Whether you are a cannabis stoner or enthusiast, the debate over its legitimacy sounds enticing to everyone. Lately it’s been a hot topic, and we undoubtedly love educating our lovely readers about this controversy. The legality of traditional cannabis derivatives like THC and CBD is a bit clearer, but if it is a cannabis functional group, it can be tougher to understand.
The cannabis plant and its cannabinoids are purely natural, but those cannabinoids have the potential to become premium or rare variants which can be synthetic or semi-natural including some super potent compounds like Delta 8 or THC-O. But the lawful validness of Delta 8 is another point of contention. If these cannabis derivatives can be helpful, what makes them wrong in the criteria of law? The cannabis plant produces incredible compounds like CBD and has the legal right to help people if it has a THC content of lower than 0.3% value. This lawful vagueness gets more crucial to learn when you live in or around the current superpower of the world, the United States. Doesn’t it?
Moreover, even if you are not a citizen, federal laws over such substances can affect the laws of your state as well. Right? A new elephant has entered the cannabis market room, that elephant is the THC-O compound and it’s a little bigger than the others. It would be beneficial to us all to know if this premium crop is legal in the US or not. So, let’s find the answer-
Did you say it’s a synthetic compound?
Yes, you are reading that right. THC-O is an entirely artificial cannabinoid. The cannabis plant doesn’t produce even a fraction of a percent of this compound naturally. If you know about Delta 8 (D8), it is rarely, yet naturally, available in the plant, but THC-O has no such presence and is yet a rare creation.
It got this vogue recently because previously, only certain scientists could produce it. Not everyone knows that this creation is not a recent one. THC-O dates back to at least the 1940s. Records mark that in1949, the United States military scientists began to study the effects of the chemical.
THC-O is also referred to with terms like THCO, ATHC, THC-o-Acetate, THC acetate. It is a super influential ester or prodrug of tetrahydrocannabinol (D9 or THC) as its effects are five times stronger than that of D8 and three times higher than D9. Yes, this substance is the most powerful out of these three and many other cannabinoids.
The origin of T-Acetate lies with two prime ingredients, cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta 8 THC.) By this, we mean it has two unique methods to produce. In the first one, the makers take pure epidiolex (CBD) and then blend it in with acetic anhydride. And woohoo, it’s ready to use. The T-Acetate from this origin is renowned as hemp THCO. In the second procedure, the creators take pure D8 and mix it in with acetic anhydride. And that’s another easy way to prepare the substance. Both these methods need to take place at professional labs as it will ensure the safety of such a mind-altering substance.
Why are you calling THCO a pro-drug?
This psychedelic item needs a lot more research, but the current scientific evidence proves it as a prodrug since the body has to metabolize the compound before it can take effect. When we consume it, our body absorbs the T-acetate content. And then, it eliminates the (-O) functional group, and at last, the only leftover is D9. Due to this, we only enjoy the effects of D9 but at a greater level.
A lot of controversy and speculations were encircling this and we’ve come to the conclusion saying that it is indeed a prodrug because of its bioavailability. The bioavailability rate of T-Acetate is much more than that of D9’s.
Tell me more about the effects of THC-O
As we know, the words and some studies consider THCO as a psychedelic product. And as it is more robust than tetrahydrocannabinol, it induces more mind-altering outcomes. It’s good to know this if you often feel intolerable irritation, pain, or anxiety. Your THCO product can potentially help to alleviate certain physical and cognitive troubles.
In order to understand how it affects the body, you must know this simple bodily process. Our brain has a system that works for our moods, bodily actions, and behavior, known as the endocannabinoid system. The acetate content builds up a binding bond with the receptors of this system. As a result, you could feel a sedative and euphoric sensation. This feeling could include visuals and sometimes hallucinations, too. That’s why THCO can be considered a psychedelic. It can induce a feeling of self-awareness or creativity.
Moreover, your insight and understanding can get enhanced. In brief, the civil impacts are-
- Bodily high
- Buzz
- Happiness
- Psychedelic consequences
- Entire body relaxation
- Focus enhancement
- Calmness
If you are wondering about its health advantages, you can count-
- Easing pain
- Eliminating stress, depression, or anxiety
- Boosted sleep
- Improved confidence
- More appetite
- Robust in energy
- Anti-inflammatory help
And if you are worried about its adverse outcomes, you should be aware of the possibility of
- Lethargy
- Drowsiness
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Grogginess
- Dizziness
- Nausea
Now that we know what THC-O is and how it’s made, let’s see what legal set of rules the United States has regarding THC-O Acetate.
THC-O-Acetate and the US: is it legal to use?
The precise answer to this query is a hard one to give. This controversy dates back to the 20th century when people from that time were trying to make marijuana legal. Year by year, cannabis and its derivative compounds are still in experiencing changes in legitimacy. And currently, US law bans the recreational use of this compound if it has THC as its origin even though certain states have legalized it at varying levels. Only hemp crops below 0.3 percent D9 are legal in the eyes of the federal government.
However, if it originates from hemp or pure CBD, it may be legitimate in the eyes of the law because raw CBD is entirely legal.
So, it’s a half yes and a half no for the legality of THC-O in the US. These are the regulations of the FDA. However, it is not a controlled substance yet and it is all due to its influential traits.
