THC or Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol

THC or Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol Addiction Drug Use Marijuana Print Psychoactive THC in Cannabis Delta-9-THC Is Not as Harmless as You May Think By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD on January 29, 2020 twitter linkedin Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania. Learn about our Medical Review Board Daniel B. Block, MD Updated on February 18, 2020 GARO/PHANIE Getty Images More in Addiction Drug Use Marijuana Cocaine Heroin Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Opioids Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery In This Article Table of Contents Expand How THC Works Amount of THC in Marijuana Is Delta-9 THC Addictive? Risks of THC THC in CBD Oil View All Back To Top THC, which stands for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or ?-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (?-9-THC), is a cannabinoid molecule in marijuana (cannabis) thats long been recognized as the main psychoactive ingredientâ€"that is, the substance that causes users to experience the marijuana high. THC is just one of more than 400 different active substancesâ€"and 60 different cannabinoid moleculesâ€"contained in marijuana, although THC is the most recognized. Another important cannabinoid molecule that has received major recognition is cannabidiol (CBD).?? How THC Works THC works by attaching to cannabinoid receptors, which have been mapped throughout the brain and nervous system. THC can be detected in the body much longer than most other drug compounds (up to 20 hours after ingestion), although the psychoactive effects only last for a few hours. Its also stored in body fat and organs for three to four weeks. Hair follicle testing may identify THC after even longer periods of time, around 90 days. Urine testing is often used but has been found to be an unreliable method of detection.?? Amount of THC in Marijuana Were definitely not dealing with the same pot as we were in the past. This is because todays marijuana is much more potent, with THC levels averaging 9.6%, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). By comparison, in the early 1990s, marijuana generally had a THC level of about 4%.?? The strength of modern high-potency strains of marijuana, such as sinsemilla (skunk) was reportedly at least four times as strong, containing about 15% THC.?? The amount of THC contained in marijuana varies by the preparation or the way that cannabis is prepared for use, such as leaf/bud, hashish, or hashish oil. THC levels can exceed 50% in products made from marijuana extracts.?? Is Delta-9 THC Addictive? Cannabis is the most common substance abused in the United States after alcohol and tobacco. Despite the belief by many chronic cannabis users that the drug is not addictive, THC tolerance and dependence have been widely documented in various studies. According to the NIDA, about 30% of people who use marijuana will become addictedâ€"and using the drug prior to age 18, when your brain is still developing, increases the likelihood of a marijuana use disorder by four- to seven-fold.?? Similar to other types of addiction, marijuana use disorder involves a preoccupation with the drug, bingeing, and symptoms of withdrawal when you cant use the drug. Risks of THC There is considerable research evidence that THC is associated with increased risk of developing psychosis, particularly among adolescents, as well as increased anxiety, learning impairment, and decreased memory formation.?? CBD, on the other hand, has been found to counter those effects, reducing anxiety, improving learning ability, and working as an antipsychotic, although much of the research is on animals according to a 2018 review of previous studies.?? When taken together, as is the case with marijuana use, CBD seems to reduce the negative effects of THC. A 2013 meta-analysis, which is a type of study that combines the results of many previous studies, found some evidence that THC may be neurotoxic, as there are differences in the brain structure of chronic marijuana users who do not have psychosis.?? One interesting point underscoring the brain changesâ€"while there is a reduction in gray matter volume in the prefrontal cortex in chronic users, there is an apparent compensatory response in that there is a subsequent increase in the density of fibrous connections among remaining neurons, which may cancel out some or all of the neurotoxicity.   Research into the effects of THC (or delta-9-THC) is complicated by many factors, but there is sufficient evidence that THC can be harmful, particularly to younger people whose brains are still developing, and they should, therefore, avoid frequent use of marijuana. THC in CBD Oil With CBD popularity, there has been a major market shift toward CBD products, some of which may contain traces of THC (around 0.3% to 0.9%), depending on how theyre formulated.?? This small concentration is highly unlikely to result in a feeling of high, and some experts argue that the effectiveness of CBD is potentiated by small amounts of THC. However, if youre looking for a CBD product without any THC, be sure to seek out a source that uses third-party testing to certify the purity of the product.