What Is Considered High THC?

2022-07-15 19:02:00 By : Ms. Alice Chen

Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant. It has been considered very effective in treating various illnesses aided by its naturally found cannabinoids and terpenes properties. Each of these properties fulfills a distinct function that makes the euphoric and relaxing effects of the drug — making it useful for medicinal and recreational use. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main chemical responsible for most cannabis products’ psychoactive effects, including giving its users that feeling of elation and high. The higher the THC numbers, the higher the product’s effects, making it imperative for cannabis users to have complete knowledge about safe THC levels and what is considered high THC to heed to their needs.

There are THC Products also available such as thc gummies , thc carts & thc vape pens . 

You will notice a label showing their THC percentage when you purchase cannabis from dispensary shelves or get cannabis seeds from a seed bank. This label helps the user know the product’s THC content and determine its potency level — a higher THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) level generally results in a more intoxicating effect than usual. However, higher THC numbers may also lead to several adverse effects, including paranoia, nausea, and anxiety, amongst other things. A cannabis product is said to have a high THC level when its concentration is more than 15%. However, deciding if a 15% THC level is too low or high depends on an individual since 15% is low for some while it’s higher for others.

A high THC flower variety has a THC concentration of 30%. On the contrary, this figure can be regarded as low for some since some products have up to 60% or higher THC percentage, a good example being butane-hash-oil cannabis extracts.

Some cannabis users consider high-THC-flower with a 15% THC level as high. In contrast, with more experienced users, a 20% THC level may not be able to provide them with the same intoxicating effect and potency as they’re used to. Conversely, even a 10% THC level can have a powerful intoxicating impact on a novice user. Therefore, the high THC percentage depends on a person’s experience with the product.

THC levels also differ between the types and strains of cannabis products. For instance, some cannabis products have low THC-Strains, barely 1%, whereas others have a higher THC strain, and their concentration can reach 20% and above. When buying cannabis products, you will encounter terms like premium, high-grade, and robust. This term refers to THC levels but doesn’t necessarily mean its product’s quality.

Several people who use cannabis for recreational purposes go for strains with higher THC since it offers more potent and definite psychoactive effects. This makes them more active, creative, focused, and motivated, resulting in an uplifting effect. Moreover, the dosage one takes doesn’t always match the high potency level you will get.

Knowing what a high THC content means makes it easier to get high THC weed strains with high THC concentrations. However, the main issue with several cannabis users is they believe that products with less than 25% THC level have low potency. The highest THC level available on strains used at dispensaries is over 30% THC. There are no cannabis products with a THC content of over 40%, and you are less likely to get a product with over 35%. The highest THC strain level ranges between 30%–35%.

Various products have different THC percentages, depending on the cannabis strain and product used. US federal law states that CBD products should have less than 0.3% THC level, and full-spectrum cannabis products can have as low as 5% THC level and go as high as 25%.

THC percentage levels have increased sharply for several decades, and this disparity makes cannabis products to be stronger than they were before. Cannabis edibles have high potency and higher amounts of THC. Marijuana, in turn, has consistently been a rich source for higher levels of THC.

Different cannabis varieties, including Bruce Banner, 99 Problems, Chocolate OG, Grease Monkey, Ghost OG, etc., have measured 29% THC levels and higher. Other strains with higher THC concentrations include OG Chem and Wappa, which tested for approximately 26%.

The most potent strains deliver the highest amount of THC. Moreover, the best potent weed strains aren’t just rich in cannabinoids and have certain terpenes like caryophyllene, limonene, and myrcene. The terpenes will offer entourage effects to consumers. Moreover, they also enrich cannabis strains with distinct aromas.

Several people believe that more THC leads to having a more significant high. However, the case may differ with experienced cannabis consumers who already have a THC tolerance. Moreover, how intoxicated one becomes will depend on how one ingests the cannabis product. Concentrates with higher THC aren’t essentially more intoxicating compared to a low-level cannabis flower. The reason is that cannabinoid receptors can be more saturated with THC content, leading to a diminishing effect because of the extra THC. Moreover, less experienced consumers are more sensitive to THC effects.

Another factor determining how high you feel after consuming cannabis with a high THC cannabis is the level of CBD and other elements to balance the effects. The ratio of CBD and THC helps if you have no experience with cannabis. Cannabinoids operate in tandem and improve the anti-inflammatory effects via the entourage effect as they reduce some THC effects. For instance, terpenes like pinene help mitigate some of THC’s effects on memory loss.

The way you will take the cannabis product also matters. For instance, smoking or eating marijuana baked products with the same amount will have more intoxicated effects from baked goods, unlike smoked products. This difference is determined by how the body metabolizes and processes THC. In simple language, eating marijuana leads to more psychoactive effects, unlike smoking.

After taking cannabis products with higher THC content, different people will have different feelings. One may feel they want to sleep off, relax as they watch TV, listen to music, etc. Other people crave food and prefer partying or engaging in an enjoyable activity. Moreover, the effect lasts only for a few hours and fades away.

Different people can experience distinct effects after taking a similar THC amount. However, the results greatly depend on the consumer’s tolerance level, amount of THC consumed, BMI, and the dosage it was taken in. The effects of taking cannabis with a higher amount of THC can last for several hours.

