THC Archives - Green Market Report

Dave HodesAugust 11, 2022
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8min04

The idea of a cannabis product creating a sort of psychedelic experience is not a new one. There was a prevailing, fictional description back in the early part of the last century—encouraged by the 1936 film “Reefer Madness”—where people feared that was what all cannabis did. It freaked you out. Caused you to do unspeakable things. Run amok. Destroy property.

While the reality of how cannabis affects humans is now backed by real science, there are real studies today linking cannabis use to psychotic episodes which sound like a classic bad trip on a psychedelic, including feelings of deep paranoia and visual hallucinations.

It almost seems like cannabis developers want to tap into a more mind-bending experience for their consumers.

Psychedelics + THC

A cannabis company, CaaMTech, Inc, is even looking to develop a psychedelics-plus-cannabis line of products. According to a press release announcing the patent on the product, CaaMTech has shown that cannabinoids work synergistically with psychedelic tryptamines to produce their effects.

Researchers are warning that stronger strains of cannabis available at dispensaries now can create more head-buzzing psychedelic-like experiences that may be overwhelming for consumers. And there are new trendy cannabinoid concentrate products such as sugars and diamonds on the market that are some of the strongest “designer” cannabis products ever made. A sugar product can have 60-90 percent pure THC.

THC-O

Now comes THC-O, or THC-O acetate, an unregulated hemp derivative synthesized from Delta 8 THC extractions, that is finding its way into CBD shops that also sell quasi-legal Delta 8 THC products. Researchers are saying that THC-O is three times more potent than Delta 8 THC, offering a trippy experience that is every bit as powerful as the experience offered by a magic mushroom.

THC-O is reportedly chemically almost identical to Delta 9 THC, which is the intoxicating compound of the cannabis plant. And its effects are very similar to Delta 9. But because it binds more tightly to the body’s cannabinoid receptors than the other THC forms, THC-O is more intoxicating than both Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC. 

Many users describe THC-O as producing an almost psychedelic high, with borderline hallucinogenic effects. 

The effects of THC-O are always delayed. It’s a so-called “prodrug,” which means that the THC-O you swallow or inhale isn’t pre-activated by heat like most THC (the process called decarboxylation). Instead, the effects of THC-O aren’t felt until it’s been fully processed through the body—just like THC edibles—which could lead to accidental higher dosing and thus, more psychedelic-like effects.

For now, merchants are enjoying a surge in sales of THC O products, available in many CBD stores selling Delta 8 THC products, but also online. 

For example, some cannabis businesses calling themselves dispensaries in the Chicago area are now selling THC-O in pre-rolled joints, vape cartridges, edibles, and other forms.

Sales copy on one online store reported that, once THC-O kicks in after about an hour, “the effects are long-lasting, intensely immersive, and cerebral. Users have shared that it stimulates pleasant spiritual-type sensations.”

There has been little actual lab research on THC-O, and there are other concerns cropping up as its popularity grows. ACS Laboratory, a DEA-licensed laboratory that can test for a 22 different cannabinoids, has created a test for THC-O to help determine the level of chemicals in the product, especially the effects of acetic anhydride—a highly corrosive chemical which can burn skin and cause possible lung and eye damage—which is used to synthesize THC-O from THC Delta 8 (and Delta 9) extracts.

As the popularity of THC-O grows, lawmakers are taking notice. For example, South Dakota legislators just passed a bill regulating THC-O (HB 1292). But for the most part, THC-O is riding under the law enforcement radar.

Science is working to catch up on what THC-O really is, and what it really does. But for now, it looks like you can legally trip your way through the shadows of your mind with a cannabis-based product you get at your local CBD store. Enjoy? Or.. beware.


StaffFebruary 1, 2021
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9min00

Editors Note: This is a guest post.

Cannabis contains more than 100 cannabinoids. However, there are two that are the main and the most popular ones. These two cannabinoids differ in effects and legal status. We talk about THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol). Each one produces something different and contributes both to the sensation that marijuana produces and its therapeutic applications. Knowing both compounds allows you to better choose the variety when growing, as well as knowing what to look for according to whether you want something recreational or medicinal. The other components can also influence our body, but they are more difficult to isolate and we know less about their possible effects.

THC vs CBD

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the second most abundant compound in Cannabis sativa, but that doesn’t make it any less attractive. CBD possesses some unique capabilities that THC cannot match. It is also the main ingredient in CBD oil, an increasingly popular wellness supplement.THC is the main compound in Cannabis sativa. Concentration aside, THC’s fame stems from its psychotropic side effects.

While CBD can influence well-being without major side effects, THC interacts with specific regions of the brain and causes a feeling of euphoria that temporarily affects the way we think and feel. In other words, CBD does not contain any psychoactive component and does not make you high. Many products used to relieve pain or to take care of your skin contain CBD. CBD products, like the purest CBD oil for a healthy lifestyle, are getting more and more popular day by day. In contrast, THC is the principal psychoactive component of the plant.  

Benefits of CBD

  1. Pain Relieving Effect

CBD is incorporated in many products that are used daily. Soaps, lotions, oils, and other skincare goods are highly recommended to relieve pain. People that have used these oils or lotions claim that they felt pain alley nearly immediately after the use. It is believed that CBD containing products reduce muscular, chronic pain, alley painful effects of chemotherapy and similar therapies. 

