What is THC-O?

What is THC-O?

Since its appearance on the hemp market, THC-O acetate has rapidly gained a massive fanbase, quickly becoming known as the “psychedelic cannabinoid” and rumored to be three times as potent as delta 9 THC or five times stronger than delta 8.

It is a synthetic cannabinoid that is produced in the lab, as opposed to being one of the many naturally occurring cannabinoids found in the hemp plant. CBD is first converted into delta 8 and then acetic anhydride is added to create the acetate THC-O, making THC-O a hemp derivative.

THC-O is known as a prodrug, meaning it only becomes psychoactive after it has been metabolized by your body. One of the reasons why THC-O is more potent than other forms of THC is due to the pharmacokinetics of this added acetyl group and the way it’s absorbed into your body, making the THC more bioavailable than usual.

Producing THC-O requires some hefty science-ing, which is one of the reasons why there are so few producers of the substance as compared to CBD flower companies. Acetic anhydride is also highly flammable and corrosive, so please don’t try making THC-O at home folks.

What does THC-O feel like?

When you take THC-O it does feel more potent than regular delta-9 THC, but because it has to be metabolized before it becomes psychoactive, you may have to wait around 20-30 minutes to kick in properly, maybe even up to an hour.

THC-O takes a little longer to take effect similarly to when you consume edibles.

Many users report feeling a euphoric and spiritual high that can sometimes be deeply introspective and therapeutic. In fact, some users claim that the high you get from THC-O feels more akin to the high achieved by psilocybin rather than the regular THC high due to its psychedelic effects (and sometimes hallucinogenic effects).

You may also feel more creative, happy, and relaxed, although the THC-O high appears to be couch-lock-free for most. THC-O will also almost certainly deprive you of your finer motor skills and should never be taken before driving or operating heavy machinery.

As with any drug you take, the exact effects you experience will depend on your current tolerance level and the amount of THC-O you take.

Is THC-O legal?

The legal status of THC-O is another reason why it has gained such a massive cult following since its appearance on the market. If the THC-O you buy is derived from hemp, then it is legal under federal law, thanks to the Hemp Farming Act of 2018.

However, this legal status is somewhat murky to say the least, as there is also the Federal Analog Act of 1986 to consider. The Federal Analog Act was introduced to discourage the manufacturing and production of new chemical compounds that are chemically similar to controlled substances or have similar effects to them.

Many people involved in the hemp industry believe that THC-O (as well as delta 8 THC and delta 10 THC) is substantially different enough from delta 9 THC for the Federal Analog Act not to apply here. But there is a worry that these “new forms” of THC could put the entire hemp industry in jeopardy, especially considering the fact that hemp was legalized (largely) due to its inability to get anyone high.

At Green Unicorn Farms we do not carry any THC-O or Delta-8 THC products because we want to protect the work that went into making hemp and CBD legal in the first place. That being said, we do believe that there are use cases for these cannabinoids as well even though we mainly focus on giving you the best CBD flower available.

On top of all of this, you also need to consider the legality of THC-O at the state level, as many states have implemented their own laws to restrict, regulate, and/or prohibit all forms of tetrahydrocannabinols (including THC-O). The short story is, if you can get delta-8 THC in your area then you’ll probably be able to access THC-O as well (see our “What is Delta 8 THC?” article to find out if it’s legal in your state).

Is THC-O safe?

It’s difficult to say whether THC-O is safe or not because;

a) So little is known about this compound and

b) Because the market is largely unregulated.

Certainly, there haven’t been any reported cases of overdose or addiction, nor any other adverse effects (beyond the usual, mild side effects associated with THC such as dry mouth and red eyes), but you should still be aware that it is massively understudied.

The biggest risks with taking THC-O, however, come from buying it from an unknown source. Dodgy additives could pose significant health risks and, because THC-O is so much stronger than other THCs, accurate labeling also becomes more important than ever.

When you’re buying THC-O, make sure that you’re sourcing it from a reputable company that offers good accountability to its customers. They should be completely transparent about what is in their products and a quality distributor will always provide third-party lab reports that verify the product’s contents, quality, and potency.

Where to buy THC-O

The most popular THC-O products include vapes, tinctures, and edibles, which can easily be found and bought online. We don’t currently offer THC-O here at Green Unicorn Farms, but if you decide to make a purchase online make sure to buy it from a reputable US based brand like Binoid.