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What is THC? – The What, Why, And How Of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol

Cannabis / Hybrid / Indica / Sativa / THC / August 27, 2020

THC is the primary psychoactive component of cannabis and delivers an effect in users that run the gamut from extreme relaxation to severe anxiety. Nonetheless, THC in all its many forms remains one of the most widely used and widely criticized controlled substances. Whether you’ve been using cannabis for years or have only stumbled upon this page in curiosity, you may be asking yourself—What is THC?

The family of chemicals present in Cannabis have been utilized to treat health problems and expand consciousness for millennia. Written about in ancient texts and celebrated in popular culture, these chemicals and the culture surrounding them remain as popular as ever.

Keep reading to learn all about THC, why it remains so popular in cultures spanning the globe, and how it is used both recreationally and to treat medical conditions in patients seeking relief.

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What is THC?

You see, there’s this plant. It’s called Cannabis. On this plan there are flowers. Dense, hairy, fragrant, resinous flowers.

These cannabis flowers are covered in these tiny glands called trichomes. It is in these trichomes that most of cannabis’ psychoactive compounds reside. The chief most of which, at least in terms of notoriety, being THC. There are trichomes and THC found elsewhere on and in the plant, though most of it is concentrated in and on the flower. This is often referred to as the bud.

THC is shorthand for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive compound in the cannabis plant. You might know this more colloquially as marijuana, weed, grass, skunk, doja, and a thousand other names that have come and gone with the passing of time.

THC is not unlike the cannabinoid chemicals produced naturally in the body. These chemical compounds interact with receptors in the brain to affect areas responsible for thinking, memory, pleasure, coordination, and time perception. That is what has made the substance such a draw for so many over the last 400 or so years.

When it comes right down to it, THC reliably delivers subjectively enjoyable changes to a person’s memory, pleasure, movements, thinking, concentration, coordination, and sensory and time perception. Unfortunately, in some users, that enjoyable state of change can come with the potential for addiction.

THC is one of more than 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis plants and their relatives. The compound was first isolated and synthesized in 1968. However, the original discovery of the compound took place in 1940.

As is currently stands, THC containing products and flower are illegal for purchase across mot of the western world. For example, in the United States, Cannabis enjoys a schedule I distinction. This places it among such nefarious substances as methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin.

The World Health Organization made a push for Schedule IV designation, point towards its medical efficacy and low likelihood of addictive properties. However, the legality of cannabis overall is governed by a series of treaties that muddy the efficacy of widespread legalization.

These treaties include

As it stands, the only countries where cannabis is legalized for any purpose are Canada, Georgia, South Africa, and Uruguay. Several other countries have decriminalized possession of small amounts for personal use, though the substance remains illegal at the national level.

Despite its illegal standing in the eyes of the federal government, at the time of writing this article, the US states and territories that have legalized cannabis include:

  • Alaska
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Illinois
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Nevada
  • Oregon
  • Vermont
  • Washington
  • District of Columbia
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Guam

An additional 16 states and territories have decriminalized cannabis to the point where possession of a specified amount will incur a fine and no criminal charges.

Why is THC used?

THC has had many uses since it entered the scope of human curiosity. Therapy, spirituality, and a host of other influential factors have brought cannabis and THC into the forefront of recreational experimentation.

The US keeps an extremely tight leash on funding and supplies for medical cannabis research via the Drug Enforcement Agency and National Institute on Drug Abuse. Nevertheless, medical community continues to apply THC and its properties to an array of conditions. Among those identifiable uses for cannabis are:

Pain management – According to the American Academy of Neurology, THC is capable of delivering significant relief when it comes to chronic pain. Unfortunately, the same study that confirmed those results also confirmed the presence of several adverse, though short-lived, side effects, including dizziness. Cannabis has been used in the treatment of such painful afflictions as cancer, crohn’s disease, glaucoma and many others.

Muscle Spasticity – muscle spasticity can be recognized as when muscles tense reflexively and resist stretching. THC use has been found to be particularly effective in treating spinal injuries and multiple sclerosis what can produce this symptom.  The evidence has been reproduced in both animal and human trials. This is especially good news for those patients who cannot abide the side effects of certain prescription medications.

Anxiety – PTSD has been the subject of increased attention as to whether THC can be an effective treatment in anxiety and stress disorders. Unfortunately, medical research in this sector is both narrow and novel, with the processes in the brain that govern the symptoms of PTSD poorly understood. However, anecdotal accounts of THC relieving the symptoms of PTSD are abundant and research continues in search of peer-reviewed confirmation one way or the other.

Eating disorders – THC is well known for its ability to induce substantial appetite in cannabis users. Commonly referred to as the munchies, this sometimes-intense hunger is attributed by THC’s ability to influence the brain’s olfactory and taste receptors. The result is a widely experienced phenomena of compounding hunger and encouraging those without an appetite to eat in spite of their condition. This is seen as particularly useful in those with eating disorders, like anorexia, and those undergoing chemotherapy to treat cancer.

