2023 Cannabinoid Matchup: THC-P vs. THCV

THC-P is one of the most hyped up cannabinoids to come out of the hemp industry – and it’s no wonder given its super-potent high. The thing is that THC-P is just one of many cannabinoids to be introduced onto the market in the last few years, and there are a number of people out there who can’t keep up with each emerging cannabinoid. Because of that, we want to compare THC-P to another cannabinoid that’s popular on the hemp scene, which is THCV.

Contender #1: THC-P (Tetrahydrocannabiphorol)

THC-P, aka tetrahydrocannabiphorol, is the cannabinoid that’s got everyone talking, mainly because of its profound potency. Discovered only in 2019, this super minor compound has 7 carbon atoms on its side chain, and what that means is that structurally, its ability to attach to the brain’s CB1 receptors is beyond impressive. THC-P attaches to these receptors at about 33x the rate of delta 9 THC, which is why its potency is so much stronger.

What is the High Like?

Because of the incredible rate at which THC-P works on the brain’s CB1 receptors, the high you can get from THC-P is estimated to be about 10x as potent as that of delta 9 THC. Basically, that’s really, really strong. Because of that, THC-P is best for someone who has some experience with other forms of THC, and thus, has the tolerance to handle such a super-strong cannabinoid.

The high is said to be very euphoric, too, and a lot of people who have anxiety say that taking it brings them a feeling of relief. The body high can be really powerful if the cannabinoid is taken in fairly high doses, possibly causing couchlock and drowsiness.

Does THC-P Have Benefits?

THC-P is a really new discovery, which means we don’t have tons of information about what kinds of effects it can offer. But, what we do know is that this cannabinoid is likely to offer a substantial number of benefits, based on this one study that was done at the time of its discovery. Those benefits are:

• Anti-inflammatory effects
• Anxiolytic effects
• Antiemetic effects
• Appetite-boosting effects
• Neuroprotective effects
• Analgesic effects
• Sleep-enhancing effects

Does THC-P Have Side Effects?

All cannabinoids can produce some side effects, which goes for just about any substance we take, and THC-P’s side effects are thankfully pretty mild and short-lived, and no different from the side effects associated with cannabis. THC-P is nontoxic, so you don’t have to worry about major health concerns.

The effects include:

• Dry mouth
• Dry eyes
• Dizziness
• Forgetfulness
• Drowsiness
• Clumsiness
• Paranoia
• Anxiety

Note: These side effects are largely dose-dependent, and tolerance-dependent. In other words, the more you take, the more likely they are to occur, and the lower your tolerance, the more likely they are to occur. For a lot of people, these side effects actually stop occurring once they have been taking THC-P for a while.

Who Would Prefer THC-P?

So, is THC-P the type of cannabinoid that makes sense for your lifestyle? The main thing to consider, once again, is your tolerance to psychoactive cannabinoids. Because THC-P’s high can be so strong, you really should have a good tolerance overall, to enjoy the high rather than feel overwhelmed by it. And, besides that, it does offer benefits, like we said earlier.

Contender #2: THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin)

THCV, or tetrahydrocannabivarin, is a cannabinoid that we’ve known about for a lot longer than THC-P – in fact, it was discovered way back in the early 1970s. THCV is an isomer of THC-P, which means that it contains the same molecular composition, rearranged in a distinctive way that affects its chemical structure, and the way in which it interacts with cannabinoid receptors. THCV has 3 carbon atoms on its side chain, which influences how it works with CB1 receptors in the brain that enable the high we get from THC compounds.

What’s the High Like?

With THC-P, it’s basically a guarantee that you’ll be super high beyond your wildest dreams. With THCV, however, things aren’t so simple. THCV is a pretty tricky cannabinoid when it comes to getting high off of it, since you need to take a surprisingly high dosage amount to feel its psychoactive properties. In low doses, THCV shows no psychoactive activity, but once you pass a threshold amount, that’s when you might get to enjoy a very mild but noticeable euphoric effect, like a buzz instead of full-blown intoxication.

Does THCV Have Benefits?

Because THCV has been studied over the course of several decades, we know that it provides some pretty substantial potential benefits, which are actually super unique from other cannabinoids. Those benefits are:

• Anti-seizure effects
• Insulin and blood sugar regulating effects
• Anti-obesity effects
• Anti-inflammatory effects

Does THCV Have Side Effects?

The potential side effects associated with THCV are the same as the ones we talked about earlier with THC-P. But, because THCV is overall milder, the side effects are less likely to occur unless you take a super high dose. Again, they are:

• Dry mouth
• Dry eyes
• Dizziness
• Forgetfulness
• Drowsiness
• Clumsiness
• Paranoia
• Anxiety

Who Would Prefer THCV?

If you’re on the fence about THCV, one thing you should consider is that its high is not as much of a factor as with other cannabinoids. It’s so mild, and requires a high dose, that it’s just not a popular choice for recreational use, although the high is still enjoyable for some. THCV’s potential benefits, however, make it super appealing in a unique way.

The Winner Is…

So, which will you choose: the powerful THC-P, or the mild yet benefit-rich THCV? Ultimately, we’re comparing two totally unique cannabinoids that can serve very different purposes. And, of course, there’s no reason why you can’t take both as desired. Explore the THCV products and the THC-P products at The Calm Leaf, and find out for yourself what kinds of enjoyable effects they can bring into your life. Our lab-tested, highly effective products make it easy to explore both cannabinoids to their fullest potentials.