THCP Products (THC Edibles)

THCP Products – The Beastly High

If you’re a hemp user, you’ve likely already heard of delta 8, delta 10, or even delta 9, which can now legally be derived from hemp. THCP, however, is a whole new beast—and it’s so new, you might not have even heard of it yet!

This new, incredibly strong compound was found by researchers in late 2019, and it just recently entered the hemp market in 2022. But what exactly does it do? What are its effects and benefits? And how does it compare to the other compounds you know and love? Learn the answers to these and other questions below!

THCP Explained

THCP, short for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabiphoral, was discovered by accident in late 2019 by a team of Italian researchers in a study published to the National Library of Medicine. When we say the compound was discovered accidentally, we mean that the research team that found it was originally looking to inspect cannabis samples up close, but what they found was way beyond their wildest dreams—an unknown, extremely potent cannabinoid that no one had ever identified before.

Because THCP is so new, we have very limited information on its effects and benefits, but here’s a few things we do know for certain:

• THCP is only found in extremely low natural concentrations in the cannabis plant.
• It is a stronger analog of delta 9 THC, and their chemistries are closely related.
• THCP has a much stronger affinity for CB1 receptors, making it more potent than other cannabinoids.

According to the scientists that discovered it, THCP has a very similar influence on the endocannabinoid system as regular THC, with one key difference. THCP is able to bind to CB1 receptors, the type of cannabinoid receptors that cause a high when activated by cannabis compounds, 33 times more frequently than THC. Although we don’t yet know exactly where this puts THCP’s potency, it does give it the potential to be up to 33 times more potent than delta 9. Reread that if you need to, we know it’s a hard concept to grasp.

So, in essence, THCP has virtually all the same effects as delta 9, but at a gargantuan potency. This means a couple things. First, it means that you need much less THCP to achieve the same level of psychoactive activity than you would by using delta 9. To put how strong this cannabinoid really is into perspective, 10mg of delta 9 is approximately equivalent to about 300 micrograms, or 0.3mg, of THCP. Color us impressed!

Another thing that separates THCP from other psychoactive cannabinoids is that it has longer alkyl side chains. While “normal” cannabinoids like delta 9 have a string of five carbon atoms, THCP contains seven carbon atoms. This extended length is what makes THCP attach more securely to endocannabinoid receptors, meaning this microscopic chemical discrepancy is what gives THCP its intense effects.

Making THCP Products

Although incredibly strong, THCP is only present in tiny amounts naturally. In marijuana plants, THC concentrations range between 25-30%, while the compound is only present in concentrations of 0.3% in hemp. CBD, another popular but non-psychoactive cannabinoid, exists in concentrations of about 15% in marijuana and between 20-30% in hemp. Most cannabis plants, however, whether hemp or marijuana, commonly contain THCP levels of well below 0.1%.

So, what does this mean? For starters, it means that there’s definitely not enough THCP to go around from natural reserves alone. Because of this, scientists have devised a way to create more of the compound.

THCP begins as CBD, or more accurately, it begins as CBGA. CBGA, or cannabigerolic acid, is the starting point of most, if not all, of the cannabinoids we know and love, which is why it’s known as the “mother cannabinoid.”

Because all cannabinoids come from the same mother compound, they all share very similar compositions. This makes manipulating one compound into another possible. Because CBD is so abundant in hemp, it’s an easy cannabinoid to extract and then chemically manipulate into becoming THCP. So, to put it simply, through a series of chemical reactions, chemists are able to rearrange CBD’s molecular structure and effectively convert it into THCP for everyone to enjoy!

Is THCP Safe to Use?

Although THCP is a newly found cannabinoid, what we do know about the compound is certainly promising. Because it is so closely related to delta 9 THC, we can safely assume its safety profile is also quite similar, with the exception that is has much more potent effects.

There don’t yet exist detailed research studies on the parameters of THCP’s usage or its benefits and side effects, but we do know that the compound’s potential benefits, much like regular THC’s, include:

• Pain reduction
• Insomnia remedy
• Improved relaxation
• Extremely potent psychoactive effects

Theoretically, because THCP has such a stronger binding affinity for CB1 receptors, and therefore much stronger effects, it should have more pronounced effects on pain and sleep as well, but until more research is developed, we won’t know for sure. For now, what we do know about the compound is that it has incredibly potent psychoactive effects unlike anything cannabis users have ever seen before.

Since it’s so similar to THC, we can also safely assume that THCP also shares some of its weaker little sibling’s side effects, which may include:

• Paranoia
• Unease
• Tiredness
• Dry eyes
• Dry mouth

Following the same theoretical logic, these effects may be much more pronounced in THCP than they are in THC, so exercising caution and restraint is more than essential when using THCP, especially for the first time. To sum it up, THCP is safe to use as long as you’re mindful about your own tolerance level and dose moderately.

THCP Compared to Other Cannabinoid Compounds

From what we know so far, THCP is obviously different from other cannabinoids because it’s exponentially stronger than them. Its potency is what sets it apart from the rest of the cannabinoids we sell. Even so, let’s take a quick look at the effects and benefits of other compounds so you can make an informed decision about which cannabinoid to purchase.

Using this chart, you can determine what type of cannabinoid you want to purchase based on strength and effects. As you can see, they all pale in comparison to THCP’s gigantic psychoactive strength!

Wrapping Things Up with THCP

While just recently discovered, THCP has become popular among cannabinoid users, especially among those looking for an extra kick they had never experienced before when using cannabis products. While more research is required to better understand the usage parameters of THCP, we know it’s safe to use, similar to delta 9, and extremely strong.

If you’re looking for an intense cannabinoid experience, THCP is definitely the compound for you. Just remember, THCP plays in the big leagues, so be sure to check yourself before you wreck yourself!