Good news for anyone who’s ever used cannabis and thought to themselves, “Boy, I wish I was 30 times higher.”
A newly-discovered cannabinoid called THCP could potentially be over 30 times more potent than THC, according to recent reports.
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THCP stands for tetrahydrocannabiphorol. It was discovered alongside another previously unknown compound called CBDP. The latter compound seems to be a “cousin” to CBD, another popular cannabinoid that is often used for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticonvulsant effects.
There are almost 150 cannabis compounds, and not all of them cause a psychoactive effect (or in other words, get you high). THC does, while CBD does not. Those are the two most-studied compounds in cannabis.
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It hasn’t yet been determined whether THCP creates a psychoactive effect in humans or not.
But in the lab, THCP has been shown to be 30 times more potent than THC. This is because it has a longer alkyl side chain, which is “the driving force behind a cannabinoid’s effects on humans,” CNN reports. While most cannabis compounds (including THC) have a five-atom chain, THCP has a seven-atom one.
If this new compound does have the ability to get you high, then that might explain why some strains of weed are stronger than others — more-so than can be explained by THC alone.
Dr. Cinzia Citti, lead author of the research, told CNN,
“In cannabis varieties where THC is present in very low concentrations, then we can think that the presence of another, more active cannabinoid can explain those effects.”
Cannabis compounds can be hard to isolate and study — not to mention all the legalization stuff. So it’s unlikely you’ll see THCP for sale anytime soon.
Still, the research is fascinating and promising!
What do you think about this news? Let us know in the comments!
