Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm.D. Written by Raj Chander on December 13, 2019
Cannabis plants contain more than 120 different phytocannabinoids. These phytocannabinoids act on your endocannabinoid system, which works to keep your body in homeostasis, or balance.
Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are two of the more well-researched and popular phytocannabinoids. People take CBD and THC in a variety of ways, and they can be consumed separately or together.
However, some research suggests that taking them together — along with smaller organic compounds in the cannabis plant, known as terpenes or terpenoids — is more effective than taking CBD or THC alone.
This is due to an interaction between phytocannabinoids and terpenes called “the entourage effect.”
Entourage effect
This is the theory that all the compounds in cannabis work together, and when taken together, they produce a better effect than when taken alone.
So, does that mean you should take CBD and THC together, or do they work just as well when taken separately?