What is THC? The Basics Explained.

THC is what causes the high when you smoke marijuana. Short for tetrahydrocannabinol, it is one of the 113 cannabinoids found in cannabis. It was in 1964 that THC was isolated and described for its structure and synthesis at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.

THC is the principal psychoactive compound in the cannabis plant. Because of its strong intoxicating properties, it has enjoyed rather controversial fame among mankind.

What is THC?

Outline
THC as a Scheduled Drug
Chemical Structure
Intoxicating Nature
Medical Effects
Side Effects
How does THC interact with the human body?
Research on THC
Choosing THC for Medicinal Benefits
THC-infused products in India
– Are they legal?
– Why do these require a prescription?
– Where to get a prescription for THC-infused products?
Buy Medical Cannabis (THC-infused) products in India

THC as a Scheduled Drug

The drug is one of the only three cannabinoids scheduled by the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. It was categorised as a Schedule-I drug in 1971 but was reclassified to Schedule-II in 1991.

As a plant, cannabis is scheduled by the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. It is also listed under Schedule I by the US Federal Law under the Control Substances Act. The reasons for these are having no accepted medical use and lack of accepted safety.

Chemical Structure

Chemically, THC is represented as C₂₁H₃O₂. It has 21 Carbon atoms, 30 Hydrogen atoms, and 2 Oxygen atoms. Chemically, THC is similar to the human body’s own cannabinoids. This similarity allows them to interact with the cannabinoid receptors in the body.

Intoxicating Nature

THC is the principal psychoactive component in the cannabis plant. That is to say, it is because of THC that the human brain experiences an elevated state of emotion on smoking marijuana. This happens because THC binds with the Cannabinoid 1 receptors in the brain producing a sense of euphoria.

Medical Effects

THC, along with some other cannabinoids of cannabis has been studied to have certain medical benefits. Primarily, THC is used for symptom management and treatment of:

• Muscle Spasticity
• Pain
• Insomnia
• Low appetite
• Anxiety
• Nausea

Side Effects

As is the case with most medicines, it can cause temporary side effects such as:

• Dry Mouth
• Elevated Heart Rate
• Red Eyes
• Memory Loss
• Problem in Coordination
• Slower Reaction Times

These side effects occur due to the psychoactive properties of the compound. Some studies also reveal that long-term use of THC can have psychiatric effects. The effect on the brain is found to be more profound for teens. High consumption increases the risk of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.

How does THC interact with the Human Body?

THC interacts with the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) in the human body. According to studies, the ECS plays a prime role in regulating stress recovery, protecting our nervous system, regulating our homeostatic balance, and activating our immune system response.

The ECS is made up of two things:

1. Cannabinoid receptors: that are present in the central and peripheral nervous systems and also in the immune system.
2. Endocannabinoids: that the human body naturally produces. These are similar in structure to the cannabinoids like CBD and THC, found in the cannabis plant.

The endocannabinoids fit into the ECS receptors and help carry messages among cells. THC works in much the same way. When the human body is induced with the drug, it temporarily replaces the endocannabinoids of the ECS and because of its own chemical properties produces different effects.

Some of these effects include the release of dopamine which, in turn, results in feelings of relaxation. Some bodies showcase physical responses such as increased hunger and reduced inflammation. In other cases, the effects are on various regions of the brain such as the frontal cortex (that controls thinking and decision-making), the hippocampus (that controls memory), and the cerebellum (that controls physical movement and coordination).

Research on THC

First isolated in 1964, the current research on THC is slow owing to the illegal status of cannabis in many countries of the world. The funding and material supply for research is allowed but heavily restricted. One instance is that of the United States where the National Institute of Drug Abuse and Drug Enforcement Administration regulated the sources of cannabis for researchers until August 2016.

In a study in 2014, the American Academy of Neurology found evidence supporting the effectiveness of the cannabis extracts in the treatment of certain symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. However, more firm evidence is needed to account for its efficacy in treating other neurological disorders.

Choosing THC for Medicinal Benefits

The research on THC tells us that the drug can be used for purposes and benefits other than recreational. Although the status of its carrier, cannabis, continues to remain controversial, regions that do allow the use of medical marijuana do so on the level of potency.

Potency is the amount of THC present in a cannabis product.

