What is THCV?
Tetrahydrocannabivarin, THCV, is just one of the over one hundred cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Yes, that means that like CBG and CBN, THCV is the latest cannabinoid to step into the spotlight. So what exactly makes this particular cannabinoid so special?
Well for one, like CBG, THCV has a very close molecular structure to THC (just as the name suggests). Also like CBG, THCV can interact with both your CB1 and CB2 receptors, as we’ll dig further into below. While THCV has many proposed health benefits, unfortunately, many studies that aim to answer the question “what is THCV” are still in their infancy. That being said, the studies performed on rodents have displayed some promising results.
THCV is considered a minor cannabinoid because it is found in lower concentrations than the other major cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD. While genetics play a part in determining the ratio of cannabinoids in a particular strain of Cannabis sativa, the best way to know if a particular product contains THCV is to look at the label and verify with the company’s ISO-certified third-party lab test results, or Certificate of Analysis.
