Cannabinoid Clinic: Delta-9 THC
Updated: Mar 24
This article is brought to you by the new Higher Learning LV Core Cannabis course.
Welcome to homework assignment 1.15 of the Core Cannabis Training Track from Higher Learning LV. When you complete this assignment, simply click the link at the bottom of the article to return to the master page for this training track.
Welcome to Cannabinoid Clinic, an education project powered by Higher Learning LV. This series provides cannabis and hemp industry professionals with easily digested cannabinoid profiles that ask little of your time—but provide plenty of science-based information.
There are two categories of cannabinoids: Phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids. Phytocannabinoids are those produced by cannabis/marijuana/hemp, while endocannabinoids are made by the human body. This series covers both.
Delta-9 THC molecular structure
What is Delta-9 THC?
Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the result of THCA, the acidic precursor for this infamous psychoactive cannabinoid. It is considered a major cannabinoid because it typically dominates other cannabinoids, including number two cannabidiol (CBD).
Modern commercial and underground cultivars of loose-leaf cannabis flower typically contain 12-30+ percent delta-9 THC. Most examples of the cannabis plant have been bred and cultivated with the intent of maximizing the production of one molecule: Delta-9 THC.
"The cannabis industry has attracted criticism for its myopic focus on this single cannabinoid and the obsessive pursuit of increasingly large percentages of it in commercial products."
The cannabis industry has attracted criticism for its myopic focus on this single cannabinoid and the obsessive pursuit of increasingly large percentages of it in commercial products. Many suggest that companies should place more emphasis on minor cannabinoids such as THCV, CBN, and CBC while also including aromatic terpenes in their formulation and marketing strategies.
In 1963 through 1965, a group of Israeli scientists led by Raphael Mechoulam isolated and synthesized CBD and THC, renewing international academic interest in the compounds produced by the hemp plant. The pioneering work of Mechoulam and his team led to the discoveries of more than 100 phytocannabinoids, a scientific exploration that continues to this day.
Image courtesy Dr. Raphael Mechoulam
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