It’s become quite common today for people to consume different types of cannabinoids and their products. However, there are still some people who are confused or unfamiliar with the concept of cannabinoids. 

With the help of our blog, you can find out more about cannabinoids and understand them a little better. You can also find out what are the strongest cannabinoids, how they work, and what they do to your body and brain. Without fur ado, let’s get started right away!!!

What Are Cannabinoids & How Do They Work?

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds derived from hemp plants, that carry psychoactive and non-psychoactive properties. The hemp plant contains around 100+ cannabinoids, and there are more being discovered every day, you can find both psychoactive and nonpsychoactive cannabinoids in them. These cannabinoids are divided into three groups that people use, which include recreational, medicinal, and synthetic. 

These cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system in the human body and bind with the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are located in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system and usually trigger the endocannabinoid system to react or respond when a cannabinoid binds with either of the receptors. 

What Are Some Of The Strongest Cannabinoids?

There are many different types of cannabinoids that create and produce a wide range of psychoactive and intoxicating effects. Here are the top of the strongest cannabinoids in the market today. They include:

• THC-P

The strongest cannabinoid in the market today is the THC-P cannabinoid also known as tetrahydrocannabiphorol. It was first discovered in 2019 by a group of Italian researchers. THC-P is found in hemp plants in small traces, and it is also considered a naturally occurring cannabinoid. This cannabinoid is formulated with the help of an organic chemical compound present in hemp plants known as cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). 

• Extraction method 

Since THC-P is found in very small traces in hemp plants, it makes it difficult to extract the cannabinoid directly from the hemp plants. That’s why chemists had to look for other ways to extract and obtain THC-P. One of those ways is by extracting CBD and using it to synthesize THC-P.

• Potency

This cannabinoid can interact and bind with both the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system, which allows it to create very strong psychoactive and intoxicating effects. The THC-P cannabinoid is also considered to be 33 times more than the Delta 9 cannabinoid, thanks to the extended seven-atom side chain in THC-P’s molecular structure. 

• Effects

When you’re consuming THC-P, you will experience strong psychoactive and intoxicating effects on the mind and body. The time it takes for the effects to kick in depends on the type of product you’re consuming. If you’re consuming THC-P edibles, then it will take at least an hour for you to feel its effects and they will last for up to 6 hours. When you vape THC-P, the effects kick in much faster but they don’t last for more than 2 hours.

 

• THC-O

THC-O also referred to as THC-O acetate, is the 2nd strongest synthetic cannabinoid in the market. It was first discovered in 1949, by the U.S military and was further studied. It was then rediscovered in the 1970s in Florida, by the DEA, in a lab where cannabinoid extracts were being illegally combined with acetic anhydride. Unlike other cannabinoids that are naturally found in hemp, the THC-P cannabinoid doesn’t naturally occur in hemp plants which is why it’s called a synthetic cannabinoid. 

• Extraction Method

As mentioned before, this cannabinoid doesn’t naturally occur in hemp. So it has to be synthetically created in a lab. The process involves taking hemp-extracted CBD and removing the THC cannabinoid from it. After that acetic anhydride, a highly flammable chemical is added to the THC cannabinoid, which will convert it into THC-O. 

• Potency

The THC-O cannabinoid is considered to be 5 times higher in potency than the Delta 8 cannabinoid and is 3 times higher in potency than the Delta 9 cannabinoid. The reason for this is that our body finds it easier to use THC-P than the other cannabinoids, it is also because this cannabinoid has more bioavailability. 

• Effects

When you’re consuming THC-O edibles, the effects kick in about 30 minutes after consumption, and they last for more than 3 hours. However, when it comes to vaping THC-O, the effects last for a short amount of time, even though the effects kick in much faster. 

• Delta 9/THC

The 3rd strongest cannabinoid in the market is the Delta 9/THC cannabinoid. This is the main cannabinoid that makes you feel high when you consume or smoke marijuana. An Israeli chemist named Raphael Mechoulam discovered this cannabinoid in 1964, and he was also referred to as the “The Father Of Cannabis”. 

• Extraction Method

You can extract Delta 9, using two extraction methods. One of them involves, extracting Delta 9 directly from hemp by distilling the CBD cannabinoid. The 2nd method is isomerization, which involves converting CBD into Delta 9. 

• Potency

The Delta 9 cannabinoid is considered to be much more potent than both HHC and Delta 8 cannabinoids. This is because of the way it interacts with the endocannabinoid system and has a high binding affinity with the CB1 receptors. However, the effects aren’t as strong as the THC-O and THC-P cannabinoids. 

• Effects

Delta 9 edibles take at least 45 minutes to an hour for the effects of the cannabinoid to kick in, and they last for about 6-8 hours. Whereas when you vape, the effects kick in after about 15 minutes, but they don’t last for more than 4-5 hours. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• How Long Does HHC Stay In Your System?

HHC can linger in your system for up to a whole month, based on how often you consume this cannabinoid. 

• What Is The Best Way To Consume THC-P?

It depends on your preferences and what you feel comfortable using. Some people prefer to vape THC-P while others prefer to consume edibles of THC-P. 

• Can THC-O Test Positive On A Drug Test?

Yes, THC-O can test positive on a drug test. That’s why you should wait until it leaves your system completely before taking a drug test. 

• What Is The Shelf Life Of Delta 8 Tinctures?

Most Delta 8 tinctures have a shelf life of about 2 years, and then they start to degrade. 

Final Words – What Do These Cannabinoids Do To Your Body?

All of the cannabinoids mentioned above carry their own set of characteristics and effects. The effects of these cannabinoids affect your body differently based on how they interact with the endocannabinoid system and how they bind with the CB1 and CB2 receptors.