What High THC Content Really Means for Your Cannabis Experience

Do you want to know a secret of the industry? Many people believe that higher THC content in marijuana means higher quality buds that lead to a better and stronger high. However, the truth is that the percentage of THC has nothing to do with the quality of the herb and is also a poor indicator of potency. The most potent strains offer the most THC, but they also contain certain terpenes such as caryophyllene, limonene and myrcene which offer environmental effects to consumers and enrich cannabis varieties with different aromas. When choosing a cannabis product, it can be tempting to see the THC content as an indicator of “how strong a cannabis experience can be”.

However, there's more to it than that. This guide will look at what a high THC content means and how important (or how little) it really is to your consumer experience. A higher percentage of THC does not equal a stronger intoxication. While THC is responsible for feeling “high”, many have misunderstood it as “the more tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the higher I'll be”.

Cannabis is not that simple. While you might prefer products that are high in THC for this reason, research suggests that a higher percentage of THC doesn't really make a difference in disability. The myth that the THC flower equates to a more potent intoxicating experience is so pervasive that it affects the entire cannabis supply chain. Some growers position their cannabis products as “premium” or “premium” and charge higher prices for them.

As a result, strains high in THC are much more common on dispensary shelves and are often more expensive as well. While the flower's THC content is considered high, around 15% or more, concentrates are much higher than that, and some products contain up to 90% THC. However, like the cannabis flower, the THC percentage of a concentrate alone is not a good indicator of how powerful the consumer experience would be. Like the flower, potency depends largely on the complexity of the broader compound profile of the concentrate, that is, on the other cannabinoids and terpenes present, and on the amounts that exist together with THC. The amount of THC is more relevant when it comes to edible cannabis foods. Edibles are metabolized differently from cannabis flower or concentrates and, for this reason, the THC content of an edible product (normally represented in milligrams) will accurately describe overall potency.

The consumer experience also goes beyond chemistry; your environmental context also influences how you feel. Consuming the same flower alone and in the comfort of your home will likely produce a different experience than consuming cannabis at a party. Part of choosing a cannabis product is considering the contexts in which it can be consumed and then selecting them accordingly. Understanding the main phytocannabinoids and terpenes, in addition to high amounts of THC, can help you better assess how a product or variety may affect you. All you have to do is take the percentage of THC, move the decimal one point to the right and now you'll know the total dose of THC per gram of dry herb. Other strains with higher THC concentrations include OG Chem and Wappa, which tested approximately 26%.

While there may be notable differences in the levels of THC in the blood of people who consume concentrate versus flowers, for example, the actual level of disability is extremely similar. However, higher THC levels can also cause several adverse effects, such as paranoia, nausea and anxiety. Ultimately, you can use that percentage and calculate the THC levels by total weight of dry cannabis or its concentrates. Knowing what a high THC content means makes it easier to obtain marijuana varieties with high concentrations of THC. The main problem with cannabis currently available in Colorado dispensaries is that the THC content is no longer what it used to be. Even experienced cannabis patients can sometimes experience anxiety when they overdo it with a strain high in THC.

The three main factors that determine the level of THC include the variety of cannabis, various cannabis products and the consumer experience. The good news is that lower doses of THC are unlikely to cause anxiety or accelerated thinking since THC is known as a biphasic compound. Cannabinoids work together and improve anti-inflammatory effects through the entourage effect since they reduce some of the effects of THC. The system can easily dissuade inexperienced consumers from overspending or “greening” them with too much THC at once. Fortunately, CBD has been shown to counteract the psychoactive effects of THC while providing all its therapeutic and medical benefits. The active component of marijuana that people consider so desirable wasn't really known until 1960s when a research team in Israel discovered that after injecting aggressive rhesus monkeys with THC they calmed down and sedated.

Tasha Falsetti
Tasha Falsetti

Friend of animals everywhere. Hardcore food evangelist. Subtly charming twitter aficionado. Avid web scholar. Passionate twitter guru. Proud music geek.