Despite growing popularity and growing claims of psychedelic effects similar to LSD and psilocybin mushrooms, THC-O-acetate, a cannabinoid derived from delta-8 THC, does not induce significant psychedelic experiences. A recent study revealed that. The study warns that the acetic acid composition of THC-O-acetate poses potential health concerns as it can release toxic fumes and contaminate products when heated.
Due to the growing interest in THC-O-acetate, UB researchers are calling for caution.
The cannabis plant is complex, containing around 100 plant species. cannabinoids Many of them remain largely unexplained scientifically.Two of the most common active ingredients – Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) — Extensive research has been done.
However, various other cannabinoids are rapidly appearing on the market. One of the most recent is his THC-O-acetate, which has been garnering attention due to discussions on social media, online communities like Reddit, and even on the manufacturer’s promotional materials, whose effects have been compared to psychedelics like LSD and LSD. suggesting that it resembles matter. psilocybin mushroom.
But according to a study led by the University of Buffalo, claims about mystical experiences are greatly exaggerated. psychotropic journal This is the first researcher to investigate the alleged psychedelic effects of THC-O-acetate.
THC-O-acetate is a semi-synthetic compound derived from delta-8 THC. Delta-8 THC has been a cannabinoid that has garnered a lot of interest among curious consumers over the past few years, as has state legislatures wary of its potential dangers. (In New Jersey, where cannabis is legal, lawmakers are currently considering legislation to ban Delta8 products.)
“THC-O-Acetate is said to be stronger than regular THC and has received a lot of attention due to claims that it produces psychedelic effects. We wanted to know if cannabinoids existed: can we find evidence that THC-O-acetate has this effect? Daniel J. Krueger, Ph.D., research associate professor at the Graduate School of Public Health and Health Professionals and research scientist at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. at UB.
Dr. Krueger and study co-author Jessica S. Kruger, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Community Health and Health Behavior at UB’s School of Public Health and School of Health Professionals, said: We conducted a survey last year We researched user experiences with Delta 8 THC. Focusing on THC-O-acetate was the next natural step.
The public health sector is also interested in this particular cannabinoid. This is an acetate, which can produce ketene, a toxic gas when heated. In 2019, more than 2,800 people were hospitalized and 68 died from a condition called “e-cigarette or e-cigarette product use-related lung injury” (EVALI) after inhaling e-cigarette products containing vitamin E acetate. was reported.
The 2018 Farm Bill created a loophole
In 2018, Congress passed the Farm Bill, legalizing hemp cultivation at the federal level. At its core, hemp is cannabis that contains less than 0.3% THC, the compound that produces the “high” feeling people feel. The Farm Bill legalized the cultivation of hemp, but inadvertently created loopholes that allowed manufacturers to manufacture and sell thousands of products containing CBD. Many of them are marketed with claims such as “sleep aid,” “pain reliever,” or “calm your pet.”
But such claims are often unverified, and research to better understand what’s in products sold online, at gas stations, in street corner stores, and in stores across the country is scant. Not done.
“This opened up a whole new market for cannabis companies and created a sort of gray market pathway,” says Daniel Kruger. “It’s kind of like the Old West. Everyone has CBD, but here we have another.”
Enter THC-O-acetate.
For this study, Kruger and his colleagues experienced symptoms such as altered time perception, anxiety, poor concentration, euphoria, hallucinations, and analgesia when using THC-O-acetate. We created a survey that asked nearly 300 participants whether they , paranoia, relaxation.
Participants also completed items on the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ), a classic tool for evaluating psychedelic experiences developed by Walter Panke in the 1960s. We also asked what, if any, psychedelic drugs such as LSD or psilocybin mushrooms had been used.
When asked directly, 79% said THC-O-acetate use is “not at all” or “somewhat” in their psychedelic experience. Participants’ responses were well below the threshold for a full mystical experience, and participants who had used classical psychedelics scored lower on all dimensions of the MEQ. The most notable experiences reported were moderate relaxation, euphoria, and pain relief.
So why do some people report having psychedelic experiences with THC-O-acetate? Kruger says there are three possible explanations:
- It may be due to expectations based on what the user has heard or read.
- Some users may have experienced an intense high and thought it was psychedelic.
- Product may contain contaminants.
The latter is particularly problematic from a public health perspective, researchers say. “People have to be careful,” says Daniel Kruger. “Some of these extreme effects may be the result of some kind of contamination, and if you’re not familiar with what these products contain, that’s the real danger of these products.” It’s one.”
Some companies include QR codes on product labels to direct consumers to websites that provide information about specific product contents. But many people do not.
“Delta-8 and THC-O-acetate have received a tremendous amount of interest and a lot of claims have been made about them with virtually no research done,” said Daniel Kruger. To tell. “We’re really new to the consumer market and we still have the weird mix of policies that cannabis is illegal at the federal level, so there’s no national regulation and of course no prescription testing. there is no” “
Reference: “THC-O-Acetate: Scarce Evidence for a Psychedelic Cannabinoid”, Daniel J. Krugera, Carlton CB Vaughn, Meredith C. Meacham, Charles Klein, Jessica S. Kruger, 2023 6 29th of the month, psychotropic journal.
DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2023.2230573
The research team also included Carlton “CB” Bourne, then a graduate student at Portland State University, researching online cannabis culture and hosting an online forum. Additional study co-authors are Dr. Meredith C. Meacham, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, and Dr. Charles Klein, a medical anthropologist at Portland State University.
