It’s true that there have been a lot of new cannabinoids discovered since 2018, if that’s the case. Cannabis was unintentionally reinvented by the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act also known as the 2018 Farm Bill, and THC-O is the newest cannabinoid to enter the market.
By extracting Delta-9 THC from hemp plants and synthesizing it, scientists were able to create the synthetic cannabinoid known as THC-O.
THC-O is significantly more potent than Delta 9 THC or regular THC. The legal status of THC-O in several states is currently governed by a very small number of laws.
Find out what THC-O is, if it’s safe for everyday usage, and how it stacks up against the original THC.
What Is THC-O?
Let’s start with the fundamentals and dispel some myths regarding THC-O. To begin with, it is written with the letter “O” instead of the number “0,” and it is pronounced THC-“oh.” Technically speaking, THC-O is actually O-acetyl-9-THC, although saying “THC-O” is much simpler.
In a lab, THC-O is produced by subjecting regular Delta-9 THC to some pretty harsh chemical treatments. THC-O is created when certain substances are combined using acetate with Delta-9 THC.
The bioavailability of THC-O appears to be higher than that of other forms of THC, despite the paucity of research on the subject. This leads us to our next important point, which is that the body may be better able to utilize THC-O.
THC-O is a much more potent form of THC than other THC variations. Its potency is nearly three times greater than that of regular Delta-9 THC. Due to THC-O’s potentially hallucinogenic compounds, THC-O has been coined the “psychedelic cannabinoid,” aka “the spiritual cannabinoid.”
The emergence of THC-O is being observed in many of the same areas where Delta-8 THC first appeared a year ago. THC-O is ready to replace Delta-8 THC as the legal uncertainty surrounding it begins to vanish on the market for hemp byproducts.
Can THC-O Be Detected in a Drug Test?
Yes, just like Delta-9 and Delta-8, THC-O is likely to result in a positive drug test result (failed test). It is purely speculative, though, as there is not much scientific evidence to back it up.
The chemical structure of THC-O, a synthetic prodrug and analog of Delta-9 THC with a similar composition save for the acetate group, is similar to that of Delta-9 THC. This indicates that it functions similarly to Delta-9, its metabolites, and its variations in terms of metabolism, excretion, and drug test detection.
It’s best to stay away from THC-O products if you frequently submit to drug tests at work.
THC-O Is It Safe?
Three crucial factors need to be considered when determining THC-O’s safety. First, THC-O is still very new, so its immediate and long-term effects on the body are still poorly understood. Additionally, THC-O is not well controlled, so there can be significant differences in quality between batches. Last but not least, the production of THC-O involves some risky conditions, making it dangerous to make on your own.
The effects of THC-O have received less research because it is a more recent drug. The study of delta-9-THC has a long history of study. THC has both immediate and long-term impacts on the human body, which are well known.
Being a much more recent drug, THC-O, our understanding of this synthetic THC is constantly expanding. Therefore, using THC-O instead of Delta 8 or Delta 9-THC may carry more risks.
Similar ambiguity surrounds THC-legal O’s standing. This suggests that there aren’t enough regulations in place, which unintentionally raises safety issues.
This suggests that you need to do a lot of research about your THC-O provider. Verify that the product is pure and uncontaminated by any leftovers from the manufacturing process. Fortunately for you, ATLRx has independent laboratories that examine the potency, purity, and security of our goods. Our THC-O products, including our THC-O flower and THC-O dabs, come with a quality guarantee.
Speaking of production, some fairly dangerous compounds are used to make THC-O. These can be taken out of a finished product, but they are too dangerous to use at home. This implies that you won’t be able to manufacture THC-O at home. We highly recommend that you do not attempt to make THC-O at home.
What Is In THC-O?
Okay, so to determine what is “within” THC-O, we need to do some chemistry. If you want the short explanation, THC-O is your basic THC molecule that has been chemically linked to another substance to boost its strength.
Making an ester of THC with acetic anhydride produces THC-O. Acetic anhydride is a chemical that poses an extreme hazard outside of laboratory settings. By joining the alcohol group of acetic anhydride and the carboxylic group of THC, an ester bond is produced.
Simply put, your THC-O contains only “THC-O-acetate.”
What’s in my THC-O vape? is another method to approach this issue. It’s possible for your THC-O products to contain manufacturing impurities or to be 100 percent pure. Since these contaminants can cause health problems, it is essential to always find high-quality THC-O.
Is THC-O Legal?
