{"id":5300,"date":"2022-04-06T17:41:46","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T17:41:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/wp-home\/?p=200839"},"modified":"2022-04-06T17:41:46","modified_gmt":"2022-04-06T17:41:46","slug":"i-tried-thc-o-aka-the-spiritual-cannabinoid-heres-what-happened","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=5300","title":{"rendered":"I tried THC-O, aka the \u2018spiritual cannabinoid.\u2019 Here\u2019s what happened"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>  <title>I tried THC-O, aka the &#8216;spiritual cannabinoid.&#8217; Here&#8217;s what happened. | Leafly<\/title>     <!-- This is Index Exchange, a script\/\/3rd-party integration that interjects GAM. It needs to be 'ahead' of GTM in the DOM, which comes from Cephalopod. GTM loads GAM. 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You&#8217;re not old enough to use Leafly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"hidden age-gate__loading\">Redirecting you to<span class=\"redirect-domain\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-xs mt-auto\">By accessing this site, you accept<br \/>\nthe <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"tou-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/info\/terms-of-use\">Terms of Use<\/a><br \/>\nand <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"pp-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/info\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container my-xl\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col md:col-9\" id=\"article-content\">\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">For a couple of months, the THC-O vape cart lay on my desk, unopened. From time to time I\u2019d eye it warily, tempted to take a few puffs. I was, in a word, intimidated.<\/p>\n<p>THC-O\u2014also known as THC acetate\u2014is drastically more potent than other synthetic cannabinoids like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/science-tech\/what-is-delta8-thc\">delta-8 THC<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/strains-products\/what-is-hhc\">HHC<\/a>: Research suggests it\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/books.google.pt\/books?id=_tVJAQAAIAAJ&amp;dq=marijuana+chemistry&amp;q=&amp;redir_esc=y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">three times stronger<\/a> than conventional THC, earning it the nickname \u201cthe spiritual cannabinoid.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If there was even the slightest chance that THC-O would affect me like other, more \u201cspiritual\u201d substances like LSD or psilocybin, I knew I\u2019d only want to experience it outdoors, not cooped up at home or around lots of people.<\/p>\n<p>So on a moody afternoon in early spring, with much of the winter\u2019s snow and ice finally melted, I brought the THC-O cart on a hike near Missoula with my good friend and fellow cannabis connoisseur Ariana. It was time to put the spiritual cannabinoid to the test.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-is-thc-o\">What is THC-O?<\/h2>\n<p>Although THC-O only began to generate consumers\u2019 attention in the past two years\u2014sold primarily in vape carts and edibles\u2014the US military began studying its effects as long ago as the mid-20th century. Researchers wanted it to see if it would induce ataxia in dogs\u2014a condition that damages the nervous system. Their hunch was correct: It <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nap.edu\/read\/9136\/chapter\/5#79\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">eroded the dogs\u2019 muscle coordination<\/a> twice as much as conventional THC, or delta-9.<\/p>\n<p>Just like other synthesized cannabinoids, THC-O comes from hemp. To generate the molecule, CBD is first extracted from raw hemp, which\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/politics\/hemp-legalization-in-the-farm-bill-of-2018-history-politics\">thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill<\/a>\u2014is now fully legal. Then delta-8 THC is extracted from the CBD. Finally, a highly flammable compound called acetic anhydride is added to the delta-8 THC molecules to make THC-O acetate. Don\u2019t try this one at home.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t forget: Just because it is derived from legal hemp, THC-O is not legal in every state. Some have fully <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/science-tech\/who-invented-delta-8-thc-a-history-of-hemp-derived-cannabinoids\">banned the sale and production of synthetic cannabinoids<\/a>, and the federal government continues to send mixed messages about their legality. Our recommendation: Do your research before purchasing synthetic cannabinoid products.