THC-H is the new synthetic sheriff in town

» THC-H is the new hemp-based synthesized cannabinoid in town (but do you really want to try it?)

How often have you heard that there are some newly discovered cannabinoids created from hemp plants that you just need to know about? Well, if you keep up with any of the recent trends, chances are good that you’re hearing about them often.

And, surprise, surprise. There is yet another new cannabinoid that you are almost certainly going to be hearing about in the near future.

That cannabinoid is called tetrahydrocannabihexol — better known as THC-H.

Unlike the tried but true cannabinoids like Delta 9 THC and CBD, THC-H is a relatively new discovery. And, it’s even newer to the market, but there is already a significant demand for it. Not only is it being synthesized from hemp extract like Delta 8 is, making it a popular choice for those in states without legal cannabis markets, but it’s also exploded in popularity due to how unique it is — and how freaking potent it is.

In fact, THC-H is the second-most potent cannabinoid in the hemp plant. If you need some perspective, it is 25 times stronger than regular THC.

No, that isn’t a typo. It is 25 times stronger.

Here’s the deal with it.

Tetrahydrocannabihexol is a hexyl homolog of Delta-8 THC. This means the molecules between the two cannabinoids are identical — but are uniquely arranged to have distinct properties from one another. This cannabinoid was discovered in 2020 by Italian researchers, the same ones who also discovered THC-P a year prior.

Since its discovery, the cannabinoid has been isolated and analyzed to some extent, but studies to determine its therapeutic uses have been limited.

Anecdotally, however, there are some trends that users have noticed — as there are already products containing THC-H that are readily available on the market.

For example, there are 200-plus reviews of THC-H products on Binoid, a website that sells Delta 8, Delta 9, and THC-H products that are synthesized from hemp, and users say that when they used THC-H, they experienced relief from pain, insomnia and anxiety. And, many users describe the high as being not only an enjoyable experience — but one of a kind.

Considering that THC-H is the second-most psychoactive chemical in hemp, users can probably expect effects that result in a deep euphoria and deep relaxation of the mind and body. Some

users report that the body high is very strong and can last longer than what we commonly associate with psychoactive cannabinoids — in some cases it is reportedly twice as long.

Still, it’s important to remember that studies showing the potential benefits from the use of THC-H are extremely limited. All cannabinoids work differently with the various cannabinoid receptors throughout the body, so buyer beware. There are tried and true methods of getting high, and then there’s this. If you live in a legal state, it’s probably smart to stick to the regulated stuff that comes from the cannabis plant — at least for now.

And in Colorado, synthesized cannabinoids from hemp oil, like the uber-popular Delta 8 products that are sold in other states, are illegal. So again, it’s probably smart to avoid THC-H products that come from unregulated sources at the moment.

Whether or not that’s true in the long term, though, remains to be seen. The more THC-H is studied, the more we will likely learn about the specific benefits — and other factors.

If you absolutely must get your hands on some, though — let’s say you live in a state where weed is still illegal (RIP your sanity) — you may want to know these THC-H products are typically available in the common forms that any popular cannabinoid can be found in. You can get vapes, tinctures and gummies.

That said, you should really do your homework first. This is your friendly reminder that THC-H is a purified extract, so the quality can vary significantly from company to company. The company’s reputation can be a big clue as to whether you’re getting a decent product, or one you can trust.

As with anything, you should read company reviews or ask your friends what companies they have used and who they trust. It’s also important to buy from a company that publishes third party lab reports on their website. This allows you to find unbiased data about the product’s purity, legal compliance, and safety.

It’s also extremely important to look into the company’s hemp sourcing and ingredients. Companies that use locally-sourced organic hemp will generally offer products that are fresher and free from pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Also check to make sure the ingredient list is free of any fillers, toxins, or additives.

Whether or not you take the risk and try THC-H is your call. Either way, though, this is a pretty darn exciting time in the cannabis world, with new discoveries made on a regular basis. Whatever you do, just be sure to do your research beforehand and make sure you know what you’re getting into. If you can buy weed from a regular dispensary, we highly suggest you take that route.

