9 Fast Facts About Newly Discovered Cannabinoids
Whether you’re a recreational or medicinal cannabis user in Canada — or both — it might take a lot to surprise you these days. Or even impress you.
Headlines touting the legalization of marijuana, the arrival of “Cannabis 2.0” and the continued expansion of the cannabis consumer category have already come and gone, haven’t they? What new news could possibly be so unexpected and potentially amazing to even compare, or to catch you off guard to the same extent? You’ve already heard it all, right?
But surprised and/or impressed is probably exactly what you were a couple months ago when news first broke that scientists had not only discovered two new cannabinoids (THCP and CBDP), but that one of them (THCP) was allegedly 30 times more potent than THC.
You read that correctly: 30 freakin’ times more potent!!
Does that mean it gets you 30 times as stoned? Or, alternatively, might it be possible that it isn’t even psychoactive at all?
The answers to those questions are currently unknown. Still, we’re not totally in the dark about THCP and CBDP. Here are nine fast facts about what we do know.
1. Research on THCP is still in its infancy, while CBDP hasn’t been studied yet.
Incidentally, this is the case even though CBDP was discovered before THCP!
2. The discovery of these cannabinoids is thanks to advancements in a tool scientists use to weigh the mass of atoms and identify compounds.
That tool is called mass spectrometry!
3. The discovery of THCP could further explain some of the variability in getting high.
In other words, why smoking different cannabis blends can give notably different feelings.
4. Through a behavioural test on mice, it was indicated that THCP can have similar pharmacological effects to THC.
It caused hypomotility, analgesia, catalepsy and decreased rectal temperature, thereby indicating a similar cannabimimetic activity.
5. Likewise, in mice, it also appeared THCP was more active than THC at lower doses.
So, there’s that, too!
6. For now, what THCP and CBDP could be useful for is still undetermined.
But, it’s possible these chemicals could treat certain conditions better than their counterparts. They could also have entirely novel medical applications — or none at all. Frankly, we won’t understand much more without clinical trials, which could take several years to happen.
The end!
Wait, what’s that you say? That was only six fast facts, when we had promised nine? Right you are. Here are the final three. We just thought it was best we split them up, as these next ones admittedly get a little scientific. But when a cannabinoid is so new and the only current language that exists around it is scientific, there’s not a ton you can do to get around it.
7. It appears that THCP has a longer alkyl chain than THC…
An alkyl is a functional group of an organic chemical that contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms, which are arranged in a chain. Hence, alkyl chain. Or, alkyl side chain. Research suggests that the protruding structure is what allows THC to plug into its preferred receptor. Anyway, according to those in the know, to date, naturally occurring cannabinoids with a linear alkyl side chain longer than five terms have never been detected or identified in cannabis plants. Until now. The THCP molecular structure was identified with a seven-term alkyl side chain!
8. … that it’s also more lipophilic than THC…
Lipophilicity itself refers to the ability of a chemical compound to dissolve in fats, oils, lipids and non-polar solvents, such as hexane or toluene. Such non-polar solvents are themselves lipophilic, and the axiom that "like dissolves like" generally holds true. Thus, lipophilic substances tend to dissolve in other lipophilic substances, but hydrophilic ("water-loving") substances tend to dissolve in water and other hydrophilic substances. Anyway, cannabis in general is highly lipophilic, which leads to its storage in adipose tissue, liver, muscle and spleen, and redistributed into the users bloodstream long after ingestion.
9. … and that it also fits the CB1 receptors 30 times more than THC.
Just a fancier, more technical way to say what we did earlier about its powerful potency.
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This article was written by Chris Metler.
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This article was published April 21, 2020.