Published on:
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
THCV Explained
THCV is a cannabinoid found in some cannabis plants. Usually experienced as relaxing, euphoric, and energizing, the unique compound produces a clear-minded psychoactive high that many prefer to the more hazy-minded experience of THC. Discovered in 1971, this chemical has become increasingly popular over the years, but it is also relatively rare. The combination has led to it being dubbed "The Sports Car of Cannabis — high performance, but expensive and more difficult to find.
In many ways, THCV is similar to THC, the cannabinoid famous for giving cannabis its intense psychoactive high. Both are psychoactive, both produce a relaxing and euphoric high, and both offer a wide array of potential medical uses. But these two compounds have slightly different chemical structures and their effects differ in some important ways as well.
For one thing, the high associated with THCV is often described as less disorienting than THC, and less likely to produce anxiety or hunger from the munchies. It also tends to be energetic, rather than sedative, while THC can produce either energetic or sedative results depending on what other cannabinoids and terpenes it is mixed with.
In addition, both THCV and THC start out in an acidic form, which needs to be decarboxylated to utilize its full benefits: just as THC comes from THCA, THCV starts out as THCVA. Cannabis flower labeled as high in THCV needs to be heated for the THCVA to be able to transform into THCV. This happens naturally when you smoke or vape cannabis, but requires some extra attention when using oral delivery methods. Luckily, edible products already containing THCV are starting to hit the market — and can be an easy option for those looking to try out this rare cannabinoid.
Research on THCV’s medicinal benefits is very limited. Still, the research that has been done suggests that THCV could be a powerhouse medicine with an array of medicinal effects. From diabetes and obesity to anxiety and neuroprotection, the preliminary research has been promising for a number of conditions.
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