But if you’re stuck trying out the synthesized products instead, make sure to do your due diligence, whether it’s THC-H, Delta 8, or otherwise.

» Research shows serious promise for LSD derivatives as a mental health treatment in the fight against chronic depression

When it comes to mental health treatment, the options are pretty limited — especially for certain people. After all, nearly one-third of people suffering from depression don’t respond to the treatments that are currently available. And living with depression can be pretty darn awful, so something needs to be done about it.

In other words, there’s a great need for a safe and effective drug to help treat people who are resistant to what is currently available. And, it looks like there may be hope in the most unlikely of places.

It has long been hypothesized that psychedelics may be one key to treating depression. Not only is there plenty of anecdotal evidence, but there’s scientific evidence, too.

Ketamine has become a common choice for treating certain types of depression, and there are numerous research studies being conducted to determine whether LSD, ecstasy, or other compounds would be effective as well.

And, the results of most studies have been promising. For example, a recent research study found that when depressed mice are given substances like ketamine, LSD, or psilocybin and placed in uncomfortable or life-threatening situations, they will actually fight much longer to survive than the depressed mice that are not on any of these substances.

And, what’s more is that psychedelics may not even need to get you high to do the job.

According to a recent peer-reviewed study published by the Journal of Nature, researchers have identified two compounds that activate the same brain receptor as LSD — but they do not produce the hallucinogenic effects. That study shows promising potential when it comes to the treatment of mental health conditions.

The research completed during this study revealed that the psychedelic-like substances actually reduced the symptoms of depression and anxiety in mice, and they did so without any indicators that the mice were high.

So how do scientists know if a mouse is tripping on psychedelics? Well, they have a funny way of determining whether a mouse is high or not. To do so, they simply look at the mouse’s nose. If it’s twitching, they’re tripping.

And that’s precisely what researchers did during this study as well. They examined the behavioral effect of these compounds on the mouse models.

The LSD mice were dosed with produced head twitching and increased locomotor activity as expected. But when the two psychedelic-like compounds were induced, researchers saw low levels of head twitching, but it did not result in any excessive locomotion.

This alone is a significant discovery due to the potential for treating millions of people who are suffering from depression but don’t want to take a trip. And, for those who aren’t trip-averse, a clear confirmation that psychedelics can help treat certain types of depression also may also be beneficial — especially if they want to stay away from the typical big pharma options their doctors present them.

That said, at least one of the researchers who helped to author this study thinks it’s highly unlikely for the particular compounds that were used in the study to make it to clinical trials — but the researcher does believe that similar compounds could potentially make their way into trials in the future.

One of the major goals of this type of research is to find a substance that maintains the antidepressant and anxiolytic properties of psychedelics, but without the classic hallucinogenic effect of LSD and psilocybin. Studies have shown that antidepressant effects of drugs like LSD and psilocybin can take effect almost immediately and last for up to a year — which could ultimately be a huge improvement over the current treatment options.

And, if there comes a time when patients are able to experience the same antidepressant benefits of psychedelics without the trip, it could be a very promising option.

Aside from the potential benefits to patients, there are several other benefits to finding these types of non-psychedelic treatments for depression. One of the major benefits is that non-psychedelics do not require the expensive staffing, space, or safety protocols that are required for psychedelic treatments. That could mean that the treatment is cheaper when there’s no psychedelic component — which would open the treatment option up to more patients.

There has been a significant uptick in public interest regarding psychedelic treatments for depression, and a number of studies have already outlined some of the benefits of using psychedelics in the treatment of mental health issues.

For starters, research from Johns Hopkins Medicine recently showed that treatment with psilocybin helped to relieve major depressive disorder symptoms in adults for up to a month. And, the compound reduced depression-like symptoms at 20-fold lower doses than Prozac. What’s more is that the effects the compounds had on depressive symptoms lasted up to 14 days after a single dose.

A similar study completed in 2020 also resulted in some success when using derivatives of ibogaine in mice. That study showed evidence of ibogaine having antidepressant properties without the mice displaying symptoms that they were experiencing any of the hallucinogenic effects.