THCV: A New Breakthrough in Therapeutic Cannabis Applications

It looks like 2019 will go down in cannabis history as the start of a new era focused on the study and use of “micro” cannabinoids—compounds from the same group as the well-known THC and CBD, but present in cannabis in extremely small amounts. Currently, the favorites in this movement are cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), which are now being synthesized in larger quantities in labs and are described as more “potent and long-lasting” versions of standard CBD and THC.

However, a new and very interesting player has emerged: tetrahydrocannabivarin, or THCV. As the name suggests, THCV is closely related to THC and also has psychoactive, intoxicating effects on the human mind, but the experience is somewhat different. Unlike some other micro-cannabinoids, THCV is found in all psychoactive cannabis varieties, but in very low concentrations, which is why it remained undetected for so long. Scientists are still debating where the psychoactive effects of THCV and THC begin and end, given their structural similarities and similar psychological effects.

Like other lesser-known cannabinoids, THCV is slowly making its way into Western markets, both as an experimental therapeutic cannabinoid and in the form of the first recreational cannabis strains bred for high THCV content.

What Do Scientists Say About THCV?

Like THC and CBD, THCV is synthesized in cannabis plants from a more complex compound called tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCVA). These acids are the result of the decarboxylation of another acid, cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA), which breaks down into CBGA, CBDA, and THCA.

Experts, such as Dr. Itzhak Kurek from Cannformatics in Northern California, note that THCV and THC are almost mirror images of each other, with the main difference being that the THC molecule is slightly longer. Despite this, THCV interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system in a fundamentally different way. A 2018 study described THCV as an “anomaly” among phytocannabinoids: despite its similarity to THC, it acts as a blocker, not a stimulator, of CB1 receptors.

In simple terms, like THC, THCV can bind closely to CB1 receptors (found throughout the body) and CB2 receptors (which modulate the peripheral and immune systems). However, unlike THC, THCV blocks CB1 activity and stimulates CB2, according to Dr. Kurek.

Other studies, such as one published in Sage Pharmacology in 2015, report that in small, therapeutic doses, THCV suppresses the typical psychoactive effects of THC. In higher doses, comparable to active THC concentrations, THCV produces similar but subjectively different effects.

Since the compound and its synthesis have been known to science for some time, there is a solid body of research showing the following therapeutic properties and effects:

• Appetite Suppressant: Experimental data indicate that doses between 5 and 7.5 mg of THCV block CB1 receptor activity, suppressing hunger. The U.S. medical community believes THCV could be a natural alternative to many synthetic weight-loss drugs, which often have serious side effects.
• Diabetes Therapy: A 2016 study by the Center for Diabetes Research found that CBD and THCV help type 2 diabetes patients better control blood glucose levels, significantly reducing the risk of short- and long-term complications. Medium doses (about 10–20 mg of isolated THCV) were sufficient for daily glucose regulation and improved insulin absorption.
• Anti-Epileptic: A 2015 study in Clinical Pharmacology found that even in small concentrations, THCV may be a stronger and longer-lasting alternative to CBD for treating seizures.
• Parkinson’s Disease Therapy: A 2011 experiment on rats showed that THCV has a noticeable antioxidant effect, slowing the progression of neurodegenerative symptoms.
• Schizophrenia Symptom Therapy: A 2015 study in the British Journal of Pharmacology claims that THCV’s ability to stimulate serotonin production in the brain (confirmed in rat experiments) may help treat aggressive symptoms of schizophrenia due to its antipsychotic and sedative effects.

Current Use of THCV in the Legal Cannabis Industry

Despite growing interest and increasing information about its therapeutic properties, scientists still lack the resources and motivation for in-depth study and practical adaptation of THCV for the medical cannabis market. This slow progress is mainly due to two factors: research barriers on cannabis and cannabinoids in many countries, and the fact that even specially bred high-THCV strains contain very little of the compound for practical study.

In nature, there are virtually no cannabis subspecies with high concentrations of THCV, which is quickly absorbed and broken down into other compounds. Most mature cannabis plants contain no trace of THCV. According to Steep Hill, a company specializing in cannabis genomics, the highest THCV concentrations are found in certain African sativa varieties, especially Durban Poison, which averages about 0.5% THCV of total active compounds. However, some specially bred strains like Pineapple Purps can reach up to 4% THCV, though this remains the highest achieved so far.

As Dr. Kurek explains, “Extraction of this compound isn’t popular among producers mainly because even a minimally effective dose of THCV is extremely difficult and expensive to obtain, making commercialization unprofitable—at least until we find more efficient production or synthesis methods.” He adds, “Breeders have made impressive progress in developing strains that produce and concentrate THCV, but current results are still insufficient for mass-market introduction.”

