What do we know about THCH? Effects, production, products and legality
- What is THCH and how is it produced?
- Does THCH have stronger effects than THC?
- What are the possible side effects?
- What is the THCH product range and legality?
- Conclusion
What is THCH and how is it produced?
Industrial hemp contains a wide range of compounds: cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, terpenoids and alkaloids. According to a 2022 study, approximately 150 minor cannabinoids have already been identified in cannabis. And among them is THCH, or tetrahydrocannabidihexol, which is present in the plant, albeit in small amounts. THCH is therefore a compound that is found in nature but is also produced synthetically.
Although THCH was discovered by Roger Adams in 1942, the isolation of this cannabinoid from the cannabis plant was achieved quite recently, in 2019, by the Italian team of scientists who are also behind the discovery of THCP. Both THCH and THCP are rare substances and apparently exert a strong psychoactive effect on the body.
And now it's time for a little chemistry. THCH has a similar molecular structure to THC or delta-9-THC, tetrahydrocannabinol. In fact, the compound THCH (Δ9-THCH, Δ9-Parahexyl, n-Hexyl-Δ9-THC) is the hexyl homologue of THC. A hexyl homologue is a chemical that shares the same functional groups with THC but differs in the length of the side bond. THCH has a hexyl side chain with six carbons, while THC has a classical pentyl side chain with five carbons.
The Italian researchers obtained THCH using a chromatographic process from cannabis strain FM2, which is the same strain that also contained THCP. Chromatography separates the different substances in the cannabis extract, producing a highly pure cannabinoid.
It works by filling a chromatography column with silica and pouring the cannabis extract into it.
Going more in depth, it is worth noting that chemist Dr. Mark Scialdone, based on a study describing the synthesis of THCP by chemical reaction, stated that THCH products are not natural and that cannabinoids with different carbon chain lengths, such as THCH, are produced synthetically and are not extracted from cannabis.
In short, scientists do not add extra carbons to the THC molecule, but use a synthetic substance (precursor) that already has the appropriate number of carbon atoms in a chemical process called "terpenylation". To make THC, they use a resorcinol with a chain length of six carbons, called hexylresorcinol. Resorcinol is an organic chemical compound classified as a benzenediol.
And since there are currently no known cannabis strains that contain high levels of THCH and the FM2 strain has no chance of being sufficient for commercial production, THCH is also produced synthetically from other cannabinoids, such as CBD.
Does THCH have stronger effects than THC?
Research from 2018 suggests that side chains in cannabinoid compounds can alter the interaction ability and pharmacology of cannabinoid receptors. Which could possibly explain why THCH is likely to bind 10 times more effectively than THC to CB1 receptors, which are located in the nervous system, in the brain. Some even report that binding to the CB1 receptor is up to 25 times more active than THC.
Potentially, the THCH compound may show higher activity at these receptors, but there are currently no studies to confirm this information.
So, while it may sound wonderful that THCH is more potent than THC, there is as yet no knowledge of the intensity with which it affects the body. And there is no doubt that higher activity at the CB1 receptor cannot be seen as making THCH more potent.
The cannabinoid THCH is most likely to be psychoactive, may have similar effects to THC and is probably more intense.
We can assume that THCH, as a tetrahydrocannabinol compound, has similar properties to THC, especially in terms of:
- pain relief
- alleviation of inflammation
- neuroprotective properties
- sleep support
- appetite stimulation
- help with nausea
Users have described that THCH can induce strong physical and psychological effects, euphoria, relaxation, mood improvement and pain relief, as indicated by a study on mice conducted by an Italian research team.
It is also worth noting that the effects of THCH reportedly last longer than those of other psychoactive cannabinoids.
However, to get comprehensive information on how THCH works and what therapeutic benefits it harbours, we need to wait for further research. All of the information presented is based primarily on the experiences of users and from only one study.
What are the possible side effects?
The side effects of THCH are not currently mapped, but it can be assumed that they are similar to those of other cannabinoids with psychoactive properties.
Possible side effects include:
- dry mouth
- redness of the eyes
- fatigue and drowsiness
- headache
- increased heart rate
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- paranoia
What is the THCH product range and legality?
Currently, THCH products are available mainly on foreign e-shops, but they are slowly appearing on the Czech market. THCH vapes and cartridges, tinctures, distillate and gummies are mainly sold here.
In 2018, the US Farm Bill legalized all cannabis derivatives containing no more than 0.3% THC. In the Czech Republic, the limit has been raised to 1% THC on a dry basis.
THCH is legal under this law, but in the Czech Republic it is included in the list of banned addictive substances. Thus, its legal status will vary across states, most likely falling in the legal grey area in some countries.
From 1 March 2024, a temporary ban on cannabinoids HHC, HHCO and THCP applies in the Czech Republic.
Conclusion
Tetrahydrocannabidihexol is found in the cannabis plant, but only in low concentrations and is therefore more often produced synthetically. It is a hexyl homologue of THC, i.e. it shares the same functional groups with THC but has a different side chain length.
Although some enthusiasts are calling out to the world that THCH is up to 25 times more potent than THC, there is no research to back this up. In short, there is currently a lack of detailed knowledge about how THCH works, whether and what its potential therapeutic benefits, side effects and how safe it is.
Currently, THCH products are mainly sold abroad, for example in Austria, France and Greece. In the Czech Republic, THCH is illegal, while in other countries the legal status may result from the US Farm Bill, which defines it as legal.
Original author: Patricie Mikolášová, translated by: AI
Photo: Pexels
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