What Is Considered High THC?

Nikhil Goswami

Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant. It has been considered very effective in treating various illnesses aided by its naturally found cannabinoids and terpenes properties. Each of these properties fulfills a distinct function that makes the euphoric and relaxing effects of the drug — making it useful for medicinal and recreational use. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main chemical responsible for most cannabis products’ psychoactive effects, including giving its users that feeling of elation and high. The higher the numbers, the higher the product’s effects, making it imperative for cannabis users to have complete knowledge about safe levels and what is considered high THC to heed to their needs.

A high THC flower variety has concentration of 30%. On the contrary, this figure can be regarded as low for some since some products have up to 60% or higher percentage, a good example being butane-hash-oil cannabis extracts.

What Is Considered High THC?

Some cannabis users consider high-THC-flower with a 15% level as high. In contrast, with more experienced users, a 20% level may not be able to provide them with the same intoxicating effect and potency as they’re used to. Conversely, even a 10% level can have a powerful intoxicating impact on a novice user. Therefore, the high percentage depends on a person’s experience with the product.

THC levels also differ between the types and strains of thc products like thc gummies. For instance, some cannabis products have low percentage barely 1%, whereas others have a higher strain, and their concentration can reach 20% and above. When buying cannabis products, you will encounter terms like premium, high-grade, and robust. 

Several people who use cannabis for recreational purposes go for strains with higher since it offers more potent and definite psychoactive effects. This makes them more active, creative, focused, and motivated, resulting in an uplifting effect. Moreover, the dosage one takes doesn’t always match the high potency level you will get.

Knowing what a high THC content means makes it easier to get high weed strains with high concentrations. However, the main issue with several cannabis users is they believe that products with less than 25% level have low potency. The highest level available on strains used at dispensaries is over 30%. There are no cannabis products with a content of over 40%, and you are less likely to get a product with over 35%. The highest strain level ranges between 30%–35%.

What Are The Different THC Percentages?

Various products have different THC percentages, depending on the cannabis strain and product used. US federal law states that CBD products should have less than 0.3% level, and full-spectrum cannabis products can have as low as 5% level and go as high as 25%.

THC percentage levels have increased sharply for several decades, and this disparity makes cannabis products to be stronger than they were before. 

Do More THC Levels Match A Higher Effect?

Several people believe that more THC leads to having a more significant high. Moreover, how intoxicated one becomes will depend on how one ingests the cannabis product. Concentrates with higher THC aren’t essentially more intoxicating compared to a low-level cannabis flower. Moreover, less experienced consumers are more sensitive to effects.

Another factor determining how high you feel after consuming cannabis with a high THC cannabis is the level of CBD and other elements to balance the effects. The ratio of CBD and THC helps if you have no experience with cannabis.

The way you will take the cannabis product also matters. For instance, smoking or eating marijuana baked products with the same amount will have more intoxicated effects from baked goods, unlike smoked products. This difference is determined by how the body metabolizes and processes THC. In simple language, eating marijuana leads to more psychoactive effects, unlike smoking.

After taking cannabis products with higher THC content, different people will have different feelings. One may feel they want to sleep off, relax as they watch TV, listen to music, etc. Other people crave food and prefer partying or engaging in an enjoyable activity. Moreover, the effect lasts only for a few hours and fades away.

What Are The Dangers And Side Effects Associated With High THC Levels?

Different people can experience distinct effects after taking a similar THC amount. However, the results greatly depend on the consumer’s tolerance level, amount of it consumed, BMI, and the dosage it was taken in. The effects of taking cannabis with a higher amount of it can last for several hours.

The dangers and side effects of taking products with high amounts of THC are related to their impact on the brain and even some physical symptoms. New cannabis users shouldn’t be taking a high level product as their bodies are not used to such a high chemical strain. Experienced users have increased tolerance to effects, unlike newbie users. Beginners should start with a low-level strain and improve gradually as their bodies build a tolerance to cannabis products.

Strain having higher THC content leads to more potent psychoactive effects rise in euphoria and energy while also inducing nausea. Some of the risk linked to taking too much THC includes:

  • Panic attacks
  • Anxiety and higher heart rate
  • Dry mouth
  • Behavioral changes. In rare cases, this can be violent towards others or self-harm
  • Slurred speech
  • Confusion
  • Dizziness/lightheadedness
  • Hallucinations and paranoid opinions
  • Difficulty in concentrating
  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Migraine headache

These adverse effects are usually mild with a low THC percentage and moderate with a very potent level. However, if these symptoms become recurring or severe, please seek medical help. One can drink juice mixed with water to help with hydration for mild effects. It will also help in neutralizing cannabinoid profiles, including terpenes. Chewing black peppercorns may also help in negating some of the symptoms.

