten times more THC will have drastically different effects than one with ten times more CBD.
Ratios and Their Relation to Effects
Medical cannabis patients typically choose their ratios based on the desired effect. Bearing in mind that medical cannabis is intended to relieve symptoms, a person’s condition would determine whether to emphasize THC or CBD.
At the Beehive Farmacy medical cannabis pharmacy in Brigham City, Utah, licensed pharmacists work with patients to figure out the best cannabinoid and terpene profiles for each one.
A higher ratio of THC is likely to produce a high feeling. But that feeling can be tempered somewhat if the product also has a certain volume of CBD.
Higher doses of THC are recommended for treating persistent pain, nausea, and insomnia. THC is often the recommended cannabinoid for cancer patients looking for relief from both disease and treatment symptoms.
A medication with a higher volume of CBD will be nonintoxicating as long as THC volumes are kept to a minimum. CBD-heavy medications tend to be recommended for anxiety, seizure disorders, and chronic conditions requiring frequent dosing with little risk of impairment.
Ratios Are Black-and-White, But Dosing Is Not
THC-CBD ratios are black-and-white as long as manufacturers are following labeling requirements. On the other hand, dosing is not. It can take a medical cannabis patient weeks or months to figure out the right ratio. In addition, the best ratio can change over time. That’s why it is so important that patients work with their pharmacists to figure it out.
If you are new to medical cannabis, understand that THC-CBD ratios are important. They affect how a medication will affect you. Learn everything you can about the two cannabinoids and how the ratios relate to your qualifying condition. With the help of a pharmacist, you can use that knowledge to medicate effectively.