THC-legal O’s situation is extremely hazy. While hemp byproducts like CBD and Delta 8 THC were made legal in marketplaces all around the country by the 2018 agricultural bill, the change was only temporary. One way to look at this is that these substances, which were taken from cannabis plants, slipped into the 2018 Farm Bill undetected.
This has presented a problem for those hoping to benefit from these novel hemp-derived substances. Delta 8 THC is already the target of state government crackdowns, while other cannabinoids are largely ignored.
The only constant factor by which cannabinoids are targeted, it seems, is how closely they resemble Delta-9 THC. This suggests that the legal status of THC-O may be in doubt.
In fact, some states have already made it more challenging to purchase these hemp extracts and synthetic THC derivatives.
Current Laws On THC-O
Currently, 38 states and the federal government have legalized THC-O. The usage of cannabinoids that were declared lawful by the 2018 agricultural bill is restricted in several states. The use of THC-O is prohibited in the following states.
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- Utah
THC-O is subject to specific legal restrictions in each of these states; thus, before using any new THC varieties, you should always verify your local regulations.
Regarding the legality of THC-O, there is one more crucial aspect that we must take into account. The DEA has already made it clear that it intends to pursue synthetic cannabinoids like THC-O.
The DEA announced a change to the 2018 Farm Bill in 2020 that partially altered its position on hemp-derived products. The process by which these things are produced significantly contributed to this change.
THC-O is likely to be regarded as a “synthetic drug” by the DEA for legal enforcement reasons because it is created in a lab and synthesized from a number of components rather than simply extracted.
What should we remember?
THC-O is currently largely lawful throughout the majority of the United States, but as it comes under closer investigation from the DEA and state lawmakers, there is a significant probability that it will be made illegal.
What Is The Difference Between THC-O And Other THC Forms?
There are two significant differences between THC-O and other compounds. All of this boils down to the fact that THC-O is a synthetic substance and much more potent than other forms of THC.
Delta-8 THC, which is sort of like delta-9 THC’s little brother, is something we’ve previously had some experience with. It has a softer impact. In contrast, THC-O is not.
Compared to THC through observations and studies, THC-O has a more potent effect. This is as a result of THC-chemical O’s composition. An easy way to understand how this works is the body uses THC-O more readily than it does Delta-9 or Delta-8 THC.
This indicates that THC-O has a more potent effect than other THC variations. It is regarded as being around three times as potent as Delta-9 THC.
Also made in a lab is THC-O. While it is possible to extract Delta-9 THC at home, creating THC-O requires the use of explosive and even combustible substances. Only specialists in specialized labs with top-notch tools and knowledge should make THC-O.
Tips For Using THC-O
Due to the fact that THC-O is still relatively new to the market, little solid research has been done on how it interacts with the body and how to use it successfully. There is, however, one thing about which we may be confident.
Being three times as strong as standard THC, THC-O should be used with much more caution than you would with other cannabinoids.
A powerful substance with significantly greater punch than THC is THC-O. Take it easy and start your THC-O low. If you accidentally overdo it on this potent form of THC and you start feeling adverse effects. We suggest using some CBD to help alleviate the adverse effects.
Why is THC-O Gaining Popularity?
THC-O is getting more and more well-liked across the US as a result of increased demand for other THC analogs like Delta-8 and Delta-10 and their extensive availability on the market. Due to its three times more potency and psychoactivity than Delta-9 THC, THC-O gives marijuana users in the US a compelling experience.
Is THC-O Synthetic or Natural?
Unlike Delta-9 THC, CBD,, and other naturally occurring cannabinoids, THC-O was produced in a laboratory and made by man. That doesn’t necessarily imply that the substance is harmful; rather, it places THC-O in an entirely different class.
THC-O is relatively mildly produced in comparison to other synthetic drugs. Simple drug synthesis techniques like acetylation don’t require the usual hazardous components that are routinely employed to make other synthetic medications.
Why cannabis consumers would accept the inevitable reduction in a substance’s quality when it is synthesized when there are so many naturally occurring forms of THC remains a crucial topic.
Even the formerly synthetic Delta 8 is now produced in usable amounts from hemp.
THC-O will never be able to accomplish this.
How is THC-O Made?
As previously indicated, THC-O must be synthesized because it does not naturally occur in hemp or marijuana flower. Producers use sulfuric acid and acetic anhydride in a structural isomerization procedure to transform natural Delta-9 THC into THC-O.
