THCV: Everything We Know About the So-Called ‘Diet Weed’

Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), sometimes known as “diet weed” or “weederall,” is quickly becoming one of the most prevalent cannabinoids on the market due to its appetite-suppressing and energy-boosting qualities. The best thing about it is that despite the first three letters, it doesn’t have the same intoxicating effects as THC.

How Does It Compare To THC?

Since THCV research is at its initial stage, it isn’t easy to provide a direct answer to this question. However, according to Front Range Biosciences, an agricultural biotechnology business specializing in hemp genetics, anecdotal evidence suggests that THCV can be mixed with THC to decrease the intoxicating impact of the latter.

While Front Range Biosciences constantly produces THCV-rich strains, due to limited demand and an expensive isolation procedure, these strains continue to be a challenge to produce and process, especially in the past.

It is worth noting that THC and THCV can both be detected in cannabis products. The company says THCV can be separated, refined, and incorporated into cannabis products.

Where Does THCV Come From?

THCV is a cannabinoid found in cannabis plants, much like THC and CBD. The difference is it is generated from hemp rather than marijuana, making it a naturally occurring hemp byproduct.

It is also important to note that the natural counterpart of THC is THCV. THCV, as opposed to THC, is a recognized analog associated with THC. It is non-intoxicating and functions as a CB1 and CB2 receptor activator. In contrast, THCV is a CB1 inhibitor or inverted receptor. It may also act as an agonist or antagonist at CB2 receptors.

THCV can be incorporated into various commercial products, the same as that well-known CBD oil in Dillon.

Are There Any Side Effects?

THCV may cause some adverse effects. Here are some study examples:

Reduced appetite

Saorise O’Sullivan, Ph.D., is an Artelo Biosciences researcher and scientific adviser in a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm. He offers informative insight into the characteristics and impacts of THCV on the body.

THCV may have the reverse impact of cannabis, commonly known to boost appetite. The hunger decrease is due to THCV having the potential to inhibit the CB1 receptor. According to O’Sullivan, the CB1 receptor is known to promote hunger. As a result, inhibiting this receptor may lead to a decrease in hunger.

Several animal research backs up this theory. According to 2009 research, THCV can lower food consumption and weight gain. According to 2013 research, it may also help to lessen the glucose intolerance linked with obesity.

O’Sullivan was the lead author of a human experiment examining the effects of THCV on type 2 diabetic patients. Purified THCV, delivered at dosages of up to 5 mg twice daily for 13 weeks, lowered fasting glucose levels and increased pancreatic beta cell function in type 2 diabetics, according to the double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

However, there were no differences in hunger or body weight between the THCV-treated individuals and the placebo group.

In 2015, one human trial was conducted to see if a single 10 mg dosage of THCV may impact food reward or aversion. According to the findings, THCV boosted brain activity in response to chocolate and unpleasant stimuli (rotten strawberries). It did not appear to change the assessments of pleasure or desire for the food stimuli.

Although taken together, the scientific data does not support the notion that THCV is an appetite suppressor.

Other Consequences

Although the judgment is still out on THCV’s appetite-suppressing characteristics, pre-clinical animal studies show that THCV may have a role in a variety of illnesses and disorders, including:

Parkinson’s disease
Psychosis
Infections caused by bacteria
Acne
Fibrosis of the liver
Epilepsy

Although human research on THCV is sparse, a small study conducted among cannabis users in 2015 investigated its ability to lessen THC’s adverse effects.

According to the authors, 10 mg of THCV might lower THC-induced heart rate, subjective sensations of intoxication, and verbal memory issues.

Can You Give It a Shot?

O’Sullivan feels that THCV is safe and effective, although there is still much to discover. There were no adverse effects in the limited human investigations that were conducted. The THCV dosages were up to 10 mg daily for 13 weeks.

However, she observes that several individuals felt more weary than usual. If you consume a THC-containing substance, you should avoid driving until your doctor has examined you.

Where Can I Find It?

The availability of THCV is restricted. It’s scarce, and the supply chain is strained. A few plants produce this chemical. They are difficult to cultivate and have a low yield. For these reasons, it is also costly.

However, researchers and manufacturers continue to find ways to extract THCV from cannabis plants and put it in various manufactured goods such as edibles or cannabis beverages. Incentivizing producers to generate more THCV will someday open the door to improved output and supply chain accessibility.

It also paves the way for more conventional goods derived straight from the plant, such as flowers or vapes, as opposed to, for example, isolate-infused edibles.

The Bottom Line

THCV, like most minor cannabinoids, is currently understudied and under-produced. Fortunately, consumer interest is changing this, and the compound is expected to be heavily used in the future.

However, focusing on exaggerating weight loss or other THCV effects should be avoided to prevent unexpected medical issues. Though it has shown remarkable characteristics, it is important to note that the study is still in its early stages, particularly regarding its impact on humans. It would be best to consult a health professional first before incorporating the compound into your daily life.