Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a phytocannabinoid, and typically the most abundant cannabinoid present in cannabis products on the market today. THC can be derived from THCA by non-enzymatic decarboxylation during storage and consumption. It is responsible for the well-documented psychoactive effects experienced when consuming cannabis.

When you smoke or ingest cannabis, THC travels into the bloodstream and eventually binds to cannabinoid receptors throughout your body. These receptor sites affect memory, concentration, pleasure, coordination, sensory and time perception, appetite and many more important functions.

Mild side effects of larger doses of THC can include anxiety, elation, burning eyes, dry mouth, shaking/trembling, increased heart rate and/or shortness of breath (or at least the perception of such) and short-term memory loss. Smoking or ingesting too much THC in a short period of time can intensify and alter its effects.

Latest Research

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Study: THC May Help to Prevent Transplant Rejection
According to results of an animal study published in Journal of Leukocyte Biology in June 2015, the cannabinoid delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may be a safe and effective alternative or add-on therapy in the prevention of organ and tissue transplant rejection. What is Organ Transplantation? When a person’s organs or tissues begin to fail as a result of disease, a replacement from a donor may be needed in order to increase lifespan. Some commonly transplanted organs and tissues include the kidneys, liver, heart, and bone marrow. While some organs (like the heart) …
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Cannabis Smoke May Benefit Asthma and Lung Functions
The unique nature of cannabis is demonstrated partly by the special characteristics of its smoke. Unlike virtually all other forms of smoke, which impair lung function, cannabis smoke may actually improve it. That being said, vaporizing cannabis is clearly the superior alternative to smoking cannabis, as it provides the medicinal compounds of marijuana without the negative side effects of smoke (such as carcinogens and other cancer-causing chemicals). Regardless, many studies have shown that cannabis use may benefit asthma patients and enhance general lung function by acting as a bronchodilator, rather …
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Study: Cannabis Offers Possible Treatment for High Grade Gliomas
A study published in November 2014 in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics and conducted at St. George’s University of London’s Department of Oncology has found that the use of cannabinoids, specifically delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), may be useful in treating high-grade gliomas, potentially slowing the disease’s progression. What Are High Grade Gliomas? Gliomas are a type of advanced brain cancer that are fast-growing, aggressive, and difficult to treat. Gliomas occur in the brain and spinal cord and result from the excessive proliferation of abnormal neuroglia, cells of the nervous system that are not …
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Study: Cannabis-Based Medicines As Potential Treatments For Traumatic Brain Injuries
A recent study published in The American Surgeon was titled “Effect of Marijuana Use on Outcomes in Traumatic Brain Injury.” In this study, researchers concluded that patients who had detectable levels of THC in their bodies were less likely than those who did not to die as a result of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The retrospective study examined the data of 446 cases of traumatic brain injuries over a three year period, involving patients who had been treated at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, CA. THC Helps Prevent Death From Traumatic Brain Injury Overall, 18.4% of patients …
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Cannabidiol (CBD) May Increase Lung Cancer’s Susceptibility To Specialized Killer Cells
Proponents of medical marijuana have long suggested that cannabis offers a much milder form of cancer treatment in comparison to traditional western approaches like chemotherapy. Supporting these claims is a rapidly growing body of evidence that cannabis can not only inhibit the spread of cancer, but it can cause cancerous cell death through a number of diverse mechanisms. A team of researchers from Germany published a study last month in the journal Biochemical Pharmacology that sheds further light on the interaction between cannabis and lung cancer in particular. Their results suggest that cannabinoids indirectly make cancer cells …
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Study: Ultra-Low Doses Of THC May Help Protect Against Neurodegenerative Diseases
There is a great deal of evidence suggesting that cannabis could be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. In fact, a Brazilian study published last year suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) could help ward off neuronal cell death in the face of neurodegradation. In order to provide more insight on the topic of medical marijuana …
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Study: Orally Administered THC May Help Treat PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cannabis have been linked with one another for quite some time. In fact, it was added as a qualifying condition in both Michigan and Nevada earlier this year. That being said, a team of researchers at the Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center published clinical trial data ahead of print in the journal Clinical Drug Investigation that sheds further light on this relationship. Their results suggest that the oral administraion …
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THC May Help To Reduce Damage In Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
What Is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)? Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition in which areas of your gastrointestinal (GI) system become chronically inflamed. Ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn’s disease (CD), collagenous colitis, and lymphocytic colitis are types of IBD, with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease being “classic” forms. Ulcerative colitis comes on slowly and results from inflammation of the inner lining of the colon and rectum. Crohn’s disease results from inflammation of various areas of the GI tract and leads to intense pain and diarrhea, which may subsequently …
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Cannabis-Based Medicine For Patients Living With Multiple Sclerosis
What Is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)? Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune, inflammatory condition which is caused by an attack from the body’s immune system on the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve cells in the central nervous system (CNS). The myelin sheath provides insulation to these cells to allow for fast conduction of signals throughout the body; destruction slows the speed of signals from the CNS to the body’s peripheral nervous system (PNS). This condition can also lead to destruction of the nerves themselves, which is irreversible. Due to the fact that the CNS is the …
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Finding The Optimal Therapeutic Ratio Of THC And CBD
In last week’s post we explored the entourage effect and how all the compounds within the cannabis plant work together to give the plant its therapeutic versatility. But one question remains in minds of many medical cannabis patients: “what is the optimal ratio of cannabinoids for my needs?” The answer, like many questions in the world of medicine, is still being researched. Given the fact that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the two most prominent chemical compounds in the cannabis plant, …