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FAQ only, USA TODAY
As the Department of Justice moves to reclassify medical cannabis products as a less dangerous substance, we’re here to answer your burning questions about THC.
If marijuana were reclassified from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug, it would not be legal at the federal level, but it would make it easier for the industry to operate and conduct research.
Tetrahydrocannabinol, colloquially known as THC, is not new. But as more lawmakers move to legalize and decriminalize marijuana possession and use, more medical researchers are looking to learn more about how marijuana affects the human body.
The jury is still out among health experts on the use of THC, CBD, and marijuana in general, as those in the medical and research fields weigh the benefits and risks.
“This is the big challenge with cannabis: How do we promote beneficial medical uses, allow what society deems acceptable for recreational purposes, and also prevent real harm?” Gregory Tan, an associate professor with a doctorate in health policy at the Colorado School of Public Health, previously told USA TODAY. “This will be difficult and will likely require a combination of policies, rules, regulations and education.”
Here’s what experts want you to know about THC.
What is THC?
Simply put, THC is the component in cannabis that causes you to get high.
“People accept and justify the medicinal use of cannabis for various reasons and illnesses,” Tung added. “Support in the scientific literature is even more limited. One of the areas where scientific evidence is strongest is in pain control and management. Some people ‘enjoy’ the high recreationally.”
A 2023 meta-analysis of studies on the effects of cannabis on health concluded that cannabis may be beneficial for pain management in people with some health conditions, but is not without side effects. Overall, experts say more research is needed to give definitive answers about the benefits and risks.
What are the safest THC products to purchase?
Health experts, including Tracy Smith, an associate professor at the Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center with a Ph.D. in biology and health psychology, are hesitant to call certain THC products the “safest” because there is still less research into their health effects, especially long-term health effects.
Using products with lower THC concentrations, or consuming smaller amounts of THC in general, is “relatively low risk,” Tung says.
Each form of marijuana ingestion has advantages and disadvantages regarding administration and exposure to dangerous compounds, he added.
Smoking a joint can get you high faster than other methods, so you may be able to pace yourself more effectively. However, Tung points out that inhaling combusted marijuana is “very harmful.”
In comparison, edible foods eliminate the risk of inhaling combustion byproducts. But the fact that they metabolize much more slowly makes it more difficult to self-regulate dosage, Tung says.
Concentrates, which are typically consumed in e-cigarettes, are “probably the most dangerous” option because they contain very high levels of THC, Tung said. The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that, although more research is needed, high concentrations of THC may increase the likelihood of developing dependence, as well as experiencing side effects such as anxiety, agitation, paranoia, and psychosis.
Experts say research supports the idea that young people and pregnant people are among the groups who should avoid cannabis altogether because it is risky and harmful.
