Trying new things is exciting and helps you grow your love for hemp and cannabinoids. It’s not long since hemp consumers first saw P at the end of a famous three-letter combination, but THCP has surely gained some popularity. Whether you are about to try your first THCP product or have already been consuming it, you probably wonder how it’s made and why it became available only recently.

Tetrahydrocannabiphorol, often known as THCP, is a relatively new cannabinoid, so numerous questions surround it. In this article, you’ll learn how THCP is made and a little bit about its legality and effects.

What is THCP?

THCP is short for Tetrahydrocannabiphorol – a newly found cannabinoid. It was discovered in 2019 and occurs in trace amounts naturally in cannabis plants. Therefore, manufacturers make THCP in a lab by chemically altering CBD extracted from a hemp plant. The chemical composition of THCP differs significantly from that of delta 9 THC allowing it to attach to human cannabinoid receptors more efficiently, suggesting its effects on the body and brain will likely be stronger.

Some estimate that THCP may be 33 times more potent than Delta-9 THC, which is still just an assumption. According to people who have used it, THCP has been reported to cause detectable changes in aesthetic and acoustic awareness, enjoyment, and even minor psychedelic effects.

How is THCP made?

As already mentioned above, THCP is found in trace amounts naturally in cannabis plants, so for it to be produced for mass consumption, it has to be made in a lab. The modern manufacturing procedure was developed after the 2019 publication of the first paper demonstrating THCP extraction from a cannabis plant.

Cannabis plants produce various cannabinoids like THC, CBD, THCP, and HHC, all of which share similar compositions. Manipulating them to convert one cannabinoid to another is possible because all cannabinoids begin their life as the same molecule – CBGA, short for cannabigerol acid. CBGA has a nickname of “the mother cannabinoid” for a good reason.

THCP comes from federally legal hemp with no more than .3% THC. However, it doesn’t naturally contain THCP, so CBD extract is the beginning product.

Raw cannabis contains cannabinoids in their acidic forms. They undergo a procedure known as decarboxylation when exposed to heat. THCA, CBDA, and CBCA are all converted to THC, CBD, and other compounds in this process. The same goes for THCP. THCPA is turned into THCP. Producers must use dewaxing and liquid chromatography to separate the cannabinoids to obtain pure THCP. The THCPA fractions are then heated to produce THCP, a clear oil with a purity greater than 95%.

 

What are the effects of THCP?

The research on THCP is minimal, but we already know that it has been tested on mice, and the results showed that it had reduced activity effects in lower dosages, such as 2.5mg/kg. As for higher dosages, the sedative effects were displayed. According to the research, THCP benefits and effects are very dose-dependent. There hasn’t been a study on THCP effects on humans yet, so we wouldn’t know much about the possible side effects it can cause.

How long does THCP take to work?

The time it takes for cannabinoids to kick in varies from person to person and from cannabinoid to cannabinoid. We can’t give researched backed answer to this question yet, but according to the user’s report, the time THCP takes effect depends on consumption. Products intended for oral consumption take anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours to start working. While it’s exciting to experience THCP’s effects, be patient and don’t overconsume. Sometimes cannabinoids take longer due to individual factors like metabolism.

How much THCP is to take?

Dosage plays a vital role in getting the results you desire. Starting from smaller dosages and gradually working your way up is recommended for beginners. As a starting point, 1-3mg could be a perfect choice. Of course, more experienced users can take higher dosages, like 3-5mg per day. If you feel like you’re cannabis fluent, then you can even work up to 5-10 mg. Everyone reacts differently to cannabis products, so first, see how your body takes it and decide on dosages afterward.

Is THCP legal?

Just like any other cannabis product legality of THCP is a gray area. According to the farm bill, THCP products derived from hemp are considered legal as long as they contain no more than 0.3% THC.

Yet states are starting to take independent action to restrict access to cannabinoids produced from hemp to authorized cannabis businesses or keep them off retail shelves. Delta 8 THC alone is illegal or only available in certain states. Some states even restrict all kinds of cannabis products. So before using it, it’s advised to do your research just to be sure. Precisely, THCP isn’t specified in any state legislation. However, it is prohibited in states that forbid all forms of THC. Rules and regulations are susceptible to change as marijuana legalization progresses at the state level in the United States. The cannabis future looks quite bright.

Choosing the right product

One of the biggest concerns when getting cannabis products is their quality which can significantly affect the whole experience. Considering how newly discovered THCP is and how small the naturally occurring quantities are, most THCP sellers offer products containing small amounts of THCP mixed with more common and cheaper hemp-derived cannabinoids. Even though it’s a relatively new cannabinoid, many different types of products are already available on the market, like vapes, oils, gummies, etc. That’s why shopping for THCP can be pretty confusing. Hemp Doctor offers premium THCP products that you can enjoy without worrying about quality.

 

 

The final thoughts

THCP is a reasonably new cannabinoid that we don’t know much about. The preliminary research suggests it could be far more potent than its THC sibling. So, this discovery has the potential to alter how we utilize cannabis in the future fundamentally. Due to the challenging production process, THCP products are hard to come by, but the fortunate few who have obtained some claim that using it is similar to using THC.

Yet, despite this substance having medicinal potential, there may be a higher chance of adverse effects. We still need more research before making medical claims about said cannabinoids.