THCH Guide: what it is, production, effects, products and comparison
- What is THCH?
- Chemical structure and production process of THCH
- Probably intense but unexplored effects
- Side effects
- Table: Comparison of THCH vs THC vs THCP vs THCV
- Available THCH products and legality
- Conclusion
What is THCH?
Many different compounds are found in industrial hemp and the main ones are phytocannabinoids (cannabinoids), flavonoids, terpenes, terpenoids and alkaloids. Did you know that 150 minor cannabinoids have already been discovered? This information is supported by a 2022 study. And THCH, or tetrahydrocannabinoxol, is also a minor cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant, but only in low concentrations. So yes, THCH is a natural compound, and it is also produced synthetically.
Who is behind the discovery of THCH? It is the famous American chemist Roger Adams. Incidentally, he was also the first to isolate pure CBD from the hemp plant, or Cannabis sativa.
Although the discovery of THCH occurred as early as 1942, THCH was first isolated from a plant in 2019 by a group of Italian researchers. This group also isolated the cannabinoid THCP. Both THCH and THCP are rare compounds that are likely to produce strong psychoactive effects. A study published in Scientific Reports states that the researchers identified CBDH in addition to THCH
⚠️ THCP, together with HHC, HHCO, has been included in the list of banned addictive substances in the Czech Republic since 1 March 2024.
Chemical structure and production process of THCH
The cannabinoid THCH (Δ9-THCH, Δ9-Parahexyl, n-Hexyl-Δ9-THC) is characterised by a longer n-hexyl side chain of 6 carbons, distinguishing it from delta-9-THC (THC, tetrahydrocannabinol), which has a pentyl side chain of 5 carbons.
THCH therefore has a similar molecular structure to delta-9-THC, or its hexyl homologue, which is the term for a chemical that shares an identical functional group with THC, but differs in the length of the side bond.
As for the production of THCH, the aforementioned group of Italian scientists used a chromatographic process that separates the different substances in the cannabis extract to produce a highly pure cannabinoid. For their purposes, they used the FM2 cannabis strain, in which they also identified THCPs. In the separation of substances by chromatography, a chromatographic column is filled with silica and the cannabis extract is loaded into it.
At the moment we do not know of any cannabis strains that have a high concentration of THCH and certainly the FM2 strain is not sufficient for commercial production, so THCH is also produced synthetically from other cannabinoids, such as CBD.
Chemist Dr Mark Scialdone pointed out that THCH products are not natural and that cannabinoids with different carbon chain lengths, such as THCH, are produced synthetically and are not extracted from cannabis. He used a study describing the synthesis of THCP by chemical reaction as the basis for this claim.
As Dr. Mark Scialdone explains, scientists do not add extra carbons to the THC molecule, but use a synthetic substance that serves as a precursor and already has the appropriate number of carbon atoms in a chemical process called "terpenylation." Scientists use resorcinol with a chain length of 6 carbons (hexylresorcinol) to produce THC. Resorcinol is an organic chemical compound that belongs to the benzenediols.
Probably intense but unexplored effects
It is reported that THCH apparently binds 10 times more effectively than THC to CB1 receptors, which are found in the nervous system, in the brain. And there are even those who believe that the binding to the CB1 receptor is up to 25 times stronger than THC.
Well, to better understand these claims, let's bring in research from 2018 that suggests that side chains in cannabinoid compounds can affect the interaction ability and pharmacology of cannabinoid receptors.
So, possibly the THCH compound may show better activity at these receptors, but we currently have no research to support this. And you can't automatically judge higher activity at the CB1 receptor to be more effective.
The THCH compound is likely to be psychoactive and may have similar effects to THC, but is probably more intense.
THCH, as a tetrahydrocannabinol compound, probably exhibits similar properties to delta-9-THC, especially in terms of:
- improving sleep
- relief of pain and inflammation
- appetite stimulation
- help with nausea
- neuroprotective properties
In the experience of users, it can produce intense physical and psychological effects, euphoria, relaxation, mood enhancement and pain relief, as indicated by a study on mice by an Italian team of scientists.
Side effects
As with other psychoactive cannabinoids, side effects can occur after taking THC. As we do not yet have research looking at possible side effects, we will rely on other compounds with psychoactive properties.
First of all, it can be:
- fatigue and drowsiness
- dry mouth
- redness of the eyes
- increased heart rate
- headache
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
Table: Comparison of THCH vs THC vs THCP vs THCV
|
THCH |
||||
|
Occurrence in cannabis |
Yes, but in low concentration. |
Yes |
Yes, but in low concentration. |
Yes, but in low concentration. |
|
Production process |
It is formed by a chemical process called "terpenylation". |
It is formed in cannabis by the conversion of its precursor THCA under the action of heat. |
Created in the laboratory through more complex chemical processes, it is produced by converting other cannabinoids such as CBD |
It is formed from THCVA - by the process of decarboxylation it is converted into THCV. |
|
Interaction with receptors in the endocannabinoid system |
Eventually, higher activity at CB1 receptors than THC. |
It activates both CB1 and CB2 receptors. |
It activates both CB1 and CB2 receptors. |
It binds to CB1 and CB2 receptors with significant potency, the exact mechanism is still under investigation. |
|
Psychoactive properties |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No (in small doses) |
|
Effects |
Similar effects to THC, but probably with greater intensity:
|
|
|
|
|
Possible side effects |
|
|
|
|
|
Legality in the Czech Republic |
Prohibited by the government regulation on the lists of addictive substances. |
THC is allowed in the Czech Republic up to 1% in dry matter. |
Added to the list of banned addictive substances from 1 March 2024. |
Legal |
Available THCH products and legality
Currently, THCH products are sold mainly on foreign e-shops, but they are already starting to appear on the Czech market. THCH vapes and cartridges, hash, flowers, distillate, tinctures, gummies and chewing gum are available.
In the Czech Republic, THCH is illegal, and legality is affected by state and local laws, whose regulations may be more stringent or may be completely absent. It is most likely to fall into a legal grey area in some countries.
However, it should be added that many countries prohibit or restrict the use of cannabinoids with psychoactive properties. The Czech Republic is no exception, joining other states that have said no to the cannabinoids HHC, HHCO and THCP.
It is hoped that the government could (finally) sort out an amendment during 2024 to regulate new psychomodulatory substances, which include kratom. Now we can only wait to see what the beginning of 2025 will bring and how it will affect the sale and use of cannabinoids, especially those with psychoactive properties.
Conclusion
The cannabinoid THCH is found in the cannabis plant, but only in trace amounts and is therefore more often produced synthetically. It is the hexyl homologue of delta-9-THC, which means that it shares the same functional groups with THC but has a different side chain length.
All claims of its effectiveness on CB1 receptors are not scientifically substantiated. While it may be tempting to latch onto the information that it is up to 25 times more potent than THC, we already know that we have no research to hand to confirm this. So let's take these statements with a grain of salt.
When adequate research is conducted, we will be closer to being able to draw conclusions about how THCH works, whether and what its therapeutic potential is, what side effects it has, and whether it is safe.
Currently, tetrahydrocannabichetol is illegal in the Czech Republic; the Farm Bill defines it as legal. Products are now mainly found abroad (e.g. France, Austria and Greece).
Original text: Patricie Mikolášová, translation by AI
Photo: Shutterstock
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