THCV

THCV, abbreviated from tetrahydrocannabivarin, is an intriguing psychoactive cannabinoid that sometimes appears naturally in trace amounts of roughly less than 1% by weight in certain relatively rare cannabis varietals and chemovars. In molecular structure, THCV is closely analogous to the much more common and well known psychoactive THC, with the main structural difference being a propyl (3-carbon) group in the place of THC’s pentyl (5-carbon) chain. Research studies indicate THCV holds promise for effectively mitigating seizures, inflammation, panic attacks, PTSD and Type II diabetes mellitus symptoms among other conditions when administered in vivo, while also exhibiting appetite-suppressing effects. While human trials remain limited due to its rarity, initial observational and animal testing models demonstrate THCV’s wide-ranging and unique therapeutic medical potential. Through advances in selective breeding, more high-THCV expressing cannabis chemovars are emerging, slowly expanding access for medical cannabis patients and consumers interested in experiencing this uncommon cannabinoid’s novel effects not found in abundance elsewhere in nature.