Delta 8, THCv, THC-O-Acetate — When Did Cannabis Get so Complicated?

We break down the different varieties of THC, including explaining what they are and whether or not they’ll get you high.

researcher taking a few cannabis buds for scientific experiment

By Sean Tirman

Published January 17, 2024

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Updated January 17, 2024

Growing up in the ’90s and ’00s (read: before cannabis was legal anywhere), there was really only one kind of weed (perhaps there were different strains, but most folks couldn’t access them nor tell the difference). And if it got you high, that was great.

Over the years, however, the landscape has changed dramatically, beginning with medical marijuana legalization in the late ’90s — California was the first state to legalize it back in 1996 — and going through to this day with the fight for recreational legality (currently, there are 24 states, plus D.C, Guam and the Mariana Islands where weed is legal).

While cannabis is still federally illegal, the regional legality (and the legal loopholes therein) have resulted in some unique changes, including an expansion of our understanding of THC, the chemical compound in cannabis responsible for the psychoactive effects on the human body and its isomers.

You may have heard of some of these —Delta-9, Delta-8, THCv, etc — but you might not know what they are or what they mean. With that in mind, we’ve broken down the most common types, including what they are and (perhaps most importantly) whether or not they’ll get you high.

What, Exactly, Is THC?

Short for tetrahydrocannabinol, THC is a naturally occurring chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. It is also the principal psychoactive component of the plant, responsible for causing a collection of symptoms in the human body. Together, these feelings or symptoms result in feeling high or stoned. It is also the chemical used in the medical application of cannabis to treat nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients and has been used to stimulate appetite in patients with anorexia (as is common with AIDS patients), among other uses.

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is the most common, naturally occurring version of this chemical, but there are now several different isomers — also known as chemical variants — all with different names and, in many cases, slightly varying effects when applied to the human body.

The most typical ways to ingest THC are through smoking, vaping and ingesting.

What are Isomers and Homologues?

As defined by Merriam-Webster, an isomer is “one of two or more compounds, radicals, or ions that contain the same number of atoms of the same elements but differ in structural arrangement and properties.” In simple terms, isomers are chemicals that are extremely similar to one another but may differ in a number of ways.

For instance, Delta-9 is the most common version of THC and can cause a person to feel high. Delta-8 is an isomer of THC that, while similar, has been reported to have less of a psychoactive effect on the human body, meaning it requires people to ingest greater amounts to feel the same effects as Delta-9. This is not necessarily how all isomers function, but it is a good example of how they might differ.

A homologue, similarly, is a molecule that may function similarly to another — in our case, delta-9 THC’s homologues include THCv, THCA and THC-O-acetate (THCv and THCa are natural homologues, while THC-O-acetate is a synthetic homologue) — but may have a different number of atoms.

In short, all the different types of THC are still THC at their base level. They just have slightly different effects on the human body when consumed and may have differing chemical or molecular structures.

The Different Types of THC

These are the most common types of THC isomers, including whether they’re legal for consumption and if they’ll get you high.

Delta-9 THC

Will It Get You High: Yes

As mentioned, Delta-9 THC is the most common type of THC found in cannabis and the standard by which all other types of THC are measured. It is also the kind of THC you should expect to find when you buy flower from a dispensary in a state or territory where cannabis is legalized.

Delta-8 THC

Will It Get You High: Yes, but slightly less than Delta-9

Like Delta-9, Delta-8 THC is a naturally occurring chemical component in the cannabis plant and has psychoactive effects on the human body. Unlike Delta-9, however, Delta-8 is found in much smaller amounts in cannabis. Most Delta-8 THC is derived from hemp, as opposed to marijuana (“hemp” is the term for cannabis with a low amount of psychoactive THC [<0.3% THC content by dry weight], whereas “marijuana” is the term associated with cannabis that has high concentrations of psychoactive THC), where it exists in larger quantities. As mentioned above, Delta-8 THC is not FDA approved — which is not necessarily a mark against it, so much as it is a comment on the fact that governmental entities have not yet researched Delta-8 THC in depth.

Delta-10 THC

Will It Get You High: Yes, but slightly less than Delta-9

Similar to Delta-8, Delta-10 THC is a naturally occurring chemical found in the cannabis plant, albeit in small doses. It also can have psychoactive effects on the human body, though it is reportedly not as powerful as Delta-9. There has been less research done on the effects of Delta-10 on the human body than both Delta-9 and Delta-8, and it is less regulated than both.

THCv

Will It Get You High: Yes, in large doses

Short for tetrahydrocannabivarin, THCv is commonly referred to as “diet weed” or “weederall” and has been purported to actually curb appetites and boost energy — though these claims may be dubious, and the surrounding research is primarily conducted through animal testing. In large quantities, THCv may also produce psychoactive effects, though at much smaller levels than the other forms of THC on this list.

THCa

Will It Get You High: No

Unlike the rest of the THC derivatives on this list, THCa is actually a chemical precursor to THC. Short for tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, this chemical does not have any psychoactive effects on the human body, as it does not bind to CB1 receptors in the human body (unlike these other forms of THC). However, when exposed to light and heat, THCa will decarboxylate into THC — a process that is all but inevitable.

THC-O-acetate

Will It Get You High: Yes, even in small doses

A semi-synthetic compound derived from natural THC, there are many claims that suggest that THC-O-acetate is stronger than traditional, natural forms of THC and that it might even produce psychedelic-like effects in the human body. However, studies suggest that this is either partially or entirely false. While little research has been done on this semi-synthetic form of THC, it is possible that there are greater risks in consuming it due to the chemicals and processes involved in its creation.

Other THC Types

While the above represent the most common, well-researched forms of THC, they’re not the only kinds (and more are likely to emerge as cannabis research continues). Another emerging type is THCp (tetrahydrocannabiphorol) — another recently discovered naturally-occurring THC homologue that is not currently commercially available (though there are black-market products that claim to contain it [even though they don’t]) but shows promise in vitro and animal studies when it comes to its potency (and, transitively, the high it produces). Another is THC Chirality, which is an isomer of THC that could potentially pose public health concerns in the future.

A Note on THC Legality

As of the time of the publishing of this article, cannabis is still federally illegal. However, 24 states, two territories and the District of Columbia have “enacted measures to regulate cannabis for non-medical adult (recreational) use.” Furthermore, there is a piece of legislature commonly referred to as the Farm Bill (signed into law by President Trump in 2018), which has served as a legal loophole technically allowing the sale of the different isomers and homologues of THC (non-delta-9, specifically). This bill has been exploited by many retailers, even in states where the sale of recreational cannabis has been banned. While President Biden recently signed a stopgap funding bill, extending the application of the Farm Bill through September of 2024, many legislators, state regulators, researchers and more are calling for a permanent closure of this legal loophole, which is likely to occur before recreational cannabis is federally legalized.

As always, make sure you check your local laws and regulations before attempting to purchase any type of cannabis.

This article was fact-checked by Dr. Matthew Elmes — a cannabinoid scientist and cannabis enthusiast. His professional background spans both academia and the cannabis industry. He currently works as Director of an analytical cannabis testing laboratory in New York.