Three New Cannabinoids You Should Know About

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Cannabinoids are taking the stage of the wellness world. There is some new addition to the cannabis family that everyone should know about. This article will discuss the three most popular new cannabinoids that have recently taken the wellness community by storm.

 

What is a cannabinoid?

Cannabinoids are chemicals found naturally in the Cannabis sativa plant. Only around 66 of the plant’s roughly 480 different chemicals are known as cannabinoids. Cannabinoids work by engaging with specific cannabinoid receptors found on the surface of cells.

CB1 and CB2 are the two primary kinds of cannabinoid receptors in the body and are present in various central nervous system regions. The fundamental distinction between cannabinoids is dependent on their level of psychoactivity. In this article, we will be discussing three new cannabinoids and their characteristics.

What are the three new Cannabinoids you should know about?

THC was once thought to be the sole cannabinoid of interest. CBD began prominence after the 2018 Farm Bill allowed states to cultivate hemp. Then came the development of delta-8 THC. And now, new cannabinoids are making their appearance on the cannabis market. HHC, THC-O, and THCP are three new cannabinoids that have become the talk of the cannabis enthusiasts’ community.

HHC

HHC, also known as Hexahydrocannabinol, is a naturally occurring compound in the Cannabis Sativa plant, although only in trace amounts. It is a semi-synthetic hydrogenated chemical initially discovered in 1944 by American scientist Roger Adams, who added hydrogen molecules to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

The structure of delta 9 THC is altered by hydrogenation by replacing a double bond with two hydrogen atoms. To put it another way, HHC is the most stable type of THC. It is highly resistant to oxidation, heat, and ultraviolet radiation.

Although initially discovered in 1944, it has only recently reached the cannabis market, and only a few retailers sell it. According to consumers’ reports, HHC provides various effects depending on its strain ranging from calm to medium-high weed effect, compared to delta 8 THC providing medium-low ‘high.’

 

THC-O

THC-O, also known as THC-o acetate, is a synthetic analog of THC. That means while THC-O is a cannabinoid, it is not naturally occurring and can only be produced safely using modern cannabis technology. A sequence of extractions is needed to make THC-O.

THC-O study, regulation, and statistics are limited; however, researchers have determined that it is a “prodrug.” A prodrug is a substance that must be digested to be activated. After THC-O is digested, what’s left is a highly bioavailable version of delta-9 THC, which means it’s absorbed and circulates well in the body. The bioavailability raises the potency speculatively. It is believed to be 2-3 times more potent than THC.

Allegedly THC-O research was first conducted in 1949 by the US military. The chemical was not discovered again until 1978. Acetic anhydride was mixed with a cannabis extract at a lab in Jacksonville, Florida. This results in the THC-O we know today.

 

THCP

THCP, also known as phytocannabinoid, is the newest and one of the most exciting cannabinoids on our list. It was discovered in late 2019 by accident by Italian researchers working on the UNIHEMP project. On a natural cannabis sample given by the Military Chemical Institute in Florence, Italy, researchers employed sophisticated mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography technologies. Mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography analyses enabled researchers to evaluate plant materials accurately. THCP was discovered by coincidence during this process.

The reason why this cannabinoid got everyone’s attention is that it has been claimed to be 33 times more potent than THC, which is a bit of a misconception. The finding of THCP may explain why some strains with low THC levels are pretty powerful, both in terms of psychotropic effects and medical advantages. THC has a 5-carbon atom side chain in its chemical composition. THCP features a side chain of 7 carbon atoms, which has never been seen in naturally occurring cannabis previously. Because of the two additional side chains, THCP can bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors more efficiently, resulting in THCP being 33 times as active as THC on the CB1 receptor and 5-10 times more active on the CB2 receptor.

Are these cannabinoids legal?

Cannabinoids and their legality is usually debatable subject.

HHC should be fine because it is produced from hemp rather than THC. Retailers claim that because HHC is present in hemp plant seeds and pollen, it is “non-synthetic,” so a “totally federally lawful hemp extraction.” For the time being, HHC products exist in the hazy legal space between hemp and cannabis. One could say it is permitted under the 2018 farm bill, but since specific states have their own rules, consumers are the ones who have to find out about the regulations of the state where they reside.

As long as THC-O is produced from federally authorized hemp and does not include more than .3% delta-9 THC, it is legal under the 2018 Farm bill. Although THC-O is technically comparable to a schedule I drug and might be classified as such under the 1986 Federal Analogue Act. For now, as long as its supply can be traced back to federally authorized hemp, it is enough of a grey area to make it available on the market to purchase.

Just like the previous two, legality is also questionable in the case of THCP. Companies may legally produce, distribute, and sell to customers in the United States as long as their goods contain THCP derived from 100% Hemp extract. Cannabis having less than 0.3% THC is legally categorized as hemp and lawful under federal law.

The Wrap

There is still a lot to learn about new cannabinoids. We hope this article was helpful for you to understand three new cannabinoids that have been gaining quite a popularity lately.

It will be easy to obtain much-needed relief once you have identified the ideal cannabinoids for your needs. If you already chose which one you want to try the most in this list, or even if you want to try all three of them, you can find quality products at The Hemp doctor to ensure you’ll have a premium experience.

 

Cannabinoids are chemicals found naturally in the Cannabis sativa plant. Only around 66 of the plant’s roughly 480 different chemicals are known as cannabinoids.