Our editors pick the products and services we write about. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Learn more.
What is THCP?
In This Article
Why You Can Trust American Marijuana
THCP Defined
What Makes THCP So Psychoactive?
How Long Does THCP Take to Kick In and How Long Does it Last?
THCP Dosage Recommendation
Is THCP Legal?
THCP Compared to Other Analogs
THCO vs THCP
Delta-9 THC vs THCP
Delta-8 THC vs THCP
What are the Benefits of THCP?
Safety and Side Effects of THCP
THCP Frequently Asked Questions
Why You Can Trust American Marijuana
American Marijuana has been a trusted cannabis site since 2014, with a team of experts in the field working to ensure you’re only receiving premium quality information.
THCP Defined
Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabiphorol (THCP) is a recently discovered THC analog that naturally occurs in the cannabis plant.
Its chemical structure is largely the same as delta-9 THC (the compound that popularized marijuana), with the exception of 2 extra carbons. More specifically, THC is made up of 5 carbons on its alkyl side chain. Whereas THCP contains 7 carbons.
These extra carbons allow THCP to bind to the endocannabinoid system (ECS) 30 times more than traditional marijuana. With that, most people who’ve taken THCP report it to be 5 to 10 times more powerful than standard delta-9 THC products.
THCP was only just discovered in 2019. However, researchers believe it’s been around since the dawn of marijuana. In fact, some researchers theorize certain strains of cannabis are more potent due to higher concentrations of THCP.
What Makes THCP So Psychoactive?
If you run across a THCP product, chances are it’s going to advertise the fact that it’s much more psychoactive than other cannabis products. In other words, THCP products tend to produce a stronger “high” than smoking a traditional joint.
The reason for this has to do with THCP’s unique 7-carbon chain. As researchers have noted, a cannabinoid needs at least a 3-carbon chain in order to produce psychoactive effects. The more carbons a cannabinoid has, the more psychoactive it becomes.
Carbons allow cannabinoids to attach themselves to our ECS. Therefore, THCP will be more absorbed through the gut and have an easier time passing through the blood-brain barrier.
How Long Does THCP Take to Kick In and How Long Does it Last?
The onset of THCP works similarly to other cannabis products – with the length of time ultimately depending on the type of product you choose. For example:
- THCP edibles will kick in within the first hour of consumption. From there, the effects will peak about 3 hours afterward and come down for the following 2 hours (with the whole experience lasting between 4 to 6 hours).
- THCP smokables (such as vapes or flower) will provide you with a more instant effect. You can expect the effects to take hold within 15 minutes and peak about an hour into the experience. From there, they will taper off for the next 2 hours (with the whole experience lasting 3 to 5 hours).
THCP Dosage Recommendation
While the time frame of THCP’s effects remains consistent, the intensity of those effects varies depending on your dosage. Since THCP was just discovered, there are no standards when it comes to the proper dosage amount. However, being that these products are 5 to 10 times stronger than typical marijuana products, most recommend starting small.
If we base our dosage off this fact, then most people will garner the effects they’re looking for between 1 to 4mg (milligrams). This was determined by the fact that most marijuana products have a dosage of 10 to 40mg.
For newcomers, it’s highly recommended to take around 0.3mg and then gradually increase your dose.
It’s important to note that THCP is very sensitive in the sense that a 1mg difference can greatly intensify the experience. Furthermore, those who take THCP may feel uncomfortable by the intensity of the “high.”
If you are sensitive to cannabis products, we recommend trying a THC analog with lower potency, such as delta-8 gummies.
Is THCP Legal?
The legality of THCP currently remains in a grey area. While it’s not considered a Scheduled substance, there are laws that prohibit THC analogs within the United States.
With that said, most U.S. lawmakers would consider THCP illegal. On top of this, THCP is illegal in the following countries:
- Denmark
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
The only country we can confirm THCP is legal in is Canada. This is due to the fact that Canada does NOT have any laws prohibiting THC analogs. Still, you likely aren’t going to find businesses manufacturing THCP products in Canada.
THCP Compared to Other Analogs
If you’ve tried other THC analogs, you may be curious how THCP relates to them. For this purpose, we’ve developed a handful of charts:
THCO vs THCP
| THCP | THCO | |
|---|---|---|
Naturally-Occurring | Yes | No |
Marijuana Concentration | <0.1% | 0.0% |
Psychoactivity | Very high | Very high |
Value ($/mg) | $0.50 to $1.00 per mg | $0.15 to $0.20 per mg |
Delta-9 THC vs THCP
| THCP | Delta-9 THC | |
|---|---|---|
Naturally-Occurring | Yes | Yes |
Marijuana Concentration | <0.1% | 15 to 20% |
Psychoactivity | Very high | High |
Value ($/mg) | $0.50 to $1.00 per mg | $0.07 to $0.13 per mg |
Delta-8 THC vs THCP
| THCP | Delta-8 THC | |
|---|---|---|
Naturally-Occurring | Yes | Yes |
Marijuana Concentration | <0.1% | <1% |
Psychoactivity | Very high | Moderate |
Value ($/mg) | $0.50 to $1.00 per mg | $0.06 to $0.12 per mg |
What are the Benefits of THCP?
We don’t have any confirmative research concerning THCP benefits. Instead, our interests are based on consumer reports.
Naturally, most hype up the fact that THCP is so much more powerful than THC. Therefore, you come away with a much more potent high than you would experience from any other marijuana product.
In turn, some have referred to the experience as “psychedelic-like.” Though, the effects still won’t be strong enough for you to experience hallucinations. Instead, you’ll notice little differences, such as colors being amplified and music sounding better.
On top of this, your perception of reality may be slightly altered. While this alteration isn’t as intense as a psilocybin experience, it can make you question certain aspects of your life.
Due to this (and the simple intensity of THCP), sensitive people or people with anxiety may not enjoy the experience. It may cause paranoia or a panic attack.
Safety and Side Effects of THCP
Due to the lack of research, we cannot confirm that THCP is a safe compound to consume. However, since THCP seems to interact with the body similarly to THC, you can assume the safety concerns are similar. The key difference is that THC is much more potent and, therefore, not suitable for sensitive people or people with anxiety.
On top of this, we cannot report of any side effects research has concluded. Still, due to its similarity to THC, you may experience the following on THCP:
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Nausea and vomiting
- Paranoia
- Red eyes
If you are pregnant or lactating, it’s best to avoid THCP altogether. Furthermore, if you are currently on medication, THCP may have a negative interaction with your prescription.
THCP Frequently Asked Questions
Modern drug tests cannot differentiate THCP from THC. Therefore, a drug test will pick up THCP all-the-same as THC.
The risk of THCP addiction is the same as that of THC. While it may cause extremely mild physiological addictions, there’s a chance you’ll experience moderate psychological addictions (i.e. unable to sleep without it). This is namely based on how frequently you take THCP (i.e. those who consume more often are more likely to develop a dependence).
Yes! THCP is much stronger than delta-8 THC. In fact, THCP is considered to be 30 times stronger than delta-9 THC. And delta-8 THC is considered to be about half the strength of delta-9 THC.
In This Article
