Contrary to Popular Belief, CBD Makes Marijuana Stronger

New randomized trial has the goods

I visited a legal cannabis dispensary in Massachusetts a few years ago, mostly to see what the hype was about. There I am, knowing basically nothing about pot, as the gentlestoner behind the counter explained to me the differences between the various strains. Acapulco gold is buoyant and energizing, purple kush is sleepy, relaxed, dissociative. Here’s a strain that makes you feel nostalgic, here is one that helps you focus. It was as complicated and as oddly specific as a fancy wine tasting and, I had a feeling, about as reliable.

And while a strain that evokes memories of your first kiss is beyond the reach of modern cultivation practices, it is true that not all marijuana is created equal. It’s a plant, after all, and though delta 9 tetra-hydro-cannabinol (THC) is the chemical responsible for its euphoric effects, it is far from the only substance in there.

The second most important compound in cannabis is cannabidiol (CBD), and most people will tell you that CBD is the gentle Yin to THCs paranoiac yang. Hence your local ganja barrista reminding you that, if you don’t want all those anxiety-inducing side-effects of THC, grab a strain with a nice CBD balance.