The THCh Cannabinoid: New, Potent and Federally Legal

Alternative cannabinoid fans are foaming at the mouth to get the latest and supposedly potent phytocannabinoid THCh (Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabihexol). 

However, since it is so new and was only discovered in 2020, there is a lot we don’t know about this compound.

With preliminary research on CBDh (cannabidihexol) showing potential pain relief effects, people have high hopes that THCh will also have similar benefits.

We can only wait with anticipation to see whether or not THCh will take the world by storm.

What Is THCh?

There are over 480 different compounds found in the cannabis plant. And of these, there are almost 150 found so far that are phytocannabinoids. 

These phytocannabinoids are the compounds like Delta 9 THC, Cannabidiol (CBD), Cannabinol (CBN), and Cannabigerol (CBG) that occur naturally in the cannabis plant.  

Of these, THC is psychoactive, psychotropic, and can get you intoxicated, while CBD is also psychoactive. It’s non-psychotropic and will not get you high. 

The newly discovered THCh is also one of these phytocannabinoids, and it is believed to be much stronger than typical Delta 9-THC.  

THCh, THCb and CBDh were discovered by the same Italian researchers that incidentally found and isolated tetrahydrocannabiphorol (THCP) and cannabidiphorol (CBDP).

THCh is also known as Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabihexol, tetrahydrocannabinol-C6, or THC-C6 (where C6 stands for the 6-carbon alkyl side chain). It is believed that this compound acts as the filler between pentyl and heptyl homologs of cannabidiol and Delta 9 THC.

Note – a homolog is a molecule with a very similar structure and function to another molecule.

There aren’t any detailed published accounts around the use of Delta 9-THCh. However, given its chemical composition, we’d expect the potency of this cannabinoid to fall somewhere in between regular D9 THC and THCP. 

The primary difference between THCh and THC is the length of their carbon chains. THC only has a 5-carbon alkyl sidechain, while THCh has a 6-carbon alkyl sidechain. This makes THCh a homolog of THC. 

What is interesting is that increasing the length of the carbon chain appears to increase the potency of the cannabinoid. The reason for this has not yet been discovered, but it suggests THCh elicits a more potent high than Delta 9 THC.

So far, researchers haven’t determined how the THCh cannabinoid formed in the cannabis and hemp plant. But, at the moment, they are hypothesizing that CBGh is the origin.

Overall, there is still a lot to learn about both THCh and CBDh, and we can’t wait for what researchers discover next.

Related Reads: THCjd cannabinoid, THC-h VS THC-jd, Top THCh Cartridges

Is THCh Natural?

Most assuredly, yes, THCh is a natural phytocannabinoid found in Hemp and regular marijuana.

However, THCh can be only derived from the hemp plant in small concentrations. This makes it a “minor” cannabinoid that is found in nature and can also be synthetically produced in larger doses.

This means that any THCh product on the market is likely due to the result of cannabinoid conversion.

Does THCh Get You High? 

Yes, THCh will get you high as it is a homolog of THC.

It will possibly get you much higher than your standard Delta 9 THC.

But all evidence of this so far is anecdotal. This is because we are drawing opinions from the (tiny sample) users of THCh products and the compound’s chemical composition.

Based on the data from the chemical composition and documented usage of other THC Isomers, we can only make generalized assumptions.

However, this is what they are – assumptions. 

In theory, If you are about to use a THCh product for the first time, you can expect to get much higher than you would with Delta 9 THC. It might be best to have a buddy with you to help you out if the high is too intense and to start low.

THCh Benefits 

Unfortunately, in the only study discussing THCh, researchers could not extract a sufficient sample to test it on mice. Therefore, its effects and benefits are currently unknown outside of user reviews.

If we compare it to Delta 9 THC, as it is a homolog, it might be fair to say that it will have similar benefits.

Some of the great benefits of THC include pain relief and neuroprotection. It is also a potentially useful sleep aid and has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. However, at the moment, it’s more or less difficult to detail its exact benefits.

According to users’ experiences around the use of vapes containing THCh, it generates intense feelings of joy, euphoria, relaxation, and pain relief. 

This is promising news and gives alternative cannabinoid users hope that this new phytocannabinoid may hold the key to providing more potent and more effective benefits than typical Delta 9 THC.

For now, all we can do is wait for the research to catch up on the potential therapeutic value that CBDh and THCh may have for consumers and those with medical issues.

THCh Risks & Side Effects

There is a significant problem with buying THCh products. 

This has to do with the fact that there are no lab testing standards for this compound yet. Which means you can’t be sure of what you’re getting. This poses a significant risk. 

Not to mention, any third-party testing for potency will be looking at the graph from a mass spectrometer and determining peaks from troughs until testing standards are agreed and implemented.

While scientists can interpret these graphs, it leaves the results open to interpretation for the rest of the population, including users of THCh products. 

Another potential issue is that if THCh is produced from other cannabinoids, there is the added risk of residual solvents. These residual solvents can pose a significant health risk, especially if you are vaping.

When testing standards are implemented, and THCh products are tested for residual solvents, heavy metals, and other toxic substances, then you wouldn’t have to be concerned.

But where there is no specific full-panel testing available for THCh, you should consume THCh at your own risk.

However, we can proxy risks from data available on other THC homologs and Delta 9 THC, Delta 8 THC, and Delta 10 THC, but this, at best, is a guess.

Preliminary anecdotal evidence claims that THCH boosts your mood and can cause an elevated psychoactive experience. 

And it is believed that if it is mixed with other cannabinoids like Delta 8 THC, the entourage effect will occur. However, the entourage effect occurs best when both cannabinoids and terpenes are present. The latter is often left behind when making extracts.

We can assume that it will have the same effects as these other homologs of THC, but, once again, this would be a potentially hazardous guess. 

We are still unsure of the short or long-term effects of cannabinoids like THCh. Remember to consume at your own risk and do your research into what you buy.

Is THCh Legal?

Yes. THCh is legal at the federal level. 

While THCh falls under a gray area as it is hemp-derived and is a phytocannabinoid like Delta 8 THC, the US Court of Appeals recently ruled that Delta 8 and all derivatives of THC are federally legal if the product contains < 0.3% D9-THC.

And while THCh is not controlled in most states, there are a few that are now attempting to ban the homologs of THC, despite being hemp-derived and therefore protected at the federal level.

Due to this, THCh might be regulated in your state. So, make sure you do your due diligence and consume at your own risk

Wrapping Up THCh

As THCh is a new phytocannabinoid to hit the market, make sure that you purchase from reputable vendors if you are going to buy it.

Check out these vendors and see if they are known for quality products for other alternative cannabinoids as a proxy.

As it is, expect THCh to start being mass-produced by cannabinoid companies throughout the US. And, since it is supposedly ten times as potent as THC, it is safe to say we will soon see it flying off the shelves.

Remember to enjoy your products safely and keep an eye out for shady companies!