Rising Cannabis THC Levels

In the past few decades, medicinal cannabis producers maintained low levels, around 10%. At present, you’re likely to get strains that have three times more amount. Breeders have made this possible by cross breeding strains to get perfect strain genetics with higher levels. Moreover, newer farming methods with better conditions have allowed the growth of healthier, more potent cannabis plants with increased terpenes and cannabinoids.

However, one of the consequences of breeding to get ultra-high THC strains is it leads to having little or no CBD. Less CBD means the consumer will have less efficient therapeutic effects since CBD offers calming and medicinal properties.

Before, cannabis concentrates didn’t have the same taste as raw THC flowers. For example, cannabis distillate was a clear, tasteless liquid when flavonoids and terpenes were added. The concentrate changed the cannabis industry by creating live resin and developing a closed-loop system known for its intense flavor, the same as raw plant material. It has higher levels and terpenes.

Does Higher THC Level Matter?

THC in cannabinoids is responsible for intoxicating and mind-altering effects, often referred to as a ‘high.’ Most consumers believe the higher the level, the more intoxicating and beneficial the therapeutic effects it has, but this isn’t the case.

Presently, terpenes have gained more attention because of it’s contributions to cannabis effects. Terpenes are aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, and people only knew these compounds by the taste and smell they offered. However, terpenes also provide a therapeutic effect. Due to these, more consumers believe that strains having higher terpene profiles are more beneficial, unlike strains that only have THC.

Apart from concentrating on the level in a product, there are more other cannabinoids available in a cannabis product. These include full-spectrum CBD, terpenes, CBN, flavonoids, etc. All these compounds jointly contribute to the psychoactive effects of the product.

Does Method of Consumption Affect the THC Level?

Some of the most known consumption methods with their estimated bioavailability include:

Sublingual Ingestion

This ingestion method refers to putting cannabis oils below your tongue, and the cannabinoid will diffuse via the oral mucosa to your bloodstream. This consumption method differs from edibles since it evades the liver and is absorbed much faster. In addition, sublingual administration gives a broad and varying bioavailability that ranges from 2% to 40%.

Oral Ingestion

This ingestion method includes consuming capsules, edibles, and oils. This method of administration sends cannabinoids via the liver and digestive tract. Just 4% to 12% of THC gets into circulation via this method. However, cannabis doesn’t stay in its original state for long. The liver changes these cannabinoids to 11-hydroxy-THC, a high potency THC.

Inhalation

This method involves inhaling cannabinoids through vaping or smoking. The technique introduces these compounds to your lungs, where they are diffused into your bloodstream via the alveoli. Inhaling cannabinoids with quick and direct access means you will have the best bioavailability rate, which is 30%. This means psychoactive effects occur within a few minutes of the cannabis being inhaled.

What’s the Highest THC Level in Weed at Present?

Finding a cannabis product with a level above 25% is hard. However, some brands indicate on the packaging that their product has about 25% to 30% levels. Usually, the top-quality cannabis available has a level of between 25% and 30%.

Brands should use independent labs to test their product since data from third-party labs is more accurate.

What Is The Amount of THC Required To Get High?

The THC amount required to get one high differs between people. Inexperienced cannabis consumers may get high from vaping weed which contains 5mg to 10mg of THC. In addition, an experienced user may need to consume five times that to feel high. If it’s cannabis edibles, experienced users should take about one gram of oil with about 700mg of THC.

Cannabis Having High THC

Indica, hybrids, and sativa are the leading cannabis strain families with higher THC. You can easily get these cannabis products at cannabis dispensaries.

Sativa Strains

This strain variety has the highest level of THC. However, this strain has a low CBD level. They offer a refreshing and stimulating effect, making them suitable for daytime consumption.

  • Lemon Meringue

This kind of sativa strain has about 21 percent THC content. It offers an uplifting effect. People consume this stain to aid with stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and mild headaches.

  • Laughing Buddha

This is an award-winning strain, and it has 21% THC content. With this strain, cannabis connoisseurs feel happy even when depressed. It’s suitable for easing stress, depression, anxiety, pain, and fatigue.

