What is THC? Learn All About Tetrahydrocannabinol

In the recent past, governments worldwide have recognized the industrial, therapeutic, and financial significance of marijuana. This realization led to the Canadian government decriminalizing Cannabis usage and legalizing its recreational use. 

Marijuana, famously called weed, is a psychoactive drug that comprises nearly 500 distinct components, including the THC, which is the compound that alters consciousness. THC is the primary component of marijuana, making ganja what it is. 

What you need to know about THC in marijuana is provided below.

 

What Does THC Stand For?

THC is an abbreviation for tetrahydrocannabinol. Cannabis plants contain the cannabinoids CBD and THC. Many people often confuse these two, although they both play different roles. 

Despite their structural similarity, the primary difference between THC and CBD is that the former will make a person feel high, while the latter won’t.

THC is the chemical that gives pot the most psychological effects. This is because it works similarly to the body’s cannabinoid chemicals to deliver the “high” feeling. You can consume THC found in cannabis from oils, meals, tinctures, pills, and more.

THC works with the body’s endocannabinoids by attaching to cannabinoid receptors, activating neurons that affect enjoyment, memory, reasoning, synchronization, and time perception.

THC is employed to treat a diverse range of health conditions. Additionally, it can feel great from a recreational angle, causing some people to feel elated and at ease.

What Does THC Do?

When someone smokes cannabis, THC is released and absorbed by the blood through the lungs. The circulatory system transports THC molecules to all bodily tissues and the brain, from which they can alter the chemistry of neurons in as little as 20 minutes.

When you consume your ganja as an edible, THC gets absorbed through the liver. Enzymes in the liver transform THC into a new chemical that alters your reality experience more gradually, but edibles take a bit longer to get high. The perks of eating your weed, though, is the higher will last longer and is more potent. 

THC molecules can attach to receptors that are generally exclusively receptive to endocannabinoids, which the body naturally produces, once they pass the blood-brain barrier.

THC also engages with brain receptors on nerve cells in the areas of the brain that control cognition, memory, coordination, and focus. 

This has undesirable side effects, such as difficulty in:

• thinking and solving problems
• memory and learning
• coordination
• comprehension

These adverse effects may make it unsafe to undertake activities like driving while high, even though they are temporary.

In addition to these immediate side effects, marijuana consumption may result in the following:

• a higher appetite
• feeling lightheaded or worn out

 

How Long Does THC Stay in Your Body?  

THC builds up in your body over time; therefore, how frequently you use it will determine how long it stays there.

THC is commonly detectable in bodily fluids for 1 to 30 days after use. Cannabis usage, like other drugs, can leave traces in hair for several months, especially in people who use it often.

Depending on how often and how much you consume or smoke, different cannabis detection windows apply. Greater dosages and more frequent use are often associated with longer detection times. However, even months after the last usage, cannabis may still be found in commonplace use.

Contrary to popular belief, THC cannot be eliminated from the body through sweating or drinking water; experts claim that the only way to achieve this is to stop using the drug and wait for the effects to fade.

What are the Benefits of THC?

Over time, THC found in marijuana has had bad PR, resulting in a lot of stigma surrounding it. Fortunately, it is safe to claim from extensive research that marijuana has many benefits that were once disregarded but are now widely recognized.

These include:

Alleviating pain

Severe pain relief is the primary reason many doctors advocate for the use of medical cannabis. THC stimulates two cannabinoid receptors, one in immune cells and one in nerve cells. When the one in the nerve cells is stimulated, it reduces the experience of pain.

THC’s high can also potentially affect a person’s perception of pain. A little bit of pleasure can help you get your mind off the fact that you’re experiencing quite as much pain, similar to how other medications work.

Even though clinical trials showed promising outcomes, further research is needed to determine the dosage and cannabis combinations most beneficial for treating severe pain.

Decreases nausea brought on by chemotherapy

There is a lot of interest in using cannabis to manage the negative consequences of the disease, even if it is not used as a medicine to treat cancer patients directly.

For more than 30 years, two oral THC-containing drugs have been used to alleviate nausea caused by chemotherapy.

Decreases muscle spasms in disabled people

THC products only marginally reduce muscle spasms and common paraplegia. The endocannabinoid system, made up of naturally occurring, fat-based neurotransmitters that can influence many biological processes, including pain perception and immune system regulation, is targeted by cannabis through CB1 and CB2 receptors to help reduce muscle rigidity and spasms.

Improves sleep

THC products can reduce short-term sleep issues. However, uncertainty exists on whether THC directly impacts sleep quality or whether better sleep results from decreased chronic symptoms. Sleep disruptions are common in patients with chronic conditions.

 

Does More THC Result In More Potent Effects?

One of the most common myths about marijuana is that higher THC levels indicate higher-quality buds that produce an improved, more potent high. The truth is that THC content is a poor measure of potency and has little to do with the quality of your marijuana.

Many weed sellers have propelled this lie as a way to boost sales, but really, higher THC levels do not correlate with the level of potency found in buds.

 

References

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Daily Marijuana. (2022, December 3). Buy Weed Online in Canada. Available at: https://www.dailymarijuana.io/

National Library of Medicine. (2019 March) Drug Metabolism and Disposition. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6374540/

BioLyfe ACV Gummies. (2022, December 3). Buy ACV gummies online. Available at: https://biolyfebrands.com/product/apple-cider-vinegar-acv-gummies/

Mark, A. Joy, J. (2002). Marijuana as Medicine? The Science Beyond the Controversy. National Library of Medicine. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK224384/ 

Cannabis Ontario. (2022, December 3). Find the best same-day weed delivery in Ontario. Available at: https://cannabisontario.net/deliveries/

Bryce N. Taylor; Matthew Mueller; Ryan S. Sauls. (August 22, 2022). Cannabinoid Antiemetic Therapy. National Library of Medicine. Available at:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535430/#:~:text=Dronabinol%20and%20nabilone%20are%20both,treat%20anorexia%20associated%20with%20AIDS