Sure, regular THC and CBD are perfectly fine. These are the two major cannabinoids found in hemp and cannabis plants. However, in case you didn't know, there are over 100 different cannabinoids. One of these cannabinoids is known as THC-O.
THC-O wasn't discovered too long ago but has already made a pretty big impact in the hemp and cannabis communities, mainly because it has various potential benefits that still need to be explored in greater detail.
Today, we want to do a basic breakdown of what THC-O is, how it makes you feel, what sort of benefits it might have, and more. Specifically, we want to take a look at THC-O tinctures, and why you might consider consuming them. By the end of today, you'll know everything you need to know about THC-O tinctures to make an informed decision about them.
Key Takeaways
- THC-O is made out of Delta-8 THC, which is made out of CBD.
- THC-O should be 100% federally legal.
- THC-O is said to be roughly three times as potent and psychoactive as regular Delta-9 THC.
- THC-O tinctures do have a variety of potential benefits for the mind and body.
What is THC-O?
Technically speaking, THC-O stands for THC-O-Acetate. This is a naturally occurring cannabinoid that is found in hemp and cannabis plants. However, unlike Delta-9 THC and CBD, THC-O is a minor cannabinoid. This means that it generally only occurs in very small quantities.
Due to this reason, extracting it from hemp plants is not really feasible. It would take too much plant matter and it would cost too much. Therefore, THC-O acetate is generally synthesized in a laboratory setting. First, through a process known as isomerization, CBD taken from plant matter is converted into Delta-8 THC. Then, a special substance called acetic anhydride is added to that Delta-8 THC, which then effectively turns it into THC-O.
The result is a cannabinoid that is structurally quite similar to Delta-9 THC. THC-O interacts with both the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the human endocannabinoid system. THC-O is an intoxicant, and it is psychoactive. It is thought to be roughly three times more psychoactive and potent than regular Delta-9 THC.
Due to this potency, a little bit goes a long way, and because it's so strong, it's becoming quite popular. It's not only becoming very popular for the high that it can produce but also for the potential medical benefits it features.
What are THC-O Tinctures?
A THC-O tincture is a special type of alcohol, oil, or liquid that contains the THC-O cannabinoid. It's a liquid that comes in a small bottle and features a dropper for easy dosing. You simply load the dropper up with the THC-O tincture, put it in your mouth, and let it soak under your tongue.
You can also put it in your food and beverages. THC-O will get you high, and it also supposedly has a variety of possible medical benefits. It's something that you can eat, as opposed to other hemp and cannabis products that often need to be smoked or vaporized.
How is THC-O Tincture Made?
Tinctures are generally made by soaking plant matter in ethanol or ethyl alcohol, which extracts valuable substances from the plant matter. The plant matter is soaked in the alcohol for a certain time, the substances leach into the alcohol, and the plant matter is then removed, leaving just the infused liquid behind.
It is possible to make various cannabis tinctures using this method. It's more or less just alcohol that contains substances extracted from the plant. However, because THC-O is usually synthesized in a lab and not taken directly from plant matter, a THC-O tincture is generally simply some kind of carrier oil, like coconut oil, that is then infused with the THC-O cannabinoid extract.
The THC-O extract made in a lab is taken and then infused into an oil. Because THC-O tinctures are generally just carrier oils infused with THC-O extract, they may also be referred to as THC-O oils. In this sense, the two terms may be used interchangeably.
How Long Does it Take for THC-O Oil to Work?
How fast THC-O oil works depends on a few different factors. Generally speaking, you can expect to feel the effects anywhere within 30 to 90 minutes of first consuming it. One of the factors that determines how long it takes for you to feel the THC-O oil is how you take it.
The official recommendation with cannabis or hemp oils is to take them sublingually, which means letting them sit under your tongue for a couple of minutes before swallowing them. Sublingual application works fairly quickly, and you should feel the effects within 30 to 60 minutes.
However, you can also simply ingest the oil, or swallow it without letting it sit under your tongue. This usually takes a bit longer to take effect. You can expect this to take anywhere between 45 and 90 minutes. It also depends on how fast your metabolism is.
People with fast metabolism may feel it much quicker than those with a slow metabolism. How hard the THC-O oil hits you also depends on your size and the potency of the product in question.
