THCP is a newly discovered cannabinoid that is found at very low levels in some marijuana varieties and can be produced in a lab by changing the legal CBD derived from cannabis. It was discovered by accident by Italian researchers in 2019 while analyzing a specific marijuana strain.
The full name for THCP is Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinophol, which is sometimes abbreviated to Delta-9 THCP or THC-epithelial. Abbreviations include THCP, THC-P and THCp. One vendor calls it “Delta-p.”
Following the success of Delta-8 THC in the market, the cannabis industry has discovered a variety of cannabinoids derived from cannabis that compete with Delta-9 THC in traditional marijuana. These cannabinoids – Delta 8, Delta 10 THC and HHC – are popular in the diverse cannabis market and THCP is poised to join them.
While THCP may offer a powerful new recreational effect for users, it may also offer new therapeutic benefits for medical patients. Researchers have just begun to explore the potential benefits of THCP.
THCP is an organic cannabinoid (phytocannabinoid) very similar to Delta 9-THC, which is the most abundant cannabinoid in most varieties of marijuana. Although originally identified in a specific variety of marijuana, THCP can also be produced in a laboratory by chemically converting CBD extracted from legal cannabis plants.
Indeed, in order to produce enough THCP with real commercial value, it has to be done in a laboratory because there is not enough in actual cannabis flower for efficient extraction.
The molecular structure of THCP is significantly different from that of Delta 9. It has a longer alkyl side chain (the “tail” of atoms extending from the bottom of the larger part of the molecule). The oversized side chain – seven carbon atoms versus five in Delta 9 – allows THCP to bind more easily to the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 responders in the human body, meaning that its effects are likely to be more potent in the brain and body.
Almost everything we know about THCP comes from a 2019 study by a group of Italian academics who presented it to the world. So far, no research has been done in humans, so we know little about any safety issues or side effects of THCP, other than what we can assume based on the effects of other forms of THC.
THCP can cause psychotropic effects. The Italian researchers who discovered organic THCP through experiments on cultured human cells found that THCP binds 33 times more efficiently to the CB1 receptor compared to Delta 9-THC, probably due to its extended seven-atom side chain. The CB1 receptor is the most important cannabinoid receptor for producing psychotropic effects, but THCP also binds more readily to the CB2 receptor.
This is not to say that THCP will cause you to be 33 times more intense than traditional Delta 9-THC. There is probably a limit to each cannabinoid’s ability to activate endocannabinoid receptors, and each person reacts differently to each cannabinoid. However, while some of the 33 times greater inhibition of THCP may be lost in already overloaded cannabinoid receptors, it seems likely that THCP will be more potent than Delta 9-THC for many people. It can cause a very intense condition.
The scientists who discovered THCP say that the presence of small amounts of THCP in some marijuana strains may explain why these strains appear more potent to users than other strains containing similar or even higher levels of Delta 9-THC. In the future, cannabis breeders will likely create new varieties with higher concentrations of THCP to enhance its effects.
What is the effect of THCP? Because of THCP’s strong binding to cannabinoid receptors, it is likely to cause effects similar to those of Delta 9-THC, but perhaps even more pronounced.
THCP’s ability to bind so effectively to cannabinoid receptors in the body may make it highly valuable, not only as a recreational drug, but also for relieving pain, relieving nausea and improving sleep for users. Although THCP has not yet been extensively studied, it seems likely that its incomparable binding to the human body’s receptors would make it particularly useful for treating these and other conditions.
In fact, small (and previously unnoticed) amounts of THCP in existing marijuana varieties may already be responsible for some of the known therapeutic properties of cannabis. The scientists who discovered THCP in 2019 wrote that “the discovery of a particularly potent phytocannabinoid similar to THC may shed light on some pharmacological effects that cannot be attributed solely [Delta 9-THC]” to marijuana.
Of course, the strong THCP binding can also enhance the usual unwanted side effects of THC – such as dry mouth and eyes, restlessness and paranoia. It can even create new risks for users. However, until we see the results of research in human subjects, we’re mostly in the speculation phase.
THCP versus THC-O
THCP is very new. There has been no serious research (or many real-world observations) describing the experience of using THCP as a stand-alone cannabinoid. Few people have used it on its own, as almost all current commercial products containing THCP are mixtures of multiple THC analogues.
We don’t yet have enough knowledge to say exactly how you will feel using THCP versus THC-O, for example – or how THCP affects you compared to other popular cannabinoids derived from cannabis, such as Delta 8, Delta 10 or HHC. Again, typically the THCP products available contain a mixture of Delta 8 and THCP, or a cocktail containing multiple cannabis-derived cannabinoids. It is impossible to isolate the effects of one cannabinoid when mixed with two or three others.
In addition, the same researchers who discovered THCP also discovered cannabidiophol (CBDP) in the same cannabis sample. CBDP is a variant of cannabidiol (CBD), but with a seven-atom side chain, like THCP. It is possible that CBDP in the future may offer more profound therapeutic abilities than CBD, due to its increased bioactivity.
Whether THCP will show up in a drug test is not certain because it has not been studied. However, there is no reason to believe that THCP does not produce typical THC breakdown products in the human body that would be detected by the standard drug tests used by employers and police.
The basic idea is quite simple: no one knows for sure, so if your employer tests you for marijuana use, you should avoid THCP – and all forms of THC and other cannabinoids derived from cannabis (except safe forms of cannabidiol).
Is THCP legal and where is it sold?
Congress legalized cannabis and all its compounds and derivatives through the 2018 Farm Bill, provided they contain less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC. In May 2022, a federal court ruled that Delta 8 THC is a legal cannabis product – a ruling that appears to apply to other cannabis-derived products, protecting manufacturers, sellers, and users from federal enforcement.
However, some states have begun to act independently to keep cannabis-derived cannabinoids off store shelves, or to restrict them to licensed cannabis shops. Some states have banned or restricted the availability of Delta 8 THC only. However, other states could follow Oregon’s lead and ban all “artificial cannabinoid derivatives,” including THC-P.
THCP is now finding its place in the cannabinoid-derived cannabinoid market, and its market can be confusing. Most products labeled “THCP” actually contain mixtures of THCP with more common (and cheaper) cannabis-derived cannabinoids, such as Delta 8 THC, or contain a mixture of multiple cannabis-derived cannabinoids.
There are cartridges and vape supplies containing THCP and “THCP flowers”, which are cannabis flowers that have been infused or coated with THCP (or a mixture containing THCP).
Products with THCPs are available through online and physical retailers/stores selling cannabinoid products derived from cannabis.
