{"id":9493,"date":"2024-07-16T12:27:52","date_gmt":"2024-07-16T16:27:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/?p=9493"},"modified":"2026-03-23T05:58:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T09:58:20","slug":"uncovering-thc-the-cannabis-plants-most-famous-cannabinoid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/uncovering-thc-the-cannabis-plants-most-famous-cannabinoid\/","title":{"rendered":"THC Uncovered: Exploring the Top Cannabinoid in the Cannabis Plant"},"content":{"rendered":"

THC used to be something that was only referenced when talking about hippies or stoners. Today, THC has made its way off the couch and out of basements into medical conversations and scientific observations. It is the most commonly known member of the cannabinoid family, and the abbreviation is actually short for the scientific name Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.<\/p>\n

THC is largely responsible for the intoxicating effects felt when someone consumes cannabis. Many people refer to Rafael Mechoulam as the grandfather or founder of cannabis<\/a>. While he played a vital and pivotal role in the understanding and identification of THC, the first individual to receive credit for this was Roger Adams in 1942<\/a>. Adams was awarded a patent for his particular method of isolating CBD<\/a>, and Adams was also the first person to identify THC.<\/p>\n

Moving on from who gets the credit for THC’s discovery, we watch decades of use and research start to tell a tale of how this widely misunderstood cannabinoid works. For many years people would believe that it was the culprit found in cannabis that would make people stoned and lazy. Reefer madness had painted a wrongful and stigmatizing <\/span>picture that stoners were lazy long-haired jobless individuals with no plans or future. However, time would prove to tell a different tale.<\/p>\n

What Is THC and What Does It Do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is one of the intoxicating compounds produced by the cannabis plant. It is one of over 150 phytocannabinoids, or plant-based cannabinoids<\/a>, found in the cannabis plant. THC and other cannabinoids bind to our endocannabinoid receptors<\/a> and cause changes in the body\u2019s chemistry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Different varieties and strains of cannabis have different levels of THC. Some contain virtually little to none, such as specific cultivars of hemp and cannabis strains. But it plays a generally cumulative <\/span>role in the intensity of the buzz from cannabis. A strain that tests with an average THC level of 11% typically will not be as strong as one testing at 18 or 24%. However, <\/span>g<\/span>enetic studies<\/span> have yet to find clear differences between sampled products labeled sativa, indica, or hybrid<\/a>, meaning there may be inconsistencies in the consumers\u2019 experiences, expectations, and needs (2<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

When you see a percentage of THC, it is in reference to the amount of it in a gram of cannabis. If you buy a gram of cannabis testing at 24%, that means that you have 240 mg of THC per gram. Reading “13% THC” would mean 130 mg of THC per gram. However, that doesn’t mean this is exactly how many milligrams you will consume. Some will be lost in heat transfer, and some will go up in smoke.<\/p>\n

The THC level of a particular strain of cannabis is an excellent guide for the strength of the strain but shouldn’t be the staple of what you look for in cannabis. There is more to cannabis than just delta-9 THC; there’s delta-8 THC, 11-Hydroxy-THC<\/a>, and others. We will dive into this together in just a moment, but first, let’s look at some of the reported potential benefits of THC based on early research.<\/p>\n

Areas of Potential THC Benefits:<\/strong><\/h3>\n