Did you know that marijuana is one of the most popular drugs in the United States that is considered illegal on a federal level? Even though marijuana is federally illegal, it is currently legal to consume and possess marijuana in certain amounts in 36 states. Marijuana’s main cannabinoid is THC which is the cannabinoid that produces a psychoactive high when consumed.
However, more and more people are starting to become interested in THCO. What is THCO, you might ask? It is a particular variant of THC.
It is actually a man-made variant. Even so, many people find that this type of THC is much like regular THC but perhaps even better. So, what makes THCO so unique, and what is it exactly?
Keep reading and learn more about this unique cannabinoid below.
What is thco: the basics
Before exploring the effects of THCO, you should first understand what regular THC is. Regular THC comes from the cannabis plant along with several other cannabinoids such as CBD. Cannabis plants actually have dozens upon dozens of different cannabinoids but it is only THC that can produce a truly psychoactive result when consumed.
THC also occurs in hemp plants but only in very small quantities. CBD, instead, occurs in very high quantities in hemp plants.
For this reason, THC manufacturers tend to harvest THC only from cannabis plants while CBD manufacturers harvest from hemp plants. THC is a natural compound and manufacturers have figured out how to make it into many different forms such as vapes, oils, gummy candy, and more.
There are also different strengths of THC that can produce highs of different intensities. However, many find that even the strongest form of THC cannot compare to the strength of THCO. THCO is indeed similar to ordinary THC in terms of chemical structure.
However, the small alterations in its chemical structure make it quite a lot stronger compared to ordinary THC. You may have never heard of THCO before and this would be normal. THCO is not yet a very popular form of THC and it is still relatively new.
What Is THCO: The Details
There have also not been many studies concerning this type of THCO and how exactly it affects the brain and body. It has been assumed that it affects the body in more or less the same way as THC but only with a more intense kick. In conversations about THCO, you may hear it be referred to as THC-O-Acetate or simply THC acetate.
The creation of THCO is quite complicated and needs to be done in a laboratory with all the right tools and workers with plenty of experience. Even though THC occurs in cannabis plants, THCO does not occur in a natural environment. It does not contain any terpenes or flavenoids as natural THC may.
Instead, THCO is a very concentrated form of THC with changes to its chemical structure. Without being refined, this form of THC does not look very impressive as it is not much more than a thick, brown liquid. It certainly will not look very appealing if you ever have the chance to see it and it also will not have any smell or flavor.
However, this thick, brown substance can pack quite the punch as we will soon see.
What Is THCO: What Makes THCO So Unique?
The first major difference between THCO vs. THC is that THCO actually has an extra molecule added to it. This is what makes the effects of THCO so different compared to THC. In particular, it is the addition of an acetate molecule that makes the magic happen.
But what does adding an acetate molecule to the THC molecule have to do with anything? As it turns out, adding a simple molecule of acetate somehow makes the rest of the THC molecule much stronger than usual. But how much stronger is THCO exactly when compared to THC, you might ask?
Certain tests have shown that THCO is up to three times more potent than ordinary THC. In other words, it is around 300% stronger. This seems like quite a lot and, indeed, THCO is very strong.
For that reason, it is not recommended that those who are new to the world of THC try THCO right away. Only those who are more seasoned and have more experience consuming THC should have a crack at this THC variation. But why would you want to consume something so strong in the first place?
Isn’t regular THC enough? After all, there are already several forms of THC that are quite potent and are very good at making people high. However, what you might not know is that THC affects people differently.
What Is THCO: What Else You Need to Know
Some people may not experience a very strong or intense high when consuming regular THC even if it is supposed to be especially strong or concentrated. This is not to mention that some people use THC for medicinal purposes. For example, those who have chronic pain or anxiety may not find the effects of THC strong enough for their symptoms.
For these different reasons, THCO could be the perfect solution. If you find that regular THC doesn’t do much for you, all you may need is a simple upgrade to THCO. But what should you know about using THCO safely?
Can you use it in the same way as you would use regular THC? As it turns out, you can indeed use THCO much in the same way as regular THC. However, because THCO is so strong, it is important that you start slow when taking it, especially if you’ve never tried it before.
The last thing you want to do is take too much THCO at once. This will increase the risk of experiencing some unpleasant THC side effects that will surely ruin your high. So, how should you go about THCO so you can enjoy it as much as possible?
What is THCO: How to Use THCO Safely
You shouldn’t be scared of THCO’s strength but you should be aware that it can cause side effects if you take too much of it. Some side effects you may experience include fatigue, dizziness, and nausea, among others. These side effects can turn a good trip into a bad trip in no time at all.
The last thing you want to do is have a bad trip, especially if you’re trying THCO for the first time. For that reason, you always want to use less than what you think is a good dose. After all, you won’t be sure how THCO affects you until you try it.
You will also want to be patient when taking THCO. Most people find that this form of THC takes longer to kick in compared to regular THC. For that reason, you should wait 30 minutes to an hour for the effects to start.
Don’t take any more THCO during this time thinking that the first dose didn’t work. If you take a second dose, all the THCO might hit you all at once and give you a bad trip. Edibles especially take a long time to kick in.
What Is THCO: The Effects
This is because your stomach acid first needs to dissolve the gummies until the THCO molecules are able to dissolve into your bloodstream. Only then can the THCO molecules travel to your brain and create an intense high. The high that results from THCO is similar to a regular THC high, but there are some important differences.
Some people find that this kind of THC is more psychedelic compared to regular THC. Some people may feel more spiritual or thoughtful when using THCO. Of course, THCO won’t give you the same psychedelic trip as magic mushrooms or LSD, but the feeling of spirituality and connectedness you may feel is similar.
You will also feel very relaxed when using THCO. For that reason, when you use THCO, you will want to be in a comfortable location such as on your bed or couch. That way, you won’t have to move around too much and you can simply lay back and enjoy the high.
You will want to avoid going out in public or driving any vehicles while on THCO as this can lead to dangerous situations.
What Is THCO Exactly?
What is THCO, you might ask? It is nothing more than a form of THC that has a different chemical structure compared to regular THC. In particular, it has an extra acetate molecule that makes it 3 times stronger than regular THC.
Many people find that its effects are psychedelic, intense, and very calming. If you want to learn more, check out our THCO section here.
