Are you familiar with the cannabinoid THCB?
What is THCB?
THCB or tetrahydrocannabinol (nor-THC, Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-C4, Δ9-THC-butyl, Δ9-THC-C4) occurs naturally in the cannabis plant, but only in trace amounts. It is therefore a minor cannabinoid, like THCP, THCH or THCJD . Approximately 150 minor cannabinoids have been identified in the cannabis plant, as highlighted by a study in 2022. The cannabinoid THCB was already studied by Roger Adams in 1942 and has recently become a much talked-about cannabinoid, as Italian scientists have been able to identify it in CBD samples and in a variety of medical cannabis, as a study in 2019 shows. And by the way, this is the same group of scientists behind the discovery of THCP.
THCB is a homologue of the psychoactive cannabinoid delta-9-THC (THC). The term homologue refers to chemical compounds of the same type with similar chemical structure and properties.
THCB has a butyl side chain with 4 carbons, whereas delta-9-THC has a classical pentyl side chain with 5 carbons. Scientists also came across the butyl minority moieties of analogues in 1997, with a study stating that they identified minority components of THC, CBD and CBN homologues with butyl side chains in marijuana samples.
THCB production
Currently, most THCB products are made from other, more readily available cannabinoids such as CBD.
The production process, in simple terms, is not to add extra carbons to the THC molecule, but to take a synthetic substance (precursor) that already has the appropriate number of carbon atoms in a chemical process called 'terpenylation'. To make THCB, resorcinol with a chain length of 4 carbons or butylresorcinol is needed.
Effects
At the moment, there is a lack of research that has looked in detail at the effects of THCB. In 2020, studies in mice came out suggesting that THCB shows promising anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anticonvulsant properties. However, further research is needed to confirm these effects.
As it is a psychoactive cannabinoid, it can be assumed from the available information that the intensity of the effects of THCB is comparable to that of THC, probably with THCB having slightly milder to equal effects to THC. A study in the journal Pharmaceuticals suggests that higher binding to the CB1 receptor in the endocannabinoid system appears beneficial in neurological diseases.
Users have described that it can induce feelings of euphoria or relaxation, induce more energy and creativity, alleviate pain symptoms, and affect perception.
There is always a risk of side effects with any substance, and side effects can occur as with other cannabinoids with psychoactive properties, especially:
- dry mouth
- redness of the eyes
- impaired coordination
- increased heart rate
- memory problems
- anxiety
- paranoia
- lethargy
- memory problems
- dizziness
Products with THCB and legality
Currently, the main products sold on the market are THCB vape pens and replacement cartridges, liquids, which are liquids designed for vaporization, flowers and distillates.
As THCB is a minor cannabinoid, it is a "superhuman" task for scientists to extract this compound directly from cannabis and manage to cover commercial production. Therefore, THCB products are more often created synthetically, for example from CBD.
If you are going to buy hemp products, always choose reputable companies and choose brands that are transparent and that have their products tested by an independent third party. This is the only way to ensure that the products are free of unwanted substances such as heavy metals, pesticides and solvents.
THCB is legal under the US Farm Bill, which legalised all cannabis derivatives as long as they contain up to 0.3% THC, while in the Czech Republic the limit has been raised to 1% THC on a dry basis.
However, legality may be complicated by its psychoactive properties, which could drag it into a legal grey area, especially in Europe, where most states ban or restrict the use of psychoactive cannabinoids. In the Czech Republic, there was a temporary ban on HHC, HHCO and THCP at the beginning of March 2024.
Conclusion
Tetrahydrocannabutol is a homologue of the cannabinoid THC and has a butyl side chain. It is a cannabinoid with psychoactive properties and its effects appear to be somewhat milder to similar to THC.
Initial studies suggest that it shows promising anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anticonvulsant properties, but further research is needed to confirm this.
Currently, THCB is legal under the Farm Bill, with products already appearing on the Czech market.
Original text: Patricie Mikolášová, translation by AI
Photo: Shutterstock
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