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-beginning-the-thc-o-journey\">Beginning the THC-O journey<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"613\" alt=\"man in black jeans and green sweater stands on a rise holding a vape pen with a snowy peak in the background\" class=\"wp-image-200838 has-ll lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/i-tried-thc-o-aka-the-spiritual-cannabinoid-heres-what-happened-1.jpg,compress&amp;w=550 550w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/i-tried-thc-o-aka-the-spiritual-cannabinoid-heres-what-happened-1.jpg,compress&amp;w=740 740w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/i-tried-thc-o-aka-the-spiritual-cannabinoid-heres-what-happened-1.jpg,compress&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/i-tried-thc-o-aka-the-spiritual-cannabinoid-heres-what-happened-1.jpg,compress&amp;w=1480 1480w\"><figcaption>Big high in Big Sky. (Ariana Newton for Leafly)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>NOTE: The following account is purely anecdotal and shouldn\u2019t be considered scientific or therapeutic evidence. Consumption results will vary.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>As Ariana and I began our maiden THC-O voyage at a trailhead just south of Missoula, I felt a mix of anxiety and excitement: This was something <em>new<\/em>. Neither of us knew what to expect.<\/p>\n<p>As we made our way up a series of switchbacks in the quiet, cool woods, I took a baby puff of the THC-O cart, from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bearlylegalhemp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bearly Legal Hemp Co.<\/a> The package listed it as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/strains\/green-crack\">Green Crack<\/a>, but that only referred to its terp profile: primarily <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/science-tech\/myrcene-terpene\">myrcene<\/a>, followed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/cannabis-101\/what-is-pinene-and-what-are-the-benefits-of-this-cannabis-terpene\">alpha-pinene<\/a>. The cart wasn\u2019t terribly terpy, but it didn\u2019t give off the brittle tang of some synthetic vapes, either. It tasted like pear-infused water.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In very small doses, THC-O proved to be mild, nearly innocuous. An eternal lightweight, I was relieved to not be battered by gale-force stoniness. Ariana has a much higher cannabis tolerance than me; she started with two solid puffs, and reported feeling similarly unimpacted.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/cannabis-101\/what-is-thc-o\" class=\"wp-block-leafly-blocks-leafly-single-inline-block leafly-inline-related-story\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"border border-deep-green-alt border-l-0 border-r-0 my-xl p-md font-bold\">\n<p>Related<\/p>\n<p>Meet THC-O, a hemp-derived compound three times stronger than THC<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>Thirty minutes later we emerged from the woods onto a bluff that looks north to town, and southwest to Lolo Peak. Light snowfall shrouded the summit, even as the sun emerged from the clouds to bathe us in warm afternoon light.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It felt like the right time to go a little deeper with the THC-O. I took one big puff; Ariana took three or four. We walked out on the bluff, took in the view, and turned around, back towards the trail.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And that\u2019s when the THC-O kicked into high gear.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-thc-o-felt-like-a-tiny-hit-of-acid\">THC-O felt like a tiny hit of acid<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"612\" alt=\"young woman with long brown hair and black t shirt reading Laganja with a green pot leaf exhales from a vape pen in front of a large stand of pine trees\" class=\"wp-image-200837 has-ll lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/i-tried-thc-o-aka-the-spiritual-cannabinoid-heres-what-happened-2.jpg,compress&amp;w=550 550w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/i-tried-thc-o-aka-the-spiritual-cannabinoid-heres-what-happened-2.jpg,compress&amp;w=740 740w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/i-tried-thc-o-aka-the-spiritual-cannabinoid-heres-what-happened-2.jpg,compress&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/i-tried-thc-o-aka-the-spiritual-cannabinoid-heres-what-happened-2.jpg,compress&amp;w=1480 1480w\"><figcaption>Friends don\u2019t let friends test THC-O alone. (Max Savage Levenson for Leafly)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>THC-O initially delivered an airy head high similar to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/strains\/jack-herer\">Jack Herer<\/a> but without any of the raciness that many consumers get from strong sativas. It also brought on a light, almost buttery body high that I could feel in my thighs as we made our way slowly down the muddy trail.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But its most noticeable effect proved to be much more akin to a small dose of LSD than any marijuana I\u2019ve ever tried. In other words, the THC-O made me feel like a wide-eyed kid: epically curious, playful, keen to touch and feel and stare at everything in wonder.<\/p>\n<p>The sun began to set behind us and threw the pines and shrubs into gorgeous and sharp relief. We both ran our hands through the soft pine needles on either side of the path as we passed and took in deep gulps of crisp, fresh air. Weed had never hit me like that; Ariana agreed.