THC is a natural cannabinoid found in cannabis. However, THC-O is a synthetic cannabinoid that requires human intervention to be created. THC-O is also considered to be much more potent than THC, and is likely to have stronger psychedelic effects than THC. THC-O is the acetate ester form of THC, sometimes called THC acetate ester or O-acetyl-Δ9-THC.
Experts generally know it as THC-O acetate (or ATHC or THC-OA), but almost everyone has abbreviated it as THC-O. Sometimes people drop the hyphen and call it THCO or THC O. No matter how you spell it, it's pronounced “THC-oh”, it's the letter O, not a zero. THC-O has become famous as the psychedelic cannabinoid because it is said to be up to three times stronger than THC.
Its power is not in question. It is known for certain that it is very strong, so taking small amounts is recommended to establish tolerance. In addition, since the DEA now considers THC-O to be a Schedule 1 drug illegal at the federal level, it is illegal to buy or sell in any form, although we are not yet aware that any arrests have been made. While the consumption of THC-O and THCP can have some incredible benefits, there are still some significant safety issues surrounding the consumption of these cannabinoids.
Many of the same retailers that sell CBD (and Delta 8, Delta 10, HHC and THCP) sell THC-O products online. So, in essence, the effect of THCP is more intense than that of THC-O, but THC-O can cause hallucinations. Mainly, THC will make you feel differently than you normally do. The same goes for THC-O, THC-P, THC-H and THC-V.
That said, technically THC-O can be made from the CBD or the THC of any type of cannabis, but most commonly it is derived from hemp-based CBD. That said, although THCP is much stronger than THC-O, the compound does not cause psychedelic effects at any dose, while THC-O is known to cause hallucinations in those who consume it at higher doses. And its effects are very similar to those of Delta 9, but because it binds more closely to the body's cannabinoid receptors than other forms of THC, THC-O is more intoxicating than Delta 8, Delta 10, or HHC and even stronger than THC Delta 9 (more on that later). The legality of THC analogs, such as THC-O and THCP, is widely debated, and frankly, their legal status depends on where you are and who you ask.
Technically, compounds such as THC-O and THCP are legal in the eyes of the United States government as long as they are made from hemp and therefore contain 0.3% THC or less. Made only with THC-O derived from the highest quality hemp, laboratory tested and suitable for dispensaries, these gummies provide an effective and delicious way to get your daily dose of cannabinoids. The production of THC-O, as mentioned above, requires acetate anhydride, a highly flammable chemical that can sometimes be dangerous. Although both are now known for their intense potency, THC-O and THCP have very different historical backgrounds and were discovered decades apart.
