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What Is THCP and Why Scientists Call It the Strongest Cannabinoid
THCP binds 33x stronger to receptors than THC, measuring stickiness not intensity—learn why 0.3mg matters and effects last 12-72 hours.
Written by Sipho Sam
August 28th, 2025
Scientists discovered THCP binds to cannabinoid receptors 33 times more effectively than THC, but that doesn't mean what you think it means.
Suppose you've stumbled across THCP vapes at your local smoke shop or seen Reddit threads warning about 72-hour highs.
In that case, you may be wondering whether this cannabinoid lives up to the hype or is another marketing exaggeration.
The confusion makes sense when brands claim revolutionary potency while users report unexpectedly intense experiences that turned THCP into cannabis culture's most misunderstood molecule.
Here's what matters: THCP is a naturally occurring cannabinoid with seven carbon atoms in its alkyl chain instead of THC's five, fundamentally changing how it interacts with your body's cannabinoid receptors.
The result creates effects lasting 12 to 72 hours from amounts as small as 0.3 milligrams, and understanding this distinction between binding strength and psychoactive intensity could save you from an uncomfortably long ride.
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Table of Contents
THCP Has 7 Carbon Atoms Instead of 5, and That Changes Everything
Why Binding 33 Times Stronger Doesn't Mean Getting 33 Times Higher
Start With 0.3mg Even If You Smoke Every Day
THCP Effects Can Last 72 Hours (Here's the Real Timeline)
What THCP Actually Feels Like Compared to Regular THC
Why You'll Never Find Real THCP Flower
THCP Is Legal in Your State Until It Isn't
How to Know If Your THCP Is Actually THCP
The Friday Night Rule for First-Time THCP Users
THCP Has 7 Carbon Atoms Instead of 5, and That Changes Everything
Think of cannabinoid receptors as locks and cannabinoids as keys where THC's five-carbon key fits the lock and turns smoothly but falls out relatively quickly, while THCP's seven-carbon key clicks deep into the lock and stays there for hours or even days.
Italian researchers discovered THCP in 2019 while analyzing a medical cannabis variety, finding this seven-carbon cannabinoid naturally occurs in incredibly small amounts between 0.0023% and 0.0136% in high-THC strains.
You'd need to process thousands of pounds of cannabis to extract a meaningful amount of natural THCP, putting this into perspective.
This scarcity explains why commercial THCP comes from manufacturers converting CBD extracted from hemp into THCP through chemical reactions, creating a molecularly identical product to natural THCP but in quantities that make commercial products possible.
The technical measurement that started all the confusion is the Ki value, where THCP binds to CB1 receptors with a Ki of 1.2 nanomolar (nM) while regular THC binds at 40 nM.
Lower numbers mean tighter binding, like comparing two magnets where one takes 1 pound of force to remove versus one requiring 40 pounds — both stick to metal, but one holds on much longer.
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Why Binding 33 Times Stronger Doesn't Mean Getting 33 Times Higher
The cannabis industry loves the "33 times stronger" claim, but binding affinity measures how tightly a molecule grabs onto receptors, not the intensity of effects it produces.
A chemistry professor on Reddit explained it perfectly: "THCP binds 33 times more in a petri dish, like saying a new glue is 33 times stickier in lab tests — it doesn't mean your project will be 33 times better, just harder to take apart."
Binding affinity predicts duration and displacement difficulty, meaning when THCP locks onto your CB1 receptors, it doesn't let go easily.
Your body's natural processes that normally clear THC within 4-6 hours struggle to dislodge THCP, keeping the receptor occupied and continuously sending signals that maintain psychoactive effects.
This explains wildly different user experiences where someone expecting to get 33 times higher takes what they think is reasonable and is uncomfortably affected for days, not because the peak is more intense, but because their receptors won't release the THCP.
Start With 0.3mg Even If You Smoke Every Day
Your THC tolerance means nothing when it comes to THCP, since the different binding mechanism creates a new equation that your usual calculations can't solve.
Daily dabbers who handle 100mg of Delta-9 THC report being overwhelmed by less than 1mg of THCP, confirming this isn't about tolerance.
Reddit's cannabis communities have converged on a simple rule: start with 0.3 to 0.5 milligrams regardless of your experience level.
