The truth is that the percentage of THC has nothing to do with the quality of cannabis and is also a poor indicator of potency. Health-conscious consumers tend to prefer flowers that are high in THC because of their ability to produce powerful effects and, at the same time, limit the amount of potentially harmful smoke or vapor that is inhaled. THC doesn't work like many other psychoactive substances, and while it's natural to assume that a higher level of THC would lead to a higher level of deterioration, that's simply not the case. In a nutshell, if you like the buzz, flowers with a high THC content do the job faster and easier.
THC is the main psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana, and the percentage of THC in a flower is indicative of the amount of THC it contains per gram. If you've tried varieties with a wide range of THC to CBD ratios, you've probably noticed that CBD tends to soften the effects of THC. The way in which THC interacts synergistically with other cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids in a phenomenon known as the “entourage effect” may be as important as the THC content of a flower. When asked why he chooses to buy based on the percentage of THC, Eduardo Valdez, my friend from the car trip, replied: “THC is what makes you high.
The problem of selecting cannabis varieties based solely on THC content is much like putting up with the worst drink in the bar, just because it has a high percentage of alcohol. The percentage of THC is not similar to the percentage of alcohol, and the process should not be approached in the same way. This is because THC is far from the only thing in cannabis that affects the way you'll feel after consuming it. Flowers with an average THC content (14-21% THC) accounted for 24% of transactions, and flowers with a low THC content (7-14% THC) accounted for 27% of transactions.
The THC level in a flower is, among other things, related to potency, but that is only one factor of general experience. So if someone says that their flower has 35% or 40% THC, then almost half of the plant matter must be composed of THC. Therefore, strains with a very high THC to CBD ratio will generally have much stronger psychoactive effects. So, do people who buy based solely on very high levels of THC do so out of naivety? A study on prenatal cannabis exposure in rats found that rats exposed to THC showed a shorter latency until the first active lever pressure to obtain heroin and sought more heroin during mild stress and drug extinction than animals not exposed to THC. Therefore, many cannabis users assume that a strain with a higher percentage of THC will always be more potent and have stronger psychoactive effects. The reality is that there are many factors that contribute to how good or bad your experience with cannabis will be.
While it's true that higher levels of THC can lead to more intense effects, it's important to remember that there are other components at play as well. The entourage effect plays an important role in how you'll feel after consuming cannabis, so it's important to consider all aspects when selecting your strain.