Simply put, Delta-9 undergoes structural isomerization, which modifies its chemical structure, adds an acetate group, and transforms it into THC-O. When taken, THC-O has more potency due to the acetate group.
Home-made THC-O production carries a high risk of danger. Never carry out a structural isomerization procedure without the required training and safety gear.
Where Can You Buy THC-O Products?
Although THC-O has been present since the 1940s, market interest in it is relatively new. As a result, there aren’t many THC-O products available. Finding the ones that are readily available can be challenging, particularly if you’re shopping at neighborhood retail stores or vape shops. Your best option is to shop with a reputable online store that offers THC-O products and other hemp-derived products like ATLRx. We have the best THC-O gummies on the market as well as other products that make for a great experience.
Is THC-O Stronger Than Delta-THC-9?
Yes. It is almost three times as potent as THC. Surprisingly, it only takes a little bit of THC-O to produce psychoactive effects. This indicates that it doesn’t become active until the liver has processed it. What’s left once the substance is processed is essentially D9.
The high rate of absorption of THC-O is one factor in its potency. Compared to Delta-9, THC-O acetate has a much higher bioavailability. After absorption in the body, its functional group (-O) is eliminated from its structure. As a result, the THC has its typical effects but at a much larger dosage. Despite this, THC-O is not quite as powerful as THCP.
What Is the Recommended Dose of THC-O?
It depends on how the food is consumed. Even though it is a new market, you can purchase:
- THC-O Dabs
- THC-O Flower
- THC-O Gummies
Please keep in mind that it has treble the potency of “normal” THC. As a result, you should only utilize one-third of the amount of Delta-9-THC product you typically ingest.
Limit your THC-O dosage when using it to no more than 0.5 mg. Up to 3 mg is sufficient when using it as a concentrate or gummy. Strong effects are probably to happen past these points. You will probably experience psychoactive effects if you take more than 5 mg or more than 10 mg orally. These effects could be unpleasant or even terrifying if you are new to THC-O or take too much. It is also advised for beginners to completely avoid THC-O or use the dosage lower than the recommended.
When Was THC-O Discovered?
THC-O was first mentioned in the 1940s, despite the fact that some people are only now becoming aware of it.
Although it is widely acknowledged that THC-O was isolated in 1940, it wasn’t used until the 1970s, when the American military was looking for non-lethal ways to render enemies helpless.
The resurgence of hemp-derived cannabinoids has rekindled interest in THC-O today.
Why Do People Use THC-O?
THC-O is used for the same purposes as THC. These cannabinoids have comparable effects; THC-O only takes longer than Delta-9 THC to begin working.
THC-O, the “legal” substitute for THC, is primarily sold online due to its murky legal status. A few producers have begun adding THC-O products to their product lines because the production of THC-O has become quite easy and secure.
The majority of people who use THC-O do so for the punch that it packs and the legality of the product. If you live in states where marijuana is illegal but hemp-derived products are legal, this is great product for you.
How Does THC-O Work?
THC-O was developed with the intention of immobilizing combatants without killing them. This is true because cannabinoids have no impact on the area of the brainstem that regulates breathing.
THC-O, however, was never used for what it was intended for. The cannabinoid was forgotten for a few decades because there wasn’t enough research on its characteristics.
It’s possible but improbable that THC-O will draw researchers’ and cannabis users’ interest once more. Although there is currently a high demand for “legal” THC analogs available online, once the federal government begins to restrict these forms of THC, they may become obsolete.
How To Use THC-O
The same formats that you would see for any THC product are available for THC-O. The numerous product categories that ATLRx currently offers are listed here in brief.
THC-O Flower
With THC-O flower, the uses would be the same for any other type of flower. At ATLRx, we have a wide variety of strains for you to choose from, like Cherry Runtz, Lemon Haze, and Suver Haze. You can use flower in a variety of different ways. We even have THC-O pre-rolls if you like to keep things easy and convenient.
THC-O Gummies
We have the best THC-O gummies on the market, and they are made with the highest quality ingredients. You can treat our THC-O gummies like any other cannabinoid infused gummies. We warn you to be careful with these because they can pack a mighty punch if you are new to using gummies.
THC-O Dabs
If you are unfamiliar with dabs, we suggest you take it easy with this one. The easiest way to use THC-O dabs is to have a dab rig. If you don’t have a dab rig, you can sprinkle a little bit of it on some flower that you plan on using. This will give your experience with flowers a little more of a kick.