Delta 9 THC is probably one of the best documented cannabinoids besides CBD.

Delta 9 THC is the decarboxylated form of THC-A. Decarboxylation happens either rapidly through heating or over time naturally. You will notice that you can often tell when a plant was harvested in its growth cycle by the level of THC-A vs Delta 9 THC is in the plant. You may also notice that you can often tell if the plant was cured properly by this as well although there is much more nuance in the latter. There will always be a higher level of THC-A in flower cannabis, however the level of Delta 9 THC will rise as the plant matures and is cured.

Delta 9 THC is used across a massive spectrum of disorders from cancer, insomnia, anxiety, stress, depression and so much more. How it helps these different conditions is what we're here to approach in this article.

Simply speaking, Δ9-THC provides the psycho activity experienced from consuming Cannabis Sativa.

Now let's go a bit deeper and we will us THC to refer to Delta 9 THC from now own for conveniencec.

When you consume THC, the first thing that matters is the form of consumption.
1. Inhalation
2. Ingestion
3. Sublingual

For ingested THC, the bio availability of THC is 4%-12%. This means that overall, ingestion is the worst intake method based of efficiency. The first thing that happens when you intake THC is it travels to the liver where the majority of it is destroyed or metabolized. After that, the remaining THC is converted into 2 forms of 11-Hydroxy-THC (I mighta got the wording on that right :P). This form of THC is more potent than D9-THC and as such must be noted when giving recommendations on strength. Another important thing of note is that eating is extremely important when taking edibles. When THC is taken with edibles, there is fat molecules for it to bind to. This allows for a longer release and more effective delivery of ingested cannabis. When taken on an empty stomach, without fats to bind to, the THC is processed faster through your system.

This bio availability applies to terpenes as well and makes more ingested terpenes negligible in their effects. Through this, we can tell that the interest in gummies such as rosin infused stems from complex cannabinoid profiles and not terpene profiles. As such, with the right mix of cannabinoids, even distillate based edibles can take on the effects sought in "higher" end products.

Now to continue,

The next form we'll discuss is Sublingual.

Bio availability of THC when taken sublingually maxed at around 13%, though others have claimed high absorption I do not have references to these studies and as such will not quote them here. Now being a slightly more. Modern deliver methods may allow for high absorption rates. In the end, however they are processed in the liver similarly and therefore have similar bio availability. THC is often bound to MCT oil or other fats/alcohols to form the tincture.

The true benefit of sublingual THC is in patients with gastrointestinal issues as well is patients with issues with inhalation. Modern tinctures have very little flavor and thus are usually consumed quite easily. The downside to tinctures is the general higher pricing that comes with them.

The final form we'll discuss is inhalation. There are 2 forms of inhalation we'll discuss. First is combustion. This is currently the most common form of consumption, however the second form of inhalation we will discuss is quickly on the rise. The bio availability of THC when inhaled maxed at around 25%. This is due to THC being absorbed through the mucus membranes in the lungs and entering the blood stream more directly. As such, a much larger portion of THC is able to avoid metabolizing in the liver. This being the second most optimal method for THC and terpene delivery is hindered by one main thing, combustion. The fire used to combust and smoke the flower both destroys a portion of THC and terpenes as well as delivers more tar/toxins to the lungs. Though there is plenty of debate and research on the topic, the reality is that the heat and smoke delivered by smoking flower is not healthy and has the potential to cause damage over time. I've had too many people come to me with lung cancer having only smoked cannabis in their lifetime. And yes I am including anecdotal evidence in some of this.

Now the final and arguably optimum form of delivery. Vaporization. Vaporization can be done with both flower and concentrates. It allows for the heating of cannabinoids and terpenes to a point of volatility without destroying them in the process. As such the bio availability of vaporization maxed at around 35%. The absolute peak method is dry herb vaporization as it delivers only exactly what you need. The drawback is the high cost of entry, technology limitations and dishonesty by companies. We all would love a Volcano but unfortunately those puppies are expensive. The other methods are cartridges and inhalers. In cartridges are a concentrated form of THC is heated using a ceramic coil hot enough to vaporize the concentrate. It allows a cooler hit without the level of tar associated with smoking. The draw back is much high levels of THC being common with these products. Keeping terpene levels relative to THC levels is vastly important as the entourage effect represents the entire beauty of cannabis as a medication.

Now what happens when you take THC? First your blood pressure spikes and heart rate increases. This must be noted with individuals with BP issues. On the flip side however, as cannabis takes effect in the system, it begins to lower BP and becomes a vaso-dilator. Depending on consumption method effects will be noticed anywhere from 6-15 minutes for sublingual, 30 minutes to 2 hours for ingestion and with inhalation instant to 5 minutes (to reach full effect).

THC has well documented and thoroughly proven anti emetic properties (anti-nausea). This makes it a fantastic option for chemo patients, chronic nausea, gastrointestinal issues and many other conditions what cause nausea. It must be noted however that dosing is important is too high of dosing can cause the opposite effect of nausea and vomiting. This most often occurs in edibles as users are often not instructed properly on their consumption.

THC also has a long proven history of anti-inflammatory properties as well. THC inhibits cytokine production by antagonizing the CB2 receptor. This is why THC is seen as a potential in cancer research as a synergistic treatment as it lowers the bodies immune response to chemo treatments and other inflammatory processes. Again as with everything, dosage is important, however it's true power lies in its synergy with cannabinoids and terpenes.


In patients with anxiety, THC can be a gift and a curse. If they are prone to anxiety, THC levels should be kept lower as most often users reporting anxiety either have not been properly dosed or have chronic anxiety need more relaxing cannabinoids to counter the intoxicating effects of THC. CBN and CBG can both be used in tandem with THC to lower anxiety and boost mood. CBD we must be careful with as more recent studies have show CBD helping raise bio availability of THC in users, increasing the intoxicating effects of cannabis. THC-V is another cannabinoid to be careful pairing with THC as it can be prone to causing or exacerbating anxiety.