There are plenty of different cannabinoids out there, but not all of them will get you high. One of the newest types of cannabinoids that we humans have begun synthesizing is known as THC-O.
THC-O products are becoming increasingly popular for purchase by the public; however, most of us just don't know very much about this newfound cannabinoid. You may wonder, for instance, does THC-O get you high? This is just one of the questions that we are here to answer today.
We first want to start by determining what exactly THC-O is, what it feels like, how strong it is, whether or not it gets you high, what its legal status is like, and more. There are plenty of questions that need answering about this cannabinoid, so let's get right to it and figure out exactly what THC-O is all about.
Key Takeaways
- THC-O is made by turning CBD into Delta-8 THC, and then into THC-O
- THC-O is also referred to as THC-O-Acetate.
- THC-O will get you high, very much so.
- THC-O is said to be about 3 times strong than THC and up to 6 times stronger than HHC.
What is THC-O Acetate?
THC-O Acetate is simply known as THC-O in short. THC-O is a cannabinoid that is related to THC, CBG, CBD, and CBN. These are all different cannabinoids that interact with the various cannabinoid receptors in both your brain and body. In terms of chemistry, THC-O is an analog.
This means that THC-O is a chemical compound that has a similar chemical structure to other cannabinoids, but is different due to a particular aspect. In the case of THC-O, the compound that it is originally made from is THC (Delta-8 THC), with acetate being added to it, therefore forming THC-O Acetate.
Unlike some other cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, THC-O is not naturally found in cannabis or hemp. Therefore, THC-O has to be artificially made or synthesized in a laboratory setting. This is a very complicated and complex process where acetone solvents and very high-proof alcohol are used to strip molecules from the hemp plant, liquefy them, and then extract them.
To be clear, CBD is extracted from the hemp plant using those extraction processes as discussed above. Using a process known as hydrogenation, that CBD is then turned into Delta-8 THC. Delta-8 THC is then combined with acetic anhydride, to create what is known as THC-O acetate.
As you can see, THC-O acetate has undergone two separate conversion processes, one that turns CBD into Delta-8 THC, and the second which turns Delta-8 THC into THC-O acetate. If you’re interested in CBD, check out our Botany Farms Sugar Queen CBD Strain.
Does THC-O Get You High?
Yes, THC-O does get you high. THC-O is a psychoactive compound, or in other words an intoxicant. It produces a psychoactive high that intoxicates you and alters your state of mind, with most people saying that it alters your state of mind in a good way.
If you are looking to get very high, higher than you have ever been, then checking out THC-O is recommended. As you are about to find out, THC-O acetate is very potent, and it most certainly will get you extremely high. If you want to start with some fairly mild Delta-8 THC, check out our Botany Farms Delta-8 Blueberry Kush.
What Does THC-O Feel Like?
The high produced by THC-O is said to feel much like the high produced by THC, but just much more potent. The high produced by THC hits everybody a little differently.
Common effects of regular THC include feeling talkative, giggly, social, happy, euphoric, calm, stress-free, having reduced anxious thoughts, being able to sleep better, being tired, feeling sedated, feeling heavy and tingly in the body, feeling hungry, and general intoxication including cognitive impairment, slowness, and difficulty with problem-solving and decision making.
Some people also note that THC, especially that which comes from the Sativa type of cannabis, can also produce feelings of energy, focus, and concentration. Seeing as THC-O is a type of THC, but just much more potent, you can expect the effects to be fairly similar, just much stronger and more pronounced. THC-O, just like regular THC, might affect everybody in a slightly different way.
However, the high isn't going to be completely different from the high from THC, just much more pronounced. Simply put, the high produced by THC-O, if you were to vape, smoke, or ingest the same amount of THC-O as regular THC, will likely produce a very strong body and cerebral high. In other words, if you plan on taking a good quantity of THC-O, make sure that your schedule is clear for the rest of the day.
How Strong is THC-O?
According to the experts, THC-O may be anywhere between two to three times as potent as the regular Delta-9 THC. Regular Delta-9 THC is already quite potent, a fairly strong psychoactive cannabinoid that alters your state of mind.
If regular Delta-9 THC is enough to significantly alter your state of mind and make you feel high, then THC-O, which is up to 300% stronger than regular Delta-9 THC, is definitely going to get you very high. For this reason, it is recommended that beginners who have never used THC-O before start very small. We'd recommend starting with a microdose, just see how it feels.
If you are an extremely experienced THC user, and you are transitioning to THC-O, you might not need to be quite as careful, as long as you are aware that the high is going to be much more intense. As far as all of the different cannabinoids go, whether natural or synthesized, THC-O is by far one of the most potent ones. Once again, make sure that you don't have anything important to do after taking some THC-O.
Is THC-O Stronger than HHC?
Are you ready to do some math? So, HHC is said to be anywhere between 50% and 80% as potent as regular Delta-9 THC. To keep things simple, let's just say that it is 50%, or about half as strong as regular Delta-9 THC.
We then have THC-O, which is said to be up to three times or 300% as strong as regular Delta-9 THC. So, it would stand to reason that THC-O is about six times or 600% stronger than HHC. So, will THC-O Get Me High? Absolutely! If you’d like to try some relatively mild HHC, check out our Botany Farms HHC Godfather OG Flower.
How Long does THC-O High Last?
Although the high from THC-O is said to be much more potent than that from regular THC, the duration of the high is usually about the same. In other words, you can expect the effects from THC-O to last from 3 to 8 hours, depending on how much you consumed, your size, metabolism, and other factors.
Does THC-O Show up on Drug Tests?
Yes, THC-O will very likely show up on a drug test. The reason for this is that your average drug test looks for what is known as hydroxy-THC, the THC metabolite that your body creates after it has consumed THC. THC-O acetate will still produce that same hydroxy-THC metabolite, therefore it will most likely trigger a positive result in a drug test.
Is THC-O Legal?
Although the legalities of surrounding cannabis compounds in the United States are murky at best, it is pretty safe to assume that THC-O should be legal on a federal level. Although in 1986, the federal government passed laws that made all analogs of THC illegal, there have since been other laws passed which would indicate that various types of cannabinoids are legal so long as they meet certain criteria.
Specifically, according to the 2018 Farm Bill, any cannabinoid that is derived from CBD, and contains less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC, should be legal at a federal level. Therefore, because THC-O is hemp derived from hemp plants that contain less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC, and because THC-O is made from CBD, it should be legal at a federal level.
With that being said, there are some individual States who may have outlawed THC-O, but this comes down to the individual state. If you are unsure of the legalities surrounding various cannabis compounds in your specific state, we recommend doing a bit of research.
Is THC-O Safe?
At this time, there are no indications that THC-O is unsafe. Yes, just like THC and other cannabinoids, there may be some mild side effects. These include but may not be limited to nausea, dizziness, headache, upset stomach, anxiety, red eyes, dry mouth, and paranoia, among others. However, besides these mild side effects, there should be nothing to worry about.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line here is that THC-O is a very new type of cannabinoid that most people aren't familiar with. Because it is so potent, many people do thoroughly enjoy it, but we recommend starting slowly due to its extreme strength. It's pretty easy to take a little too much THC-O and end up feeling uneasy, so take it slow.
To sum things up and answer the main question of the day “does THC-O make you high?” Yes, and likely higher than the majority of other cannabinoids in existence.