<\/p>\n<p>Every few minutes we\u2019d pause to marvel at the views of the snowy peaks, framed by the lush trees. I found myself staring intently at knots and whorls in the tree bark, at the texture of the shrubs and grasses, and at the puffy Pixar-esque clouds drifting above.<\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/science-tech\/who-invented-delta-8-thc-a-history-of-hemp-derived-cannabinoids\" class=\"wp-block-leafly-blocks-leafly-single-inline-block leafly-inline-related-story\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"border border-deep-green-alt border-l-0 border-r-0 my-xl p-md font-bold\">\n<p>Related<\/p>\n<p>Who invented delta-8 THC? A history of hemp-derived cannabinoids<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>The high evolved as we made our way back towards the car, and we became a tad spacier. Ariana and I both stumbled a tiny bit on the path. It seemed like the military\u2019s dog research applied to us, too\u2026<\/p>\n<p>And then the munchies came on <em>strong<\/em>. We spent the last twenty minutes of the hike discussing nothing but warm cookies. Arriving back at the car, we made a beeline for the nearest restaurant, hopeful they\u2019d have something to sate our sweet tooths.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-a-pleasant-and-slow-comedown\">A pleasant and slow comedown<\/h2>\n<p>We were both surprised by the duration of the THC-O high. Nearly two hours after our big puffs, we still felt giddy. The experience faded slowly and gently: I didn\u2019t feel fully re-tethered to reality until a good four hours after we had first smoked.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m really happy that I finally gave this notoriously potent cannabinoid a try. I recommend trying it for yourself. Definitely go slow.<\/p>\n<p>Is THC-O actually three times more potent than THC? It didn\u2019t feel that way to me. But no matter, it offered an experience that was much more impactful than insanely strong weed. To me, that\u2019s more interesting, more exciting, and honestly, just better.<\/p>\n<div id=\"author-box\" class=\"p-lg my-xxl bg-white rounded border border-light-grey elevation-low\">\n<div class=\"mb-lg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/i-tried-thc-o-aka-the-spiritual-cannabinoid-heres-what-happened.jpg\" alt=\"Max Savage Levenson's Bio Image\" class=\"lazyload inline-block mr-md rounded-full border border-light-grey\"> <\/p>\n<p>Max Savage Levenson<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"text-sm\">Max Savage Levenson likely has the lowest cannabis tolerance of any writer on the cannabis beat. He also writes about music for Pitchfork, Bandcamp and other bespectacled folk. He co-hosts The Hash podcast. His dream interview is Tyler the Creator.<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"text-sm font-bold underline text-green\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/author\/max-savage-levenson\">View Max Savage Levenson&#8217;s articles<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"leafly-horizontal-other-articles\">\n<div class=\"mb-lg flex justify-between items-end\">\n<h2>The latest in Strains &amp; products<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/category\/strains-products\" class=\"block text-green text-sm whitespace-no-wrap font-bold\">Show all<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"leafly-sailthru-signup p-lg my-xl bg-white rounded elevation-low border border-light-grey\">\n<p class=\"text-xs pt-lg\">By submitting this form, you will be subscribed to news and promotional emails from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\">Leafly<\/a> and you agree to Leafly&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/tos\">Terms of Service<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. You can unsubscribe from Leafly email messages anytime.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- Chartbeat --> <!-- End Chartbeat -->  <!--\nPerformance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: https:\/\/www.boldgrid.com\/w3-total-cache\/ Served from: _ @ 2022-04-06 11:37:02 by W3 Total Cache\n--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I tried THC-O, aka the &#8216;spiritual cannabinoid.&#8217; Here&#8217;s what happened. | Leafly Link copied to your clipboard Leafly Leafly \u00ae Loading\u2026 Where are you from? noyes Remember me for 30 days. I confirm that this is not a shared device. Darn! You&#8217;re not old enough to use Leafly. Redirecting you to By accessing this site, you accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. For a couple of months, the THC-O vape cart lay on my desk, unopened. From time to time I\u2019d eye it warily, tempted to take a few puffs. I was, in a word, intimidated. THC-O\u2014also known&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5301,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marijuana_information"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/i-tried-thc-o-aka-the-spiritual-cannabinoid-heres-what-happened.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5300"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5300\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}