Still, with growing scientific interest, THCV extracts, though rare and expensive, are appearing in the U.S. and other legal markets. In July 2019, California’s Flow Kana introduced “Pink Boost Goddess,” a strain with about 18.7% THC and 4.24% THCV, making it the first of its kind marketed for high THCV content. The company claims the strain has a “smooth and sedative effect,” calming the body and stimulating the brain’s creative sectors without causing noticeable intoxication.

Earlier in 2019, the first THCV oils appeared in U.S. regional markets as therapeutic vape extracts. California Cannabinoids, based in Oakland, released two THCV vape extracts—Doug’s Varin Original and Doug’s Varin Relief—with 25% and 30% isolated THCV, respectively. The company also produces pre-rolls containing about 3% THCV, 10% THC, and 4% CBG, and is considering THCV capsules and other rare cannabinoid extracts for release in 2020.

David Lampach, co-founder of Doug’s Varin, notes that the company uses its own THCV cultivars developed through years of experimenting with Harlequin and its hybrids. Lampach, who personally worked on THCV strain development for about three years, says the cannabinoid is more therapeutic than recreational, with a cerebral effect that speeds up thinking and stimulates creativity, while providing a mild, relaxing “high” compared to similar doses of pure THC.

“When smoking or vaping a THCV product, instead of the usual cannabis relaxation, you feel your thoughts become clearer and sharper, like a lightbulb of good ideas turning on,” Lampach explains. “In my experience, the effect is somewhat different from THC, offering a less intense and shorter THC trip, but with more noticeable and longer-lasting therapeutic and nootropic effects.”

Stimulate Tablingual’s new product, a capsule with a small dose of THCV extract, is expected to hit the California and other U.S. legal markets as a mild, safe sedative and pain reliever, as well as a nootropic to boost concentration and mental activity. Lampach hopes that, thanks to its safety profile, such products could eventually compete with popular nootropics like Adderall in the U.S. and global markets.

In other words, based on current research and development, THCV may be an ideal combination of THC and CBD effects, offering both the sedative and pain-relieving benefits of therapeutic cannabinoids and the energizing, stimulating effects typical of low-dose THC.

The Future of THCV

It’s hard to predict the future of THCV in the medical cannabis market, but one thing is clear: if growers can develop cannabis subspecies with at least 10% THCV in the coming years, it could become the new standard for the therapeutic market. Otherwise, THCV may never successfully compete with its more well-known and easily sourced counterparts.

Dr. Tristan Watkins, head of science at LucidMood (a company producing terpenes, flavonoids, and other cannabis and cosmetic additives), believes that interest in THCV and other lesser-known cannabinoids may decrease as we learn more about how these compounds and related terpenes interact with the body’s endocannabinoid receptors. He theorizes that many “unique” effects attributed to rare cannabinoids may actually result from certain terpene and flavonoid combinations that “activate” or “open” receptor subtypes.

Watkins points out that natural landraces containing THCV exist only in equatorial Africa, where cannabis strains have much higher concentrations and diversity of terpenes, which he believes may be responsible for the new therapeutic effects. “Unfortunately, many THCV strains identified by researchers also have unique terpene and flavonoid profiles, which could be the main reason for their ‘unique’ therapeutic effects,” he says. “I can’t say for sure that these effects are due to terpene combinations, but it’s also hard to claim that a cannabinoid structurally similar to THC has major functional differences. It’s possible that many effects now attributed to cannabinoids in general, and exotic cannabinoids in particular, are actually the result of synergistic effects from various terpene combinations produced by unique plant subspecies depending on their genetics and environment.”

It’s important to note that current THCV-dominant strains are more like exclusive developments than technical cannabis subspecies. Wild and industrial cannabis varieties do not produce THCV, unlike CBD, which also limits the chances of THCV extracts being widely adopted in the commercial market.

“Scientific interest alone isn’t enough to support large-scale production of such an expensive and rare compound, which paradoxically hinders research that could further reveal THCV’s therapeutic potential,” says Watkins. “Plus, with easily available CBD offering similar therapeutic benefits, the medical sector isn’t especially interested in studying or using a compound structurally indistinguishable from globally banned THC.”

According to Lampach, a pound of cannabis biomass with high THCV content sells for about $1,000, and pure 35% THCV extract goes for $30,000 per kilogram—a significant profit even for the cannabis market. However, producing such plants requires special genetics, resources, and time to care for finicky, low-yielding crops, with no guarantee of buyers for such an expensive and little-known compound.

Despite these production challenges, Lampach is optimistic about THCV’s future. “We’ve made great progress in breeding high-THCV plants and producing concentrated extracts. Even with limited investment, growing interest in new cannabinoids will eventually lead to new discoveries and developments, including new THCV strains and synthetic production methods,” he says.