What is THC

Our Dacanna, Hamilton Weed Dispensary have probably already heard that THC is the active ingredient in Cannabis and cannabis products. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol is responsible for the “high” and euphoric feeling you get from cannabis but how does it work? Although it is mostly responsible for its psychoactive properties, it is in reality more complex than that. There are many different types of THC products and many factors determine how our system responds to them. So let’s discuss how THC ( what is THC ) works and how our body reacts to it.

Effects of THC on our body

The effects of THC can be different for each individual and there is no sure way to predict how one’s body might react. According to research THC mainly works by replacing an already existing chemical compound in our body called endocannabinoids. These are receptors or messengers that change the chemical signals they receive from other cells. These receptors control many other systems in our body as well even though they are mainly concentrated in the central nervous system themselves. They play a role in many of our responses including stress, food intake, metabolism, and pain. Their location in the central nervous system is vital since, without it, we would not be able to experience the euphoric “high” sensation.

So how does THC get into our central nervous system? When we smoke or inhale Cannabis, the THC goes into our lungs. From the lungs, it diffuses into our blood. It then passes from the blood-brain barrier to the brain. Here it takes over the endocannabinoid system and travels to the rest of our body giving us changes in mood, emotions, memory, movement, perception of time, etc.

What do you feel when high?

Our Dacanna, Hamilton Weed Dispensary talked about how the body reacts to THC and how it is absorbed in the body, but how do we react to those changes? What does the individual feel when they are “high”?

A lot of our feelings are genetic and each person’s experience with THC might differ from the other. Some users may experience feelings of euphoria, joy, and giddiness while others might get detached and quiet. Some first-time users may have a high tolerance for THC while others could be more sensitive to its effects thus getting “high” quicker.

Mindset can be another factor that determines the type of high you feel. If you are in a generally low mood then the THC can cause amplification in those feelings.

Many users claim that they get a sense of relaxation and calm when they use Cannabis and it has been known to significantly improve creativity among its users.

Most of the effects you feel with THC are temporary. They only occur for the time that you are high and there is no guarantee that you will feel all of the effects. Some of the more common effects THC users experience are:

Dry mouth
Euphoria
Laughter
Forgetfulness
Hunger pangs
Altered time perception
Drowsiness
Slow motor coordination

How long does the "High" last?

A cannabis high can last anywhere between 2-12 hrs depending on various factors. The dosage, tolerance, method of consumption, etc can all play a part in how long the THC remains in your system.

Some of these factors include:

How much THC your cannabis product contains
Your metabolism
Your tolerance
How much you consume

There are also 2 main ways you can consume THC. By inhaling or through edibles.

If you smoke or vape Cannabis the THC in it affects you quicker than the edibles. You get the sense of high much quicker but it also lasts a relatively short time.

Since it quickly enters the bloodstream through the lungs, you begin to feel the effects within 2-10 min with a peak high after 10 min. The high can last for 1-3 hours depending on several factors and residual effects can linger for up to 8 hours.

On the other hand, if you have THC through edibles that Our Dacanna, Hamilton Weed Dispensary sells, you may experience a delayed high. Since Cannabis needs to be metabolized by the digestive system, it can take about 30- 60 min for the high to kick in. In some cases, it can take even longer, up to 2 hours depending on your metabolism. Usually, the peak high is at 2 hours after consumption and the effects stay much longer than inhaling THC. The effects can last up to 12 hours and lingering effects can stay with you for up to 24 hours.

Why is the dosage of THC so crucial?

THC is extremely unpredictable and a little goes a long way. THC is a biphasic chemical which means that its “high” comes in 2 phases and your dosage determines which phase you experience.

The first phase is the one you most likely want to go for. It provides stress relief, calms and relaxes you while leaving you with an elated and joyous mood. These positive effects are most often produced when the individual takes a low to moderate dose of THC.

With higher doses of THC, you are more likely to experience the second phase which causes paranoia, anxiety, dry mouth, etc. Thus it is best to start with a lower dose and build up to higher doses of THC.

Some cannabis smokers also believe that the ratio of CBD to THC determines the type of high they feel with more balanced ratios producing a milder high.

Can THC be consumed every day?

Like with any other product, our body can develop a tolerance to THC. Just like drinking caffeine every day reduces its effects, daily consumption of THC can also lessen the effects we feel.

When you develop a tolerance to THC you lose sensitivity to the cannabinoid as well as the endocannabinoid receptor. You will still be able to feel a sense of ‘high’ but the effects will be mild and you may need higher doses just to reach the same effect. The body will grow accustomed to the daily input which can ultimately ruin the euphoric feeling you wish to achieve.

Like with everything it is best to take THC in moderation. If you are an avid THC user a tolerance break might be a good option. That way when you use THC again you might have increased sensitivity to the THC.

In conclusion, THC is a chemical compound that causes the ‘high’ feeling when consuming Cannabis.

THC can create a relaxed, elated feeling in the individual, however, it is best to take THC in moderation so you don’t experience a negative high and your body does not develop a tolerance to the substance.