  1. Reduces Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression have an impact on our mental health causing also physical disorders. CBD containing oils are recommended as an alternative treatment for both depression and anxiety. Many users of CBD oils claim that drugs prescribed to treat anxiety and depression have many side effects, meanwhile, CBD does not have any known negative effect and acts faster than medical drugs. CBD acts on the brain’s receptors for serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and social behavior.

  1. Treats Insomnia

While talking about insomnia some issues should be considered. CBD containing oils have a positive effect on insomnia when it is caused by external effects. Grogginess is a symptom of insomnia. CBD also affects positively grogginess which is one of the causes of insomnia. Thus it can be stated that CBD improves sleep because it tackles the root causes of insomnia. Research is being done to find out how CBD really works as a sleeplessness reducing component. 

  1. Reduce Acne

Nearly 10% of the population is affected by acne. It is a skin condition and sometimes is really difficult or even impossible to treat. Based on recent scientific studies, CBD oil may help treat acne due to its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to reduce sebum production.

CBD has many other benefits too, such as reducing heart attack probabilities or anti-tumor effects. 

Benefits of THC 

The benefits of THC are similar to those of CBD. Some of these effects are Pain relief, treatment of muscle spasticity, glaucoma, insomnia. It is also believed that the use of THC can help with insomnia and in low appetite cases. THC is also used to help with anxiety and nausea. Nevertheless, if the choice falls on THC it is very important to consider that THC binds with the cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors in the brain. It produces a high or sense of euphoria (in other words: high). 

How to Consume

Some of the most popular ways of consuming CBD or THC products are through gummies, truffles, mint, and other edible things. Edible products depend on the taste. Some consumers claim not being able to tolerate the weedy taste of the products. 

Another way of consuming is topical. These products are directly applied to the skin. The wide use of CBD in soaps, lotions, oils has huge demand and this demand is rising incredibly year by year. These topicals provide concentrated relief on a particular area where they are applied. 

A popular way to use cannabis containing goods is through vaping and smoking. This method makes the substance go directly to the bloodstream, so the effect is nearly immediate (nearly in 10 minutes you feel the difference).

There are other options as well, like sublingual products. These products are absorbed under your tongue. They can be in the form of sprays, oils, or lozenges. 

Are CBD and THC Legal?

Laws are changing on cannabis very frequently. In the USA many states already allow medical use of THC containing products, nevertheless, according to federal law it is still illegal.  33 states plus Washington, D.C., have passed cannabis-related laws, making medical cannabis with high levels of THC legal. The cannabis may need to be prescribed by a licensed physician. In the states where CBD and THC are legal, you should be able to buy products without difficulty. In Europe, it differs from country to country. The tolerance for cannabis-related crime varies massively from country to country in Europe. This affects the solution of the government on the legality of CBD containing products.

If your choice is to use CBD or THC containing products it is essential to consult a specialist. Because, sometimes, these products can have some side effects, like changes in appetite, diarrhea, dry mouth, dizziness, or nausea. 

 


Julie AitchesonJanuary 29, 2020
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4min00

Just over a year from the date when the 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the list of controlled substances and legalized it for industrial growth, issues plaguing hemp producers in 2019 are coming to light. The most dominant pitfalls include a glutted market, unpredictable climate, problems with mold and pests, and a chronic shortage of adequate drying facilities.

Seasoned farmers are no strangers to these types of problems, but industrial hemp poses a new challenge: how to bring a crop in under the .3% THC limit mandated by the federal government.

In an October article by Chuck Abbot at www.agriculture.com, analysts at agricultural lender CoBank forecasted that changing federal regulations would make it difficult for growers to keep up with guidelines for testing plants for excess THC. The National Law Review published a piece on Jan. 19, 2020 entitled “Key Takeaways From USDA Final Interim Rules for Domestic Hemp Production”. (These interim rules are set to expire in 2021 and will be replaced by finalized regulations.)

The scope of the rules includes conditions for growing, processing and/or selling hemp, and requires an approved testing and sampling procedure to ensure that no plant exceeds .3% THC content. Unfortunately, the currently approved method focuses solely on identifying the THC content of the plant rather than its genetic profile (which can definitively identify the plant as hemp). Testing only for THC content leaves this undetermined.

A hemp plant can “go hot” (aka experience a spike in THC levels) due to using a new seed variety, environmental factors, or a plant left to flower for too long. This can lead to what the National Law Review article describes as “excessive non-compliance and crop destruction”, not to mention devastating financial losses for growers. Writing for local Denver publication Westword, Mathew Van Deventer reports that fourth-generation farmer Randy Taylor was forced to destroy eighty acres under hemp production when that hemp tested at .47% THC by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The CDA is attempting to address this conundrum by approving and overseeing the development of industrial hemp seeds specifically engineered for low THC/high CBD content.

Theresa Bennett’s Q&A with Vote Hemp President Eric Steenstra at www.hempgrower.com  provides further insight into the issue. Steenstra shares that there has been almost a 500% increase in the number of people growing hemp nationwide over last year. These new growers are largely unfamiliar with the complexities of the genetic seed make-up required to keep THC in crops from spiking. As a result, buyers are favoring larger-scale operations with tested seed stock and reliable facilities, which edges new growers out of the market before they gain a foothold.

Despite the obstacle that regulations regarding THC content pose for unseasoned producers, industrial hemp still shows a profit margin generous enough to lure those willing to educate themselves and keep abreast of the changing guidelines into the industry. Hopefully, the lessons of 2019 will make for a less perilous and more profitable learning curve for aspiring hemp entrepreneurs in 2020.


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