What is THCP?

THCP (Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabiphorol) is a newly discovered, naturally-occurring analog of THC.

The only difference between THCP from “regular” THC is the presence of 2 extra carbons in its chemical structure. Instead of 5 carbons on its alkyl side chain like THC, THCP has 7. This subtle difference is enough to make THCP substantially stronger than conventional THC.

While this cannabinoid was only discovered in 2019, it’s believed to have been around for a long time unnoticed. Some researchers, such as Dr. Giuseppe Cannazza, believe THCP could be the reason why some strains of marijuana are so much more psychoactive than others despite having the same or lower THC concentrations.

THCP was first discovered by accident when a team of Italian researchers funded by the UNIHEMP research project. The researchers were examining the chemical profile of a strain called FM2.

Using high-performance mass spectronomy and other precision testing equipment, the team noticed some strange findings. Their report was published in December 2019 — which highlighted both THCP and CBDP.

CBDP appears to have virtually no interaction with the endocannabinoid system, so there’s been little interest to study it further. THCP, however, has been reported to have more than 30 times the binding affinity compared to THC. Most people who have used THCP place the potency closer to 5 or 10 times more potent than THC, but the true potency of this cannabinoid is still hotly debated.