Cannabis 101: THC vs THC-O vs THC-P vs THC-V
In 2019, at least 48.2 million Americans tried marijuana one time or more. With cannabis usage becoming more common and accepted, it’s also leading to the discovery of new cannabinoids as well.
Although THC is the most well-known cannabinoid, there are many others. There are over 120 other cannabinoids that naturally occur in cannabis Sativa, also known as the hemp plant, and each of them has different properties and offers different effects.
Among the many cannabinoids that have been discovered and studied, there are several compounds that are especially worth knowing about. In this guide, we’ll discuss the differences between THC vs THC-O vs THC-P vs THC-V.
Why Are New Cannabinoids Being Identified Now?
Although cannabis has been around for a long time now, researchers are studying it much more in recent years.
Through careful analysis, researchers are able to identify the cannabinoids that are in hemp. They can now pinpoint various cannabinoids and their properties and characteristics.
Although there are more than 120 individual cannabinoids present in hemp, many have very small traces present. Because of advanced analysis tools and methods, researchers can study cannabinoids better than ever, and many new ones have been discovered.
There are many different cannabinoids in the hemp plant including THC, THC-O, THC-P, and THC-V. Because these different cannabinoids can now be isolated, there are products available that feature each of them on their own.
THC Benefits and Experiences
Before looking closer at the different types of THC, it’s important to understand the effects and benefits that it generally offers to those who use it.
The exact benefits that a person will experience when using THC are different but there are a variety of characteristics that it may offer a user. Some of the effects and benefits that a person may end up experiencing include the following:
- Relaxation
- Reduction of pain
- Increase in energy
- Euphoria
- Increase or decrease in appetite
In addition to these effects, many users of THC will also experience drowsiness and dizziness and their bodies may also feel heavy.
Because of the benefits that people associate with THC, it’s considered a therapeutic treatment option for many conditions. Medical marijuana is legal in more areas than recreational marijuana. Some of the conditions that medical marijuana may assist with include Alzheimer’s, ALS, cancer, epilepsy, hepatitis C, AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, and chronic pain.
THC vs THC-O vs THC-P vs THC-V
So what are these popular new THC formulations and what are their differences? Here’s what you should know.
THC
THC, also known as delta-9, is the most well-known compound in marijuana. This cannabinoid is the one that many see as being responsible for the psychoactive effects that cannabis offers. THC leads to a range of both physical and mental effects, although the exact feelings associated with the compound vary by user.
Most areas have banned THC, so you’ll need to check the local laws where you live to find out whether it’s available. While many areas have banned delta-9, you can generally use, sell, and possess it in concentrations under 0.3%.
THC-O
Unlike many other cannabinoids such as CBD, THC-O acetate is a synthetic compound that comes from natural delta-9 THC through a special process.
The production of this cannabinoid happens in a lab. Producers of THC-O create it by isolating tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), a precursor to delta-9 THC, and then combining it with acetic anhydride to alter its chemical properties.
THC-O is incredibly potent and offers intensive intoxicating effects. It’s known for being as much as three times more powerful than delta-9 THC.
Assuming that it contains less than 0.3% THC, this type of THC is legal in many places. However, it can be in a bit of a gray area, so you’ll want to check your local regulations before purchasing or using it.
THC-P
While there has been minimal research on tetrahydrocannabiphorol (THC-P) so far, the cannabinoid is known to be 33 times more active than delta-9 THC. It’s a potent compound that features strong psychoactive effects.
There are trace amounts of this natural cannabinoid in the hemp plant and it was only discovered very recently, in 2019. THC-P is a unique cannabinoid because it has a longer string of carbon atoms when compared to delta-9 THC. It has 7 carbons while delta-9 THC has 5.
Because THC-P was discovered fairly recently, there hasn’t been a large amount of research on it yet. It’s hard to know exactly what purposes it will serve. However, it’s likely to offer even more therapeutic benefits than other forms of THC due to its strength.
THC-V
Unlike some of the other cannabinoids on this list, researchers have been aware of tetrahydrocannabivarin (THC-V) for a while. It was discovered in 1973 and has been studied for a long time.
THC-V is very similar to delta-9 THC but offers higher appetite-suppressing effects and milder intoxication.
At lower doses, THC-V doesn’t provide psychoactive effects. The amount of THC-V that an individual will need to take to experience psychoactive effects isn’t fully understood, so this isn’t the best use for this cannabinoid. The effects also don’t last as long as with other cannabinoids.
However, although its psychoactive and intoxicating effects are mild, THC-V has several benefits that differentiate it from other cannabinoids. THC-V may help regulate blood sugar, regulate energy metabolism, increase appetite, and more. This means that it could potentially be a helpful solution for the management of weight loss and type 2 diabetes.
What Can Influence the Effects of a THC-Based Compound?
While the type of THC-based compound that you use will play a role in how you experience the effects listed above, there are many other things that can have an impact as well. Here are some of the factors that can affect the strength of a THC product.
Type of THC Product
One of the things that can affect the potency of a cannabinoid is the way in which they are delivered to the user. There are many different product types that you can choose to experience the effects and benefits of THC.
The products that you choose can affect how THC makes you feel and can influence the duration of the effects as well. The absorption of THC-based compounds into the body will vary based on the way it’s delivered.
Inhaling a THC compound with weed pens or by other means is typically the method that is the quickest and offers the most potency. However, the effects may not last as long. Taking edibles and capsules or using tinctures will typically take at least an hour to take effect but may last for 4 to 8 hours.
You can also take THC in the form of dabs and concentrates. These products are incredibly potent. Using these concentrated forms of THC may not be a good option for a complete beginner to cannabis.
THC Strain Type
When it comes to cannabis flowers and vapes, there are often different strains available that you can choose from. These strains will have various strengths based on the profiles of various different cannabinoids and compounds that they contain.
While cannabinoids can be isolated, THC compounds tend to function synergistically to provide effects. If a CBD product contains many different THC compounds at once, then the effect will vary based on the specific makeup of the strain.
Make sure that you understand the strain that you’re buying if you want to be sure to experience the desired level of THC effects.
Size and Concentration
The number of milligrams that you take of a cannabinoid and the serving size will also affect how you experience the benefits and effects.
Taking a gummy product that has 20 mg in it will be much different than taking one with the same cannabinoid that has 5 mg in it.
Pay attention to serving sizes and the strength of the product that you buy when deciding how you want to experience the effects. Choosing a product wisely will help you to experience the effects that you want to feel, whether you’re using delta-8, delta-9, THC-O, THC-P, or THC-V.
Understanding the Differences Between Common Cannabinoids
To understand the differences between THC vs THC-O vs THC-P vs THC-V, be sure to review the information above.
There are many different cannabinoids that offer a variety of effects to those who use them. You may want to try a few different options if you want to find the one that works best for your needs.
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