Neurodegenerative Disorders – The human body becomes more fragile with age. That’s no secret. We see it in our elderly friends and family who lose pep in their step and move a bit slower than they used to. The brain is no different and, in many cases, suffers greatly with age.

Both CBD and THC have proven to be promising candidates in the treatment of many disorders affecting the brain and central nervous system.

How is THC used?

THC has been revered for thousands of years. Many cultures have utilized the compound to treat ailments, induce euphoric states, and reach a new level of spirituality.

The method by which users consumed THC were basic in the beginning and have since proliferated into all manner of paraphernalia, both humble and elaborate. We’ll start with the most basic means of THC activation on to a few means of use you might not have considered.

Inhalation – Setting dried cannabis flower or concentrated THC alight and inhaling the fumes is one of the most common and basic ways of getting THC into your system.

You can see early depictions of cannabis users utilizing pipes and chillums to smoke their cannabis. More common in popular culture are bongs, blunts, joints, and various other methods. The most recent innovation when it comes to ignition are dabbing rigs. These novel devices combine a vessel, a heating element, and a heat source. Some can reach prices as high as many thousands of dollars.

Vaporizing is another modern method of inhaling THC. This method does not physically ignite the flower or concentrated THC compound but rather heats it to the point that vapor is produced and can be inhaled. This method of inhalation is gaining a larger following as it negates the inhalation of additional compounds that are harmful to the sensitive tissues of the lungs.

It should be noted that poor-quality vaporizing hardware and THC concentrate cartridges have made headlines in recent years. Unprofessionally prepared devices and concentrates have been reported to cause severe health effects and even death in users. Propylene glycol has been the most prominent additive associated with these adverse effects. Namely, when suspended in vapor, this substance degrades into formaldehyde and may also lead to lung inflammation.

So, as you may come to understand, which method you choose will largely be influenced by your budget, health concerns, and many other factors. Consider your options and smoke or vape your cannabis in a way that aligns with your lifestyle.

This method of cannabis use delivers the psychoactive chemical THC and more than one hundred other compounds into the bloodstream via the lungs. It is there that the inhaled smoke or vapor enters the bloodstream by passing through the mucous membranes and blood vessels of the organs. The compounds are then carried throughout the body and to the brain to take their effect.

This method of cannabis use bypasses first-pass metabolism, delivering a larger portion of THC that would otherwise be lost through the process of digestion when eaten. Which leads us to the next most common method of using Cannabis ingestion, through food and drink.

Orally Ingested – Ingesting Cannabis and, by proxy, THC through the eating of food and drinking of liquids is another common means of use. This is particularly among those who are comfortable in the kitchen or shy away from methods of cannabis use that may damage the sensitive tissues of the lungs. There is also the novel act of trying something new and there is no shortage of variety in the world of cannabis edibles and drinks.

This method of ingestion, however, requires THC to experience first-pass metabolism. This takes place when the substance passes through the stomach and intestines, losing some of its potency and effect in the process.

As the compound travels through the body in this way, it takes time to have an effect on the body. This can be as long as 6 hours in most cases. So, it is important to plan accordingly if there are life obligations that may interfere with a sudden altered state. Additionally, just as any other method of cannabis use, THC can have an adverse interaction with prescription medication or preexisting medical conditions. For this reason, it is important to consult with a physician regarding any potential interactions between behaviors and other substances you may be taking.

Oral Administered Sublingually or “Buccally – While it may seem like this method qualifies as “eating” THC, it is generally considered apart from that method of use.

Sublingual or “buccal” THC use is exclusive to the soft tissues of the mouth. In this case, THC tinctures and oils are held under the tongue or between the cheek and gums to be absorbed into the bloodstream through the many blood vessels lining the mouth. I this case, you are able to take THC orally and circumvent first-pass metabolism, thereby getting a fuller “dose” of the compound.

Topical Application – THC can be found in creams, rubs, salves, and oils. These can be applied directly to the skin to focus on painful joints and sore muscles. By using the skin as a means of absorption the user can more effectively target a specific area for relieve. In this case, THC has a direct effect on cells and nerves in the targeted area. This method of delivery generally will not enter the blood stream and is used to supplement a more comprehensive wellness routine.

Vaginally & Anally inserted – Yep, you read that right. For many reasons, patients choose to utilize THC in these methods as a cream, lubricant, or suppository. The method of delivery is like sublingual application. Both the vagina and anus are lined with blood vessels that readily absorb the compound when they come into contact. This acts as a fast delivery method that can share properties found in all the aforementioned methods of use. Age, gender, and medical conditions may play a part in how the drug takes effect.

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