THCV vs THC— What’s the difference?

*Disclaimer: This article is merely discussing the difference in the perceived effects of both cannabinoids, not the scientific and fundamental elemental differences.

There are so many cannabinoids out there, and with all the similar-sounding names being tossed around, you may be wondering, what the heck is the difference?

THC and THCV are especially similar-sounding, because they’ve got the same letters minus one. This can lead to some understandable confusion.

Let’s break it down real nice-like.

So what’s the V for?

The “V” stands for “varin,” which is at the end of THCV’s full government name (Tetrahydrocannabivarin).

THCV vs THC key differences

Tetrahydrocannabinol is the notorious THC, and the most commonly talked about cannabinoid, as it is the one most people think of when they hear about cannabis, aka “weed.”

It’s known for a pretty serious “high” that can have a variety of effects, but most commonly includes the following:

• An intoxicated state

• A couch-locking body relaxation

• An increased appetite, or the munchies

• A nice heavy cloud over the mind

• Sometimes unwelcome anxiety and paranoia

THCV doesn’t come with any of these effects all by itself, but has these instead:

• An increased sense of awareness & focus

• A boost of energy

• A euphoric body sensation

• A reduced appetite

• A sense of balance in the mind

When these two get together, THCV acts as a sort of neutralizer (we aren’t completely sure how yet, as studies are pretty scarce, but it likely prevents THC from binding to receptors in our body’s endocannabinoid system), and blocks certain effects of THC.

Because it is able to block these effects, you end up with a high that provides you with an all-over experience that uplifts and energizes, without the high chance of anxiety and paranoia sometimes brought on by THC alone. There are also no munchies or head-fog to tie you down.

It couldn’t possibly get any better.

Or could it?