THC

Cannabis is a complex plant that contains hundreds of natural chemical substances. More than 100 of these are known as cannabinoids, which are compounds made and stored in the plant’s trichomes. Trichomes are the tiny, resinous glands that stick out from the flowers and leaves of the plant.

What is THC?

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one of the most well-known and well-researched cannabinoids; you’ll see it mentioned on the labels of legal cannabis products (often referred to as ‘potency’).

THC effects cell receptors in the brain and body.  When cannabis is inhaled or ingested, it can change how these cells communicate with each other.

THC is responsible for the feeling of intoxication (the ‘high’) that’s sometimes experienced when people consume cannabis. THC has some therapeutic effects, but it also has some potentially harmful effects (If you have concerns about the effects of THC, speak with your healthcare provider).

How does THC work?

Cannabinoids such as THC mimic the natural ‘endocannabinoid’ chemicals that our bodies produce.  In fact, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) was named after the cannabinoid compounds in cannabis. 

The ECS is an internal system that helps to regulate a number of biological functions including appetite, mood, pain sensations, balance, memory, fertility, and movement.  Our natural endocannabinoids interact with receptors called CB1 and CB2 as part of this system. 

When introduced to our system through inhaling or ingesting cannabis, cannabinoids will also interact with these CB1 and CB2 receptors, creating sensations that affect our body and mind. THC binds with the CB1 receptors, which exist in greater concentrations in our brains. This may explain why consuming THC can result in these feelings of intoxication or being ‘high’.

How do I know how much THC is in a product?

To find out the THC potency of a product you can see the concentration of THC shown on the label as a percentage of THC by weight (in dried flower and concentrates such as shatter), by volume in an oil (mg/ml), and as a total amount in edibles and beverages.

Some people prefer to consume products that are higher in the cannabinoid CBD than THC. CBD does not cause intoxication, and may mitigate some of the intoxicating effects of THC when consumed in cannabis that has a higher CBD to THC ratio (at least 2:1). Some products identify the ratio of THC to CBD (for example, products labeled 1:1 contain equal amounts of each).

Look out for products labeled “High-THC” on our website and in our store; this means that the dried flower products contain at least 14% THC.

What are the limits?

THC limits vary across product categories. Flower has no THC limit. Edibles may contain up to a total of 10mg per package, inhalable extracts (vapes/concentrates) and ingestible extracts (oils) may contain up to 1000mg of THC per package, with a maximum of 10mg of THC per unit in the case of capsules.   

Start low and go slow

Health Canada suggests that new consumers look for edible products that contain 2.5 mg of THC or less and remember that, while effects can be felt within 30 minutes to two hours, it can take up to four hours to feel the full effects of edibles.

When it comes to inhaling cannabis, Health Canada suggests starting with one or two puffs of a vape or dried flower with 10% (100 mg/g) or less THC to start. Effects can be felt in seconds to minutes, but it might take up to 30 minutes to feel the full effects. The concentration (% or mg/g) of THC can be found on the label. Always read the label to understand the strength of the product. Choose products with a low amount of THC and an equal or higher amount of CBD.

Looking for high THC weed From Ajax Cannabis Dispensary?

Then you’re in the right place! We’ve taken care to stock our Ajax Cannabis dispensary with some of the best legal High THC FLOWER,PRE-ROLLS AND VAPES in Ontario. Come by and visit us today or check out our online menu right now to see what we’ve got in stock!

Start low and go slow if you choose to consume products that contain THC. 

Many newcomers to cannabis have questions about THC, and for good reason. THC percentages are displayed prominently on all of the products you will find in our menu and on our shelves. But just what does THC mean and why is it so important? 

What Does THC Mean?

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. It is responsible for the intoxicating and mind-altering effects that cannabis produces, and is also believed to have a wide range of therapeutic benefits. THC creates the pleasurable feelings that we typically associate with cannabis by stimulating the brain to release dopamine, which in turn causes euphoria. It’s not just the most abundant cannabinoid in cannabis, but is also widely considered to be the most important. Cannabis without THC is a little bit like non-alcoholic beer. 

Is a Higher THC Percentage Better?

Because of THC’s desireable intoxicating and therapeutic benefits, many strains have been specially-bred to feature higher levels of it. Nowadays it’s not uncommon to see cannabis strains with THC levels that reach over 25%, and sometimes even over 30%. However, a strain’s THC percentage doesn’t quite tell the whole story. 

There are many other cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other compounds in the cannabis plant whose effects and benefits can’t be ignored. In fact, well over 100 individual cannabinoids and over 100 individual terpenes have been identified in cannabis. It’s believed that the many cannabis compounds found in a strain or a product come together to produce more complete effects than THC can on its own. This phenomenon, called ‘the entourage effect’, states that these many compounds work together in synergy to produce the buzz commonly associated with specific strains or products. 

When Cannabis Compounds Work Together

A good example of the entourage effect in action is distillate vape oils. Distillate oils are made through a complex distillation process that separates each compound found in the source material, leaving behind only pure THC. After, some terpenes are usually added in order to give the oil flavor.

However, some people have noticed that the buzz produced by distillates is shorter and feels less full when compared to smoking flower buds or vaping other kinds of concentrates. That’s because the entourage effect is lacking since very few natural cannabis compounds besides THC exist in these oils. Nevertheless, many people prefer the high-THC buzz that distillate produces as they feel it allows them to focus better, and since they prefer a shorter high. 

One recent study from the University of Colorado found that users of concentrates containing massive THC levels did not necessarily report feeling more intoxicated than those who smoked flower with less THC. This has led researchers to believe that less THC is necessary to feel ‘high’ than most people think.

THC percentage isn’t the only thing that matters when it comes to enjoying cannabis. Many people looking for the strongest high possible choose strains and products based on their THC content, but this isn’t actually a very good strategy. Shopping for the highest THC cannabis on the shelves is like shopping for the strongest alcohol you can find. But as we all know, there’s much more than alcohol content that goes into making a drink enjoyable. 
Is higher THC necessarily better? Probably not. And if you’re new to cannabis or still experimenting, it’s probably a good idea to start on the lower end of the THC spectrum.

Looking for High THC Weed From An Ajax Cannabis Dispensary?

Then you’re in the right place! We’ve taken care to stock our Ajax Cannabis dispensary with some of the best legal High THC FLOWER,PRE-ROLLS and VAPES in Ontario. Come by and visit us today or check out our online menu right now to see what we’ve got in stock!