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Comment by mark_l_watson | Hacker News Reader

What bullshit. I have a prescription for a cream containing CBD and THC that has almost totally removed arthritis pain in my hands. Really life changing for me.

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Would you mind sharing the brand/product name?

Do you find (or know) that the THC is contributing to this effect on top of the CBD?

not saying you're claiming otherwise, but both THC and CBD are derived from marijuana!

edit: this comment is wrong.

Cbd is generally derived from hemp (which is legal federally in the us) not marijuana

oh, true. found some pro marijuana sites that said it came from marijuana, but per more reputable sites it's just contained in marijuana, but derived from hemp. Thanks!

The difference between "marijuana" and "hemp" is only legal, not biological, so a distinction without a difference. Hemp growers use a variety bred to have little THC in it. The species is the same.

Well now I’m doubly wrong.

The species is the same but it is a biological difference, in the same way that a Chihuahua and a Wolf are genetically the same species but in fact quite different.

Hemp is marijuana. It is also found in the buds that you can smoke to get high. I believe they are somewhat competing components and their concentration depends on when you harvest a plant. It has either more THC/CBD depending on the time chosen.

Didn't know doctors prescribe it. Hemp is relatively closely related to nettles, which are also used for some therapies for arthritis. Maybe there is another component that helps? Could be a coincidence of course.

I told my Doctor that I was using over the counter CBD ointment. He told me that prescription CBD + THC ointment would be more effective, and he was correct!

Placebo effect. CBD and THC are not well absorbed topically and there's no data on transdermal bioavailability, so the effective dosage would be unscientific and unknown. The majority of CBD creams fall within the category of snake oil to dupe consumers into spending money just as they do on beauty products. THC absorption by the skin is very low.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12100860/

While some CBD products I do believe to be snake oil, what basis do you have for products containing both CBD and THC to only being effective as a placebo? CBD isn’t truly effective without THC and the THC is what basically turns the snake oil into a legitimately effective product. Additionally, everyone’s sensitivity to marijuana differs and while skin absorption may be “low” that does not mean none and even the effects of a low amount can be felt.

> what basis do you have for products containing both CBD and THC to only being effective as a placebo

Read the article. Because without carrier molecules, cannabinoids cannot be effectively absorbed to do much more than provide minor, dermal-area effects. There's no getting high, and not much deep penetration of anything.

> CBD isn’t truly effective without THC.

Truly what? Based on what evidence? 10 mg of pure CBD in a lipid sublingual tincture is calming if you've ever tried it. Easily distinguishable from placebo.

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