The effects of THC vary from one human body to another. When choosing THC for medicinal purposes, in addition to its potency, the amount and method of consumption are also taken into account. This is to be combined with personal factors such as age, gender, health history, and previous experience with cannabis.

THC-infused Products in India

In the last two years, India has seen a steady rise in the use of THC-infused medical cannabis products for a wide range of illnesses such as chronic and cancer pain, depression, insomnia, Alzheimer’s, Arthritis, Parkinson’s, Migraine, Fibromyalgia, and Epilepsy.

Are THC-infused products legal in India?

Yes, THC-infused products are legal but regulated in India. Cannabis is a Schedule-E1 drug that is regulated by the AYUSH Ministry and the Excise Department of India. To use THC-infused products for medical purposes in India, a patient needs to have a valid prescription from a certified Ayurvedic doctor.

Why is a prescription needed?

In order to avoid the misuse and abuse of cannabis, a prescription mandate has been applied for THC-infused medical cannabis products in India.

Where to get a prescription for Medical Cannabis in India?

You can get a medical cannabis prescription from a certified Ayurvedic doctor. Online consultations on platforms like ITSHEMP and CannabisDoctors are also available for the same.

Featured Reads:
“Medical Use of Cannabis is Allowed in India”: Govt. to Delhi High Court
How to Get a Medical Cannabis Prescription in India?
CBD Oil for Migraine in India

Buy THC-infused Cannabis Products in India

• Save

• 

  • Save
  Is Hempcrete the future of construction?
  by Raveena Paul
  19th June 2023
  This article is a rework of articles published by BBC Future and does not represent the views held by ITSHEMP,
• 

  • Save
  Delhi’s hemp start-up gets funded by a leading business giant
  by Its Hemp Team
  29th May 2023
  Established in 2020, Ananta Hemp Works has gained recognition in the hemp industry due to its innovative business approach. The
• Himachal Hemp Policy Committee’s Visit to Uttarakhand
  by Its Hemp Team
  25th May 2023
  The committee to study the prospects of legalization in Himachal Pradesh recently started its field visit to Uttarakhand. The field
• 

  • Save
  Cannabis and Google’s New AI tool
  by Raveena Paul
  17th May 2023
  Implications For The Cannabis Industry New AI-powered tools are being introduced by Google Cloud, holding the potential to revolutionize the
• 

  • Save
  A new medicinal cannabis economy?
  by Raveena Paul
  15th May 2023
  The Isle of Man, is looking to diversify its economy with medicinal cannabis. This will be a turn in the traditional island economy which was majorly known for its offshore financial services. The British crown dependency is likely to license 10 firms by the end of 2025 to initiate economic growth in this sector. The same will also open avenues to grow and export medicinal cannabis products from the island.
• 

  • Save
  Why an Indian man was hanged in Singapore?
  by Its Hemp Team
  26th April 2023
  This article is a rework of articles published by dailyO and does not represent the views held by ITSHEMP, its
• 

  • Save
  Medical cannabis and World weed day in India
  by Its Hemp Team
  20th April 2023
  Recent studies have shown the efficacy of cannabis for medicinal purposes. Recent studies have shown the efficacy of cannabis for
• 

  • Save
  Cannabis legalization in Himachal? What’s the story?
  by Its Hemp Team
  7th April 2023
  Recently a committee was formed by the Himachal government to explore the aspect of legalization in Himachal Pradesh For quite
• Bhang in India: Is it legal?
  by Its Hemp Team
  29th March 2023
  Isn’t it strange that a country with such Punitive taxation of  28% on Tobacco products and 18% on alcohol, allows
• 

  • Save
  Best CBD oils in market : 2023
  by Its Hemp Team
  20th February 2023
  CBD oil is a derivative of CBD that is extracted from the leaves of Cannabis plant or its cultivar hemp. This oil is helpful to provide relief for patients of arthritis, cancer, epilepsy, chronic headaches, anxiety, depression, drug addiction and other neurological conditions.
• 

  • Save
  Medical Cannabis
  by Tushar Mahajan
  17th February 2023
  Ayurvedic Cannabis, , means to consume cannabis according to the preventive or curative formulations specified in the Ayurvedic texts of
• 

  • Save
  Will cannbis ads now run on Twitter?
  by Its Hemp Team
  17th February 2023
  This article is a rework of articles published by India Today and does not represent the views held by ITSHEMP,