Recently, a new hemp-derived cannabinoid named THC-O acetate (referred to as THC-O) has gained much popularity in the cannabis industry as consumers who did not have access to THC now have access to THC-O.
THC-O rose in demand due to its potency and the fact that it is legal. THC-O is actually approximately three times more potent than its THC counterpart. Some call it the “psychedelic cannabinoid” for its visual-altering effects. Since it is extracted from federally legal hemp, THC-O is becoming more sought after.
While this may be many’s first time hearing about THC-O, it has been around since 1949 when the military began to study its effects. They found that THC-O weakened dogs’ coordination twice as much as traditional THC. Chemically, THC-O acetate is synthesized by adding acetic anhydride to delta-8 THC.
Is THC-O safe to consume?
Aside from its strength, research determined that THC-O is a prodrug, meaning that it is a molecule that is inactive until it is metabolized.
A cannabis researcher and chemist, James Stephens commented on the safety of consuming THC-O products:
“If you’re using low-quality extract material and low-quality reagents you bought online from Alibaba or whatever, you’re likely to get way less pure of a product than if you’re using clean [and pharmaceutical-grade] reagents and do a lot of downstream purification steps.”
Unfortunately, almost all of the THC-O products on the market are impure, including cutting agents and other harmful ingredients.
What’s in ‘em?
When asked about what goes into their products, most producers say ten to fifteen percent of the ingredients are unknown, and even worse, they don’t even know what the other ingredients are made of.
The big problem with vape cartridges being sold on the market is that many producers add harmful additives to lower their costs. They add thinning agents to the cartridges to avoid putting the full concentration of THC-O, but this is dangerous as these additives are carcinogenic.
As far as we know, DazeD8, is one of the only players in the game with third-party lab tests proving their products are pure and ethically sourced.
Be careful, it’s potent
THC has never directly killed anyone, but because THC-O is three times as potent, it may cause a “bad trip” if too much THC-O is consumed in one sitting. Because highly concentrated products like wax, oil, and shatter have been sold for a long time, the possibility of THC-O all depends on your tolerance and sensitivity to the molecule.
Is THC-O actually legal?
Under the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized the cultivation of hemp, THC-O is legal–though many may argue that it is a grey area. If THC-O is converted from hemp-derived cannabinoids, it falls under the 2018 Farm Bill.
