THC, which stands for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9-THC), is a cannabinoid molecule in marijuana or cannabis that's long been recognized as the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. THC is the substance that causes the ‘high’.
THC isn't the only psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
But THC isn't the only psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. In fact, THC is just one of over 400 different active substances (and 60 different cannabinoid molecules) contained in marijuana. Although, THC is the most well-recognized.
Another important cannabinoid molecule that has received recognition is cannabidiol (CBD).
How much THC is there in marijuana?
THC was first isolated in 1964. The amount of THC contained in marijuana varies by the preparation or the way that cannabis is prepared for use, such as leaf/bud, hashish, or hashish oil.
The amount of THC in modern strains of marijuana has massively increased since it was isolated in the 1960s when marijuana typically contained about 1-2 percent THC concentration.
By the early 2000s, the concentration had increased to about 4 percent—between twice and four times as strong as it had been during the "hippie" movement, when recreational marijuana use, ( as well as marijuana abuse and addiction) became widespread.
The amount of THC in modern strains of marijuana has massively increased
Effects of each Module
Nowadays the strength of modern high potency strains of marijuana, such as sinsemilla, or skunk, is at least four times as strong, containing 16 to 22 percent THC.
Researchers have often been confounded by anecdotal and unreliable reports of the benefits of cannabis, which have frequently been ascribed to the effects of THC.
More recently, as the component molecules have been isolated and used experimentally, a better understanding has developed of the specific effects of each molecule.
With each study, more is discovered about cannabis and its effects.
