What is THC?

THC is an abbreviation for tetrahydrocannabinol, a psychoactive chemical found in the resin of the cannabis plant. It causes the majority of the psychological effects that marijuana users experience, including euphoria, hallucinations, laughter, relaxation, and pain-relief. Negative effects can include psychomotor impairment, short-term memory loss, hunger, red eyes, anxiety, and the potential to trigger a relapse in schizophrenic symptoms.

THC is a cannabinoid, a group of chemical compounds that provoke a physiological response when in contact with receptors throughout the human body. Some cannabinoids are found in the cannabis plant, while others are produced naturally in the human body. Cannabinoids from marijuana, including THC, are often used to supplement the body’s own cannabinoids in order to help regulate sleep, appetite, mood, pleasure and pain, and many other things. This article from the Journal of Pain is one of many studies that have found evidence that THC is an effective method of pain relief. THC can also be used to help treat or prevent a variety of diseases including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, PTSD, glaucoma, and inflammatory bowel disease.

THC is found primarily in the reproductive organs of the cannabis plant, as these areas contain more resin-secreting glands. THC is introduced into the human body by smoking, vaporizing, eating, or drinking drugs derived from the cannabis plant, including marijuana, hashish, or hash oil. There is also a synthesized version of THC, the FDA-approved drug dronabinol, that is used to treat nausea in cancer patients according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

The effects of THC typically take 10-30 minutes to manifest themselves and last about two hours. However, the timeframe of THC’s effects varies considerably based on the method of administration. Food containing THC, known as edibles, can produce effects lasting from four to six hours. This delayed and prolonged effect can increase the risk of overindulging.

The concentration of THC in cannabis-based drugs can vary widely; marijuana can contain as little as 0.5 per cent THC or as much as 20 per cent THC (by weight).  The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the average THC concentration in marijuana is between one and five per cent, while hashish ranges from five to fifteen per cent. Hash oil has a very high THC concentration of 20 per cent. Sinsemilla is a form of marijuana prized for its high THC content. It is derived from unpollinated female cannabis plants and contains up to 17 per cent THC.

While THC is believed to have a wide range of health benefits, it is also highly prized for its recreational effects. THC is primarily responsible for the “high” sensation that many marijuana users seek, a result of increased dopamine levels in the brain. Users that wish to take advantage of marijuana’s medical benefits without psychoactive effects (such as hallucinations) should look for a strain that is low in THC and high in CBD, another cannabinoid with many medical benefits.