What is THC?

What Is THC And What Are It’s Effects?

On every package of cannabis products, you’ll see THC expressed as a percentage. So, what exactly is THC and what are its effects.

Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is one of over 100 known cannabinoids found in marijuana and is responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects. The human body has a system of receptors called cannabinoid receptors and they’re concentrated in the areas of the brain that control thinking, memory, pleasure, coordination and the perception of time. It’s as though our body chemistry is wired for cannabis! When THC enters the brain is stimulates the cells to release dopamine which is a “feel good” chemical our brain releases.

So, what are the effects of THC? If you’re at all familiar with cannabis, you know what to expect, but for new users there are many different effects with varying degrees of intensity. When you smoke cannabis, THC pass rapidly through the bloodstream via the lungs and into your brain. Seconds after your first puff you will feel the effects of cannabis, which can include euphoria, relaxation, heightened senses, a slowing of time, laughter and of course, the munchies. The effects peak around 30 minutes later and can last up to 6 hours. When cannabis is ingested as an edible you will experience the same effects, but they take longer to hit you, about 30 minutes to two hours after you eat them. Edibles take longer because they must go through your stomach and then on to your liver, which may lead to you to think that they aren’t working and the famous last words of, “these edibles ain’t shit.” Trust us, you will feel them, they just take longer because of the way the body works. The effects of edibles usually peak in about 4 hours, and you may feel them for 12 to 24 hours after you ingest them.

THC is also proven to be helpful for some medical conditions, primarily with pain relief. ^*A study from 2014 showed that patients reported a 64% relative decrease in pain. Patients were asked to rate their pain on a scale of 0-10, with the average being 7.8 before consuming marijuana and a 2.8 after. Some other benefits included relief from stress/anxiety, insomnia, and depression, as well as improved appetite, less nausea and increased focus/concentration. A small percentage of patients also noted that they decreased or discontinued some prescriptions medications after receiving cannabis.

The budtenders at Green Choice are trained to help all our customers with their individual needs, and we’re especially in tune with helping inexperienced users. If you’re new to cannabis, the best advice is to take it slow and start with smaller doses and lower THC products. This means that if you’re looking for flower and you’ve never smoked or haven’t smoked in a long time, look for products that have a lower THC percentage, around 10% to 15% and for edibles, 1-2 mg per serving of THC. It’s important to note that if you overdo it, your euphoria and relaxation may turn into anxiety. Don’t worry though, you can’t overdose on cannabis and if you’re having a bad experience, it will be over in an hour or two.

The cannabis community is filled with a lot of experienced people who are happy to share their knowledge and at Green Choice we’re leaning into sharing what we know. There are no dumb questions, so ask our team anything! We’re happy to help you no matter where you are on your cannabis journey.