The dangers and side effects of taking products with high amounts of THC are related to their impact on the brain and even some physical symptoms. New cannabis users shouldn’t be taking a high THC level product as their bodies are not used to such a high chemical strain. Experienced users have increased tolerance to THC effects, unlike newbie users. Beginners should start with a low-level THC strain and improve gradually as their bodies build a tolerance to cannabis products.

Strain having higher THC content leads to more potent psychoactive effects rise in euphoria and energy while also inducing nausea. Some of the risk linked to taking too much THC includes:

These adverse effects are usually mild with a low THC percentage and moderate with a very potent THC level. However, if these symptoms become recurring or severe, please seek medical help. One can drink juice mixed with water to help with hydration for mild effects. It will also help in neutralizing cannabinoid profiles, including terpenes. Chewing black peppercorns may also help in negating some of the symptoms.

To farm cannabis plants with high THC levels, you must employ a few practical steps to improve your crops. This includes:

Furthermore, growth experience is also more beneficial. Knowing how to take care of the plants will help a lot. You are the primary determinant of how your cannabis plant will grow. The conditions they grow in improve the plant’s health and nutrition, among other things. Improving the conditions means investing in lighting, ensuring the right temperature, etc. Employing all of these raises the THC level of the cannabis plant and the harvest.

Remember, cannabis quality decreases over time since it’s affected by humidity, light, and warmth. Sunlight and warmth change the THC chemical to cannabinol (CBN), its non-psychoactive counterpart, and CBN is more similar to CBD, unlike THC. Thus, it would be best to keep your weed inside an airtight container and away from heat sources and direct sunlight to retain its peak THC levels.

Buds lose about 16% of THC content in one year when stored in a dark, dry, and cool place, making them significantly less psychoactive than fresh cannabis flowers. If you purchase a cannabis product containing 20% THC, it will not have the same level and effect after keeping it for one year.

With CBD edibles, it may take prolonged periods to feel the effects in comparison to smoking them. However, with edibles, these effects will also last longer; one can experience this for up to 8 hours.

In the past few decades, medicinal cannabis producers maintained low THC levels, around 10%. At present, you’re likely to get strains that have three times more THC amount. Breeders have made this possible by cross breeding strains to get perfect strain genetics with higher THC levels. Moreover, newer farming methods with better conditions have allowed the growth of healthier, more potent cannabis plants with increased terpenes and cannabinoids.

However, one of the consequences of breeding to get ultra-high THC strains is it leads to having little or no CBD. Less CBD means the consumer will have less efficient therapeutic effects since CBD offers calming and medicinal properties.

Before, cannabis concentrates didn’t have the same taste as raw THC flowers. For example, cannabis distillate was a clear, tasteless liquid when flavonoids and terpenes were added. The concentrate changed the cannabis industry by creating live resin and developing a closed-loop system known for its intense flavor, the same as raw plant material. It has higher THC levels and terpenes.

THC in cannabinoids is responsible for intoxicating and mind-altering effects, often referred to as a ‘high.’ Most consumers believe the higher the THC level, the more intoxicating and beneficial the therapeutic effects it has, but this isn’t the case.

The cannabis plant also has more other cannabinoids apart from THC. These aromatic compounds, called terpenes, and THC compounds, work together to offer an overall cannabis effect. Ironically, cannabis products with higher THC levels are dangerous compared to those with lower ones, and the case is different with terpene and cannabinoid profiles.

Presently, terpenes have gained more attention because of it’s contributions to cannabis effects. Terpenes are aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, and people only knew these compounds by the taste and smell they offered. However, terpenes also provide a therapeutic effect. Due to these, more consumers believe that strains having higher terpene profiles are more beneficial, unlike strains that only have THC.

Apart from concentrating on the THC level in a product, there are more other cannabinoids available in a cannabis product. These include full-spectrum CBD, terpenes, CBN, flavonoids, etc. All these compounds jointly contribute to the psychoactive effects of the product.

Knowing the THC level available in cannabis helps consumers estimate how potent the product is and how it will affect them. Moreover, various cannabis consumption methods significantly impact how and when your body will process the THC. The THC bioavailability refers to the rate at which your body absorbs the drug. It varies depending on how you consume it, altering the amount that gets into your bloodstream. Some of the most known consumption methods with their estimated bioavailability include:

This ingestion method refers to putting cannabis oils below your tongue, and the cannabinoid will diffuse via the oral mucosa to your bloodstream. This consumption method differs from edibles since it evades the liver and is absorbed much faster. In addition, sublingual administration gives a broad and varying bioavailability that ranges from 2% to 40%.

This ingestion method includes consuming capsules, edibles, and oils. This method of administration sends cannabinoids via the liver and digestive tract. Just 4% to 12% of THC gets into circulation via this method. However, cannabis doesn’t stay in its original state for long. The liver changes these cannabinoids to 11-hydroxy-THC, a high potency THC.

