Tetrahydrocannabutol (THC-B) is a newly discovered cannabinoid that was first isolated in a laboratory in 2019. It has a molecular composition similar to that of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but it differs in the structure of its atomic side chain. THC has a pentyl group in its side chain, and THC-B has a butyl group in its side chain. The cannabinoid CBD also has a variation with a butyl group, called CBD-B.
THC-B and THC are homologous with one another, meaning that the two molecules have the same functional group and thus produce the same characteristic reactions. The only difference between the two is in the structures of their atomic side chains, which doesn’t affect the molecules on a functional basis.
In animal tests, THC-B was observed to produce effects similar to those of THC. It’s been suggested, though, that THC-B binds more strongly to the CB-1 cannabinoid receptors in the brain than THC. If that’s true, you may find that THC-B produces a stronger effect than THC. However, many novel cannabinoids have hit the market over the past few years, and none of them have been studied to any great extent. The reports of THC-B’s potency are primarily anecdotal in nature, so you’ll have to try it and come to your own conclusion.
If you’re trying to figure out what THC-B is and determine whether it has a place in your cannabinoid routine, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’re going to explain what THC-B is and answer the questions that you’re likely to have about it.
How Is THC-B Made?
Novel cannabinoids like THC-B usually begin their life as CBD extracted from industrial hemp. Over the past several years, the CBD industry has grown rapidly. Farmers and hemp processors have rushed to join the profitable industry, and that has resulted in a surplus of CBD. Because all cannabinoids are molecularly similar to one another, it’s possible to convert one cannabinoid to another by combining it with the right solvent or catalyst. Here’s a summary of the process:
- Hemp flowers are collected, ground into a fine powder and placed in an extraction machine that uses carbon dioxide to release the plant material’s essential oils.
- The raw hemp distillate is filtered and refined to isolate the CBD content as a crystalline powder. The powder is CBD isolate. It’s over 99-percent pure, and it’s the basis of virtually all novel cannabinoid products.
- The CBD isolate is combined with a catalyst or solvent that converts it to THC-B. The solvent is then removed, leaving a nearly pure THC-B distillate as the final product.
THC-B is a natural cannabinoid that has been isolated within the cannabis plant. Cannabis doesn’t contain enough THC-B, however, to make direct extraction practical. When you find it in a commercial product, THC-B will always be synthesized in a laboratory.
Does THC-B Have Any Side Effects?
Because THC-B is functionally similar to THC, it’s likely to have similar side effects if it’s overconsumed. Some of the potential side effects of THC-B may include dry mouth, headache, nausea and overwhelming physical or mental sensations. Any unpleasant side effects resulting from overconsumption will fade within an hour or two. Because distillate-based products such as THC-B vape cartridges are much more highly concentrated than dry herbs, you should always start slowly when using THC-B for the first time. Take a few puffs and wait a while to take inventory of how you feel. With a bit of experience, you’ll determine how much THC-B you need to use to reach your desired state. You can always use more THC-B if you need to, but you can’t take it away after you’ve already consumed it.
Will THC-B Get You High?
Yes. As we mentioned above, the functional parts of the THC and THC-B molecules are the same, and that means THC-B should produce the same effects that you’re accustomed to experiencing when you use THC. Some of the available information suggests that THC-B may have a greater affinity for the CB-1 receptors in the brain, which could potentially mean that it can deliver a stronger high than THC. Your personal experience may vary, but it’s safe to say that the effects of THC and THC-B are very similar.
Once again, it’s important to mention that THC typically comes from whole cannabis flowers, whereas THC-B is only available in distillate form. Distillates are naturally more concentrated than whole flowers, so you can expect a more potent experience on that basis alone if you have no previous experience with oil vaporizers.
What Are the Benefits of THC-B?
So, if THC-B is so similar to THC, what specific benefits does it have compared to its better-known relative? When you consider the legal status of THC-B, everything becomes much clearer. We’ll discuss this in greater detail shortly, but THC-B products are legal federally and in most states. Therefore, you can most likely buy THC-B products even if your state has no cannabis dispensaries and no medical or recreational cannabis program. Because THC-B is homologous to THC, you can expect it to produce similar effects. In that sense, THC-B presents an opportunity for you to enjoy a familiar experience as a cannabis user without needing to obtain products from informal and potentially unsafe sources.
How to Buy THC-B Safely
Before you buy a THC-B product, you need to know two things about it in order to ensure that the product is safe. THC-B can be based on either Delta-8 or Delta-9 THC. For legality, you need to know that you’re buying the Delta-8 version. You can generally assume this to be the case, but it’s good to know for sure.
You also want to confirm the purity of the THC-B distillate that you’re buying. Converting CBD to another cannabinoid is a lengthy process that often involves the use of dangerous chemicals and solvents. Those chemicals need to be removed before the resulting distillate is packaged and sold as a finished product.
Before the product hits the market, the producer needs to send it to a third-party lab to confirm that it has the right cannabinoid – in the right potency – and that all residual solvents and other chemicals have been removed. If the maker of a THC-B product doesn’t have lab tests available for you to download and read, buy from another seller. There’s no shortage of sellers offering novel cannabinoid products today.
THC-B FAQs
In this section of our THC-B guide, we’ll answer the most commonly asked questions about THC-B. If you have a question that we haven’t answered elsewhere in this guide, you’ll most likely find the information you need here.
Is THC-B Legal?
THC-B is legal federally, and it is legal in most states. To be legal, it must be derived from industrial hemp with a Delta-9 THC content below 0.3 percent. The THC-B product itself must also have a Delta-9 THC content below 0.3 percent. It isn’t legal where it is banned or where THC analogs are banned.
How Strong Is THC-B?
THC-B is at least as strong as Delta-9 THC, with some suggesting that it could potentially be even stronger due to its efficiency in binding to the CB-1 receptors. Since it is only available as a distillate, you will definitely find THC-B stronger than whole cannabis flowers.
Is THC-B Safe?
As with most novel cannabinoids, the long-term safety of THC-B has not been studied. It is chemically similar to THC, but it isn’t the same molecule. For maximum safety, it’s wise to buy THC-B only from sellers that conduct thorough lab reports and allow customers to view the results.
How Long Does the THC-B High Last?
Because the functional portion of the THC-B molecule is the same as that of the THC molecule, you can expect the high to last about the same amount of time. If you’re vaping THC-B oil, the high will last roughly two or three hours. Edibles will take longer to kick in but will also last longer.
Summary
Reading this article, you’ve learned what THC-B is, and you’ve also learned about the effects that you can expect to experience when using it.
More importantly, you’ve learned what the most exciting thing is about THC-B – it’s the fact that it’s legal in most states and produces an effect very similar to Delta-9 THC. If you’ve tried other novel cannabinoids like Delta-8 or Delta-10 and found that they don’t quite provide the traditional cannabis experience you’re looking for, you may find yourself much happier with THC-B because it’ll provide a more familiar experience.
Although there are many types of THC-B products on the market today, the most common way to use THC-B is by vaping it. When you shop for THC-B products online, some of the vaping products that you’ll find include disposable vapes, bottled vape oils and pre-filled vape cartridges. If you want to get the maximum effect from THC-B and avoid wasting material, you need to use high-quality vaping equipment. Shop our selection of oil vaporizers and 510 batteries now.