THC potency

The potency of cannabis varies widely. Most of the marijuana grown in the United States has a lower THC content than that imported from overseas. The THC potency of marijuana smoked in the United States typically is 5%-6% (10%-15% for sinsemilla, a seedless variety of marijuana). Values for hashish and hash oil are higher, with hash oil containing up to 60% THC. 

Meanwhile, the scientist faces the urgent task of evaluating the effects of hashish oil with a THC potency that may be as high as 90 percent. 

Notes Except for marijuana, data available through the second quarter of 2003. Marijuana data was available through 2003. The data for marijuana refers to the THC potency. 

Following on from this, and to further exemplify this pharmacophore model, Huffman [182] described a novel hybrid structure that combined the hydroxydibenzopyran ring of THC and the indole moiety of the AAIs into one molecule. It was found that the hybrid molecule (270) had a similar affinity (19 nM) for the CBi receptor in vitro as (67) (41 nM). The compound was also active in vivo in the mouse tetrad model of cannabimimetic activity and had comparable potency to (67) [182]. 

Meanwhile, back at the lab, volunteer experiments in 1961 were ramping up and beginning to operate at full tilt. When Harry Pars supplied us with a synthetic analog of THC for clinical testing, it came as a mixture of eight stereoisomers. (Stereoisomers are different spatial conformations of the same molecule.) It was not yet feasible to separate the eight isomers for our first studies and consequently, we could not yet explore the relative potency of each of them individually. 

EA 2233, a mixture of 8 stereoisomers of THC (with two methyl groups attached to the heptyl side chain ), showed higher potency than THC itself (Fig. 99) in the range of 10-60 mcg/kg by the oral route. Later, after they were separated by Parker Ferguson at Edgewood Arsenal, Dr. Sidell was later able to test two of the... 

EA 2233 did not seem to have sufficient potency to be of military interest, since an oral dose of 60mcg/kg caused a maximum decline of only 40% (at most) in number facility performance. Hollister later published a study which showed that the oral effects of ordinary THC were only about one-third that of THC smoked as marijuana.. This... 

I have not met many people who have done pure uncut THC, but those that have will confess to its potency. Although THC is nearly impossible to overdose on, one mg smoked or five mg eaten (this refers to pure THC) produces really extraordinary hallucinations. 

The precursors given above vary in potency, but are versatile with the ability to be used in place of one or the other and still produce an active compound. Yields may suffer somewhat from this interchanging of precursors, but if an equimolar amount is used this should be minimal. When researching THCs, remember that there are different methods of numbering the molecule and this will depend on who has written the material that you are reading. For a brief report on structure activity relationships see JMC, 16, 1200 (1973) and also Chemical Revues, 76, 75 (1976). 

If you carry out the above reaction without the magnesium sulfate, the product is a combination of 27% delta 1 THC and 25% delta 1 (6) THC. If carried out this way at room temp the product is 51% delta 1(6) THC which is close to the same in potency as delta 1 THC. 

Note When researching THCs on your own, remember that the different numbering systems create a need for the following information. Delta-1 THC is the same product as delta-l-3,4-trans THC and delta-9 THC. Delta-1(6) THC is the same as delta-8 THC and delta-6-3,4-trans THC. Both these compounds can be changed over into one or the other, but as they are of about the same potency, this is a waste of time and chemicals. 

DMHP and a series of optical isomers of DMHP acetate, studied at Edgewood in humans, produce similar symptoms, but vary greatly in potency. The more potent Isomers appear to produce postural hypotension and fewer psychologic effects than equivalent doses of THC. However, they all evoke redness of the eyes, dryness of the mouth, a... 

Aside from this controversy, recent research shows that the THC content of marijuana ranges from 0.5 to 5.0 percent, and the THC in hashish ranges from 2 to 20 percent. Hashish oil may contain between 15 to 50 percent THC, and sinsemilla varieties may have a THC content of up to 20 percent. Many studies indicate that marijuana of less than 0.5 percent potency has basically no psycho activity. However, every individual s reaction to the psychoactive effects of THC is different. Some reports indicate that what marijuana users may term bad trips have been recorded with marijuana that ranges from quite low (0.7 percent THC content) to quite high (7.5 percent THC content). 

Herbal leaf material contains approximately 1% A -THC, while flowering material contains 3.5% of the active component [2], although there is a trend towards plant material of increasing potency in some parts of the world, with material containing up to 4.2% A -THC. Resin material contains 2-10 wt% A -THC, and hash oil 10-30 wt%. 

Mehmedic, Z., Arafat, R., Yi, B., Banahan, B. F. (2000). Potency-trends of delta(9)-THC and other cannabinoids in confiscated marijuana from 1980-1997. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 45, 24-30. 

A primary goal of thc.se highly anti-inflammatory drugs has bran to increase topical potency. A.s shown in Table 2.3-Ik some are as much as 100 times more active topically than hydrocortisone. Relative potency is as follows ... 

Martin et al. (1984) have reported that (3"S)-3"-hydroxy-delta-l-THC (22) is circa (ca) five times more active than delta-1-THC and is about seven times more active than the R epimer (23) in THC discrimination in rats. Approximately the same ratio of activity was observed in dog ataxia tests in hypothermia, (22) and (23) are surprisingly equiactive. However, Martin and coworkers pointed out that calculation of exact potency ratios is complicated somewhat by the lack of absolute purity of the isomers. ... 

THC (27). [a]D +114° with absolute optical purity (Srebnik et al. 1984). These enantiomers have now been tested in human volunteers (Hollister et al., in press). Subjects received progressively increasing intravenous doses of (lS)-delta-3-THC (26) and (lR)-delta-3-THC (27), beginning with 1 mg (in 1 ml ethanol) followed by progressive doubling of doses until, definite effects were observed. Cannabimimetic effects with the (IS) epimer were noted at doses of 8 mg or higher. No effects were noted with the (IR) epimer. (lS)-delta-3-THC (26) is thus estimated to have a potency from one-third to one-sixth that of delta-1-THC. 

As mentioned above, the cannabimimetic SAR does not necessarily parallel the SAR of cannabinoids for other biological or therapeutic effects. Indeed, we have found now that enantiomer (33), which (as noted above) does not cause cannabimimetic effects, is a potent analgetic particularly in the presence of cupric ions. In table 4, we present the results of several analgetic tests. In all tests, (33) shows activity at (or above) the potency level of morphine. However, as previously noted with delta-1-THC and other cannabinoids, the dose-response curve is not sharp (as with morphine) but flat. Surprisingly, the level of analgetic potency is retained over a period of 3 to 4 days. In some tests, activity actually falls beyond a certain concentration, the dose-response curve assuming an inverted U shape. 

---