This method involves inhaling cannabinoids through vaping or smoking. The technique introduces these compounds to your lungs, where they are diffused into your bloodstream via the alveoli. Inhaling cannabinoids with quick and direct access means you will have the best bioavailability rate, which is 30%. This means psychoactive effects occur within a few minutes of the cannabis being inhaled.

Finding a cannabis product with a THC level above 25% is hard. However, some brands indicate on the packaging that their product has about 25% to 30% THC levels. Usually, the top-quality cannabis available has a THC level of between 25% and 30%.

Brands should use independent labs to test their product since data from third-party labs is more accurate.

The THC amount required to get one high differs between people. Inexperienced cannabis consumers may get high from vaping weed which contains 5mg to 10mg of THC. In addition, an experienced user may need to consume five times that to feel high. If it’s cannabis edibles, experienced users should take about one gram of oil with about 700mg of THC.

It involves a complicated biochemical process which is known as pharmacokinetics. This biochemical process controls the absorption, metabolism, distribution, and elimination of THC inside your body. The THC interacts with the endocannabinoid system when inside the body — stimulating the pleasure part of the brain, releasing dopamine, and numbing pain.

Unfortunately, no low-cost, reliable method will help determine the THC level at your home’s comfort. There have been several low-cost analysis devices that have come and gone over the years. Sensor manufacturers have claimed the product was capable of measuring THC potency quickly, repeatedly, and accurately. However, none of these machines were reliable. An excellent method of measuring THC levels is by using a professional analytical lab. However, it’s costly to get terpenes or cannabinoids measured.

Indica, hybrids, and sativa are the leading cannabis strain families with higher THC. You can easily get these cannabis products at cannabis dispensaries.

This strain variety has the highest level of THC. However, this strain has a low CBD level. They offer a refreshing and stimulating effect, making them suitable for daytime consumption.

This kind of sativa strain has about 21 percent THC content. It offers an uplifting effect. People consume this stain to aid with stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and mild headaches.

This is an award-winning strain, and it has 21% THC content. With this strain, cannabis connoisseurs feel happy even when depressed. It’s suitable for easing stress, depression, anxiety, pain, and fatigue.

This strain makes users feel relaxed and happy. The strain has 22% THC content. Moreover, Hawaiian strain helps in relieving fatigue, depression, stress, anxiety, and pain.

The Thai strain has a 22% THC level, uplifting users and making them feel focused. It also helps in easing pain, stress, and depression symptoms.

This strain has a THC concentration of 23%. Consumers who use Silver Haze claim it helps ease stress, depression, anxiety, pain, and poor appetite.

This hybrid variety, but it’s mostly sativa. This strain has 26% to 31% of THC content. This strain acts fast, and it’s able to produce an intense mental health effect. Besides, this strain helps in easing stress, depression, and nausea.

This strain type has more CBD content than THC. Due to this, you won’t get several pure indica strains with THC content.

This strain originated from Los Angeles, and it contains 21% of THC. The strain helps as pain relief and in relaxing.

It has about 23% of THC level. The strain is best in boosting creativity and relieving chronic pain, depression symptoms, and stress.

These strain types are derived from crossbreeding indica and sativa strains. Moreover, the effects of these strains depend on the ratio of blend.

Has a THC content of 21%. This strain helps in relieving stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

Has 24% of THC. This strain helps in relieving chronic pain, anxiety, stress, and insomnia.

Banana OG has 23% of THC. The strain helps ease muscle pain, improve appetite, and reduce insomnia.

Other hybrid strain varieties include Ghost OG, White Tahoe Cookies, Lemon Kush, Gorilla Glue, The White, and Bruce Banner.

If planning to use cannabis, particularly high-THC strains, you should consider these tips to reduce the adverse side effects:

The highest THC level recorded in a strain of cannabis is approximately 29%, which was for Ghost OG. Additionally, Ghost OG is an award-winning cannabis hybrid.

A product has a high-THC level if it contains more than 15% THC content. Those with more than 25% THC are categorized as very high THC.

One of the most common mistakes while cooking with cannabis is overcooking/overheating the edible. The excess heat degrades THC. THC is sensibly stable when making edibles, but you shouldn’t subject it to higher temperatures for long. The optimum temperature for baking is to keep between 180° to 240°F; Users should avoid frying edibles as the temperatures are way too high.

No. One of the most common mistakes people make is mixing up these terms. Cannabinoids are the natural chemical compounds found in cannabis. Cannabinoids are responsible for numerous bodily effects and contain potential health benefits. Cannabidiol (CBD), on the other hand, is a form of cannabinoid most prevalently found in hemp but has made its way to other CBD products as well. CBD is mainly known for its therapeutic and calming effects.

The three main factors determining the level of THC include cannabis variety, various cannabis products, and consumer experience. Cannabis edibles and extracts are the most potent varieties of marijuana products. Ghost OG has the highest levels of THC. If you’re new to cannabis, you need to play it safe. Start with a low quantity and increase gradually as your body builds tolerance. The THC level in cannabis products is more concerned with the substance’s psychoactive effects. If you want cannabis products for medicinal or recreational use, you should adopt a high-THC, high-CBD, and cannabinoid mixture. Additionally, you should seek a doctor’s suggestion on THC dosages that are right for you.