What are the Effects of THC-O?
Let's divide this into two categories, with the first being how it makes you feel, and the second being what the potential benefits are. First, in terms of how it makes you feel, although there isn't much research present, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence.
The main takeaway here is that THC-O is roughly three times as potent as regular THC, Delta-9 THC. Therefore, you can automatically expect THC-O to hit you a lot harder than regular Delta-9 THC. Although it's not super common, there have been cases where people have taken massive amounts of THC-O and experienced slight visual or auditory hallucinations. This speaks to exactly how psychoactive and potent this cannabinoid really is.
That said, small or even moderate amounts usually don't cause hallucinations, but they still result in an extremely potent and psychoactive high. The effects will be similar to those of Delta-9 THC, but just much more pronounced. First and foremost, you'll feel a very strong cerebral high.
People report feeling extremely giggly, talkative, euphoric, elated, and very floaty. Many people also report that large quantities of THC-O cause them to focus on themselves, become extremely inward-focused, thoughtful, and consumed with individual tasks or thoughts. The pronounced cerebral high is a very common feature of this cannabinoid.
THC-O does also produce quite a body-high. Most people report a slight tingling of the limbs, extreme heaviness, pain relief, and general bodily relaxation. Ask for the effects in terms of possible medical benefits. THC-O is thought to be an analgesic or painkiller, which may stop pain signals from getting to your brain.
THC-O may also act as an anti-nausea agent as well as an appetite stimulant. Might make you feel hungry. THC-O is also thought to act as a mood regulator by affecting the levels of various hormones in your brain. THC-O may be able to help relieve symptoms such as anxious thoughts, depression, and more. It may also be able to help calm you down to the point where it allows for a good night's sleep.
That said, THC-O still needs to be researched further to confirm any of these alleged benefits. If THC-O sounds like it’s too potent for you, check out our very own Botany Farms Delta-9 Blue Raspberry Microdose Gummies. They’re super tasty!
Is THC-O the Same as CBD?
No, CBD and THC-O are not at all the same things. As we already discussed, THC-O is made out of CBD, albeit indirectly. Technically speaking, CBD is turned into Delta-8 THC, which is then turned into THC-O. However, they are not at all the same things.
The biggest difference between them is of course that THC-O is extremely intoxicating and psychoactive. It does get you high, very much so. A THC-O Tincture, if you take enough of it, will blow your socks off! CBD is not psychoactive or intoxicating at all and does not get you high or alter your state of mind.
Yes, both have a variety of potential benefits for the mind and body, and many of them are even closely related, but they are not the same things. If you'd like to try something with a bit more of a kick than CBD, but not quite as strong as Delta-9 THC, take a look at our Live Resin Delta-8 THC Tincture.
Are THC-O Tinctures Legal?
As long as the THC-O tinctures stick within the limits as set out by the 2018 farm bill, and adhere to all stipulations, then yes, it is legal. A reminder, this 2018 farm bill states that cannabinoids are legal as long as they are hemp-derived and contain less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight concentration.
Will THC-O Tinctures Show Up on a Drug Test?
The unfortunate reality here is that although THC-O is technically legal, it may still cause you to fail a drug test. The reason for this is that when cannabinoids, particularly ones related to THC are metabolized by the human body, they turn into what is known as 11-hydroxy-THC.
When Delta-9 is metabolized by the body, it turns into 11-hydroxy-THC. Delta-9 THC is not legal at a federal level, and this is what drug tests scan for. To be clear, drug tests scan for 11-hydroxy-THC, the metabolite, not Delta-9 THC.
This is bad news for many people because THC-O also metabolizes into 11-hydroxy-THC. Therefore, even if you haven't consumed Delta-9 THC, a drug test will likely still flag you as being positive for THC, specifically 11-hydroxy-THC.
Final Thoughts
When all has been said and done, THC-O is perfectly legal, and THC-O tinctures are absolutely worth trying. If you like experiencing an extremely psychoactive high, or you just want to reap the various potential benefits of THC-O, it's something we recommend trying at least once.
That said if you’d like to stick with regular CBD, check out our own Botany Farms Live Resin CBD Tincture. It has plenty of potential benefits but doesn’t get you high.