  • Hawaiian

This strain makes users feel relaxed and happy. The strain has 22% THC content. Moreover, Hawaiian strain helps in relieving fatigue, depression, stress, anxiety, and pain.

  • Thai

The Thai strain has a 22% level, uplifting users and making them feel focused. It also helps in easing pain, stress, and depression symptoms.

  • Silver Haze

This strain has a THC concentration of 23%. Consumers who use Silver Haze claim it helps ease stress, depression, anxiety, pain, and poor appetite.

  • Memory Loss

This hybrid variety, but it’s mostly sativa. This strain has 26% to 31% of THC content. This strain acts fast, and it’s able to produce an intense mental health effect. Besides, this strain helps in easing stress, depression, and nausea.

Indica Strains

This strain type has more CBD content than THC. Due to this, you won’t get several pure indica strains with THC content.

  • Kosher Kush

This strain originated from Los Angeles, and it contains 21% of THC. The strain helps as pain relief and in relaxing.

  • Triangle Kush

It has about 23% of THC level. The strain is best in boosting creativity and relieving chronic pain, depression symptoms, and stress.

Hybrid Strains

These strain types are derived from crossbreeding indica and sativa strains. Moreover, the effects of these strains depend on the ratio of blend.

  • Death Star

Has a THC content of 21%. This strain helps in relieving stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

  • GMO Cookies

Has 24% of THC. This strain helps in relieving chronic pain, anxiety, stress, and insomnia.

  • Banana OG

Banana OG has 23% of THC. The strain helps ease muscle pain, improve appetite, and reduce insomnia.

Other hybrid strain varieties include Ghost OG, White Tahoe Cookies, Lemon Kush, Gorilla Glue, The White, and Bruce Banner.

Safety Tips For Consuming THC

If planning to use cannabis, particularly high-THC strains, you should consider these tips to reduce the adverse side effects:

  • Avoid driving or operating a machine for at least eight hours after consuming cannabis.
  • Choose non smoking ways, including oils and edibles, as they will help guard your lungs.
  • If breastfeeding or pregnant, you should avoid using medical marijuana.
  • If you prefer smoking, you should avoid deep inhalation. Hold your breath to reduce exposure to dangerous by-products available in smoke.
  • Always start with a low-level THC strain and slowly increase the dosage to avoid severe side effects.
  • Limit the use of marijuana, particularly high-THC strains. This will help in lowering addiction dangers of getting long-term health issues.

FAQs Regarding High Levels Of THC

  1. What’s the highest THC level of cannabis strain?

The highest THC level recorded in a strain of cannabis is approximately 29%, which was for Ghost OG. Additionally, Ghost OG is an award-winning cannabis hybrid.

  1. What is Considered High THC?

A product has a high-THC level if it contains more than 15% THC content. Those with more than 25% THC are categorized as very high THC.

  1. Does one lose THC potency when creating cannabutter and edibles?

One of the most common mistakes while cooking with cannabis is overcooking/overheating the edible. The excess heat degrades THC. THC is sensibly stable when making edibles, but you shouldn’t subject it to higher temperatures for long. The optimum temperature for baking is to keep between 180° to 240°F; Users should avoid frying edibles as the temperatures are way too high.

  1. What’s the difference between Cannabinoids, CBD, and THC? Are they the same?

No. One of the most common mistakes people make is mixing up these terms. Cannabinoids are the natural chemical compounds found in cannabis. Cannabinoids are responsible for numerous bodily effects and contain potential health benefits. Cannabidiol (CBD), on the other hand, is a form of cannabinoid most prevalently found in hemp but has made its way to other CBD products as well. CBD is mainly known for its therapeutic and calming effects.

Conclusion: What Is Considered High THC?

The three main factors determining the level of THC include cannabis variety, various cannabis products, and consumer experience. Cannabis edibles and extracts are the most potent varieties of marijuana products. Ghost OG has the highest levels of THC. If you’re new to cannabis, you need to play it safe. Start with a low quantity and increase gradually as your body builds tolerance. The level in cannabis products is more concerned with the substance’s psychoactive effects. If you want cannabis products for medicinal or recreational use, you should adopt a high-THC, high-CBD, and cannabinoid mixture. Additionally, you should seek a doctor’s suggestion on dosages that are right for you.

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