33 Times Stronger than THC!?! Have you heard about THCP yet? It’s a newer analog of THC that has been gaining a lot of popularity lately. So what is THCP? Where does it come from? And is it really that much more potent than the regular THC that we all know and love? Well I’m gonna try to answer all those questions and more in this article.
So What is THC-P?
Well THCP is short for tetrahydrocannabiphorol. Which is also scientifically known as (-)-Trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabiphorol, is a natural cannabinoid and analog of THC present in varieties of cannabis.
It is a very potent photocannabinoid that was first known as a synthetic homologue of THC but was recently isolated in 2019. It’s considered a natural product of cannabis and typically occurs in a small amount. It’s structurally similar to THC but has a longer Alkyl chain of carbon atoms. A longer Alkyl chain means a better interaction with your cannabinoids receptors.
Does it get you higher than regular THC?
So one of the first things you may hear about THCP is that it’s 33x stronger than regular THC. But is that actually true or just more BS marketing that really can’t be proven either way. Well according to the science, THCP has 2 more carbon atoms on the Alkyl chain. THC has 5, THCP has 7 atoms in its alkyl chain. 2 extra carbon atoms which means it has a better interaction with your receptors and more readily binds with CB1 receptors. Could mean a stronger and more potent high. However, some people believe that the 2 extra Carbon atoms make the THCP too large to pass through your blood brain barrier. Either Way, after looking into a lot of brands selling it, you’re not going to find anything right now with a high amount of THCP. it appears as though they only sell it in small amounts and it’s typically mixed with Delta-8 or some other hemp derivative.
Where did THCP Come from?
It was Discovered by Italian Researchers in 2019 through the use of mass-spectrometry and liquid chromatography analysis. And apparently they discovered it by total chance. THCP occurs in lesser quantities than many other cannabinoids so it was overlooked for a long time. They also discovered CBDP but due to CBDs low efficacy with your cannabinoid receptors its probably not gonna get a lot of research love anytime soon.
How is THC-P made?
It’s a naturally occurring cannabinoid that exists in an acidic form in raw cannabis or hemp. This is also true for other cannabinoids like THC, CBD, CBC, etc. . So after exposure to heat, or decarboxylation, THCPA is converted to THCP.
Is it Legal?
A lot of these newer products(analogs of THC) exist in legal gray areas. This is due to the Federal Analogue Act that considers all analogs of illegal substances, also illegal. However you can argue it’s protected under the 2018 Farm Bill that allows all hemp derivatives. THCP can be found naturally in hemp that is lower than .3% THC. So it’s really hard to say either way but there are plenty of people selling it at this point.
**Is it Safe? **
Like a lot of these newer hemp derivatives it can be hard to answer the question of safety. There are always going to be less reputable brands or fly-by-night companies trying to make a quick buck off the hype. It’s pretty easy to blind people with claims like 33x stronger while selling them actual hot dog water.
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