The most popular psychoactive component of cannabis, THC-O-Acetate, which is still illegal on a federal level, shares a molecular structure with a new class of cannabinoids, the majority of which are non-psychoactive.
But the Farm Bill has mistakenly and covertly given the market permission to cultivate and sell cannabis products containing cannabinoids with psychoactive qualities.
THC-O-Acetate (also known as ATHC), a synthetic cannabinoid that is one of these new compounds, has piqued the interest of many cannabis users while also raising some concerns about its safety and legality.
Over the past few years, a number of companies have commercialized THC-O, a synthetic cannabis component manufactured from hemp, in products. Unlike other cannabinoids derived from hemps like CBD, CBG, or CBN, THCO Acetate cannot be found naturally in the hemp plant, while having psychoactive effects and appearing to be legal.
Despite still being a very uncommon cannabinoid, THCO Acetate is becoming more and more popular among cannabis consumers. Customers who live in American states where the use of cannabis for recreational purposes is still illegal are particularly interested in these cannabinoids.
What is THC-O-Acetate, and why is it attracting attention?
Since former U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Farm Bill in 2018, making hemp legal on a federal level, the hemp industry has generated a ton of new products including new minor cannabinoids.
The most extensively used psychoactive cannabis component, THCO Acetate distillate, which is still illegal on a federal level, shares a molecular structure with a new family of cannabinoids, the majority of which are non-psychoactive.
But the Farm Bill has mistakenly and covertly given the market permission to cultivate and sell cannabis products containing cannabinoids with psychoactive qualities.
THC-O-Acetate (also known as ATHC), a synthetic cannabinoid that is one of these new compounds, has piqued the interest of many cannabis users while also raising some concerns about its safety and legality.
Over the past few years, a number of companies have commercialized THC-O, a synthetic cannabis component manufactured from hemp, in products. Unlike other cannabinoids derived from hemps like CBD, CBG, or CBN, THC-O cannot be found naturally in the hemp plant. Despite this, it has psychoactive properties and appears to be legal.
Despite still being a relatively uncommon cannabinoid, THCO Acetate distillate is becoming more and more popular among cannabis consumers. Customers who live in American states where the use of cannabis for recreational purposes is still illegal are particularly interested in these cannabinoids.
THC-O is a THC ester. It can be made chemically using acetic anhydride, a highly flammable and colorless liquid used to make polymers, drugs, colors, and explosives.
Specialized machinery is required to synthesize this molecule due to the usage of flammable and volatile components.
The first stage in producing THC-O is the conversion of CBD from hemp plant extract into delta-8 THC. To generate THC-O-Acetate, the delta-8 THC molecules are next mixed with acetic anhydride.
The potency of THC-O is not known with certainty. Several news outlets claim that THC-O is three times as potent as THC, which is used more frequently.
Customers believe THC-O to be more psychedelic than conventional THC due to its increased spiritual or psychedelic psychoactivity when compared to other cannabinoids.
Similar to when cannabis edibles are ingested, THC-O takes some time to metabolize in the body before its effects are felt. THC-O-A is most commonly found in candies, tinctures, and vape cartridges.
U.S. military scientists started looking at this chemical in 1949. In the 1970s, the DEA discovered a dubious Florida lab that combined acetic anhydride with cannabis extracts. THC-O, on the other hand, has only recently caught the market's attention. According to a Google Trends investigation, the popularity of this subject peaked in the middle of 2021.
But there hasn't been a lot of peer-reviewed research on thco acetate distillate. More research is necessary to completely understand how these chemical compounds impact human health. Only anecdotal consumer reports can be used to determine the effects of THC-psychotropic O, and companies that sell its products may make it stronger.
Similar to delta-8 THC and other small cannabinoids, THC-O's legal status is unclear. Some experts, however, believe that in accordance with the Federal Analog Act, it should be illegal. Any chemical that is “substantially similar” to a controlled substance (often referred to as designer drugs) is subject to this provision of the Banned Substances Act, which was passed in 1986, but only if it is intended for human consumption.
There is no evidence to suggest that cannabis isn't potentially dangerous, Dr. Ethan Russo, a neurologist and expert in studying the therapeutic uses of cannabis and the endocannabinoid system, emphasized in an interview with Hemp Grower. If it is twice or three times stronger than thco acetate distillate, he said, “it's an immediate recipe for potentially serious adverse effects.”
Despite the fact that the THC-O market seems to be just getting started, the lack of regulation on small cannabinoids could lead to medical and legal issues that would damage the reputation of high-quality products across the entire cannabis industry.
The products produced in accordance with the terms of the Farm Bill may not be legal, however, due to different interpretations of the laws, as long as cannabis remains illegal.