One user described their miscalculation, saying, "I smoke all day every day, figured I could handle a full pull from a THCP cart—that was three days ago, and I'm still feeling it."
The challenge with many THCP products is figuring out what 0.3mg looks like since a "small puff" from different vapes delivers wildly different amounts.
Mood's vape products provide clear cannabinoid content per unit, removing the guesswork from finding your starting point.
Wait at least two hours between servings because THCP's onset can be deceptively slow compared to regular THC, and taking more because you "don't feel anything yet" is the most common path to an unexpectedly intense experience.
Watch: How To Use Cannabis Flower
THCP Effects Can Last 72 Hours (Here's the Real Timeline)
THCP follows a dramatically different timeline than THC, and understanding this progression helps you plan appropriately while avoiding the "when will this end?" feelings that fill Reddit threads.
The onset typically begins 30 to 60 minutes after consumption, slower than THC's 5-15 minute onset when vaped.
Effects build gradually and reach peak intensity around 2-4 hours, but unlike THC's relatively quick decline, THCP's peak can plateau for hours.
Primary psychoactive effects commonly persist for 12 to 24 hours — not residual drowsiness or brain fog but active cannabinoid effects.
Users report still feeling notably altered the entire next day after evening consumption.
The tail end sometimes stretches to 48 or even 72 hours, during which users describe feeling "different" or "off baseline" for days, though not as intensely as during the primary phase.
One Reddit user expressed frustration: "It's been three days, and I still can't fully focus at work — never again on a weeknight."
These extended timelines explain why experienced users treat THCP more like a psychedelic journey than a casual smoke session, clearing schedules and preparing for multi-day experiences.
What THCP Actually Feels Like Compared to Regular THC
If regular THC is like watching a movie, THCP is like being inside the movie, with users consistently describing a deeper, more immersive quality that goes beyond simple intensity.
The physical effects feel heavier and more encompassing, where THC might create a pleasant body buzz, while THCP users report feeling wrapped in weighted blankets made of clouds.
Movement becomes deliberate and slow, not from impairment but from profound physical comfort, making staying still preferable.
Mental effects include significant time dilation and enhanced sensory processing, where music doesn't just sound better but feels three-dimensional.
Food flavors become incredibly complex, while simple activities like watching clouds or petting cats are captivating for extended periods.
The challenging aspects deserve equal attention. Users report feeling overwhelmed or uneasy, especially knowing the effects will last so long.
The inability to "come down" when needed creates a unique challenge.
Some users report feeling disconnected from everyday life rhythms during the extended effects.
Though individual responses vary significantly, low amounts (0.3-0.5mg) may provide noticeable relaxation and mood enhancement without overwhelming psychoactivity.
Why You'll Never Find Real THCP Flower
Any "THCP flower" you encounter is regular hemp or cannabis flower sprayed with THCP distillate since natural concentrations are far too low for flower to provide meaningful effects through naturally occurring content alone.
Even the highest-testing cannabis strains contain at most 0.0136% THCP, meaning you'd need to smoke several ounces simultaneously to consume a single milligram of natural THCP.
Hemp-derived THCP delivers the same potency as any other source, proving that hemp products match or exceed traditional cannabis in effectiveness.
The THCP is added to various delivery methods, including dissolved in vape oil, mixed into edibles, or sprayed onto flower. Each method offers different onset times and duration profiles.
Vape cartridges allow the most precise control by letting users take measured pulls and wait to assess effects.
Edibles lock in your serving size for better or worse, with no ability to reduce the amount once consumed.
Sprayed flower produce unpredictable hotspots where THCP concentration varies across the bud.
THCP Is Legal in Your State Until It Isn't
THCP exists in a legal gray area that shifts constantly — federally legal when derived from hemp containing less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill.
At least nine states have banned or restricted "intoxicating hemp cannabinoids," a category that includes THCP.
Despite their federal legality, California, Colorado, and New York are among those taking action against these compounds.
The regulatory landscape changes monthly, where states that allow THCP sales today might ban them tomorrow with little warning.
Always verify current laws in your location before purchasing.
If drug testing concerns you, assume THCP will trigger positive results since its structural similarity to Delta-9 THC means it likely produces similar metabolites that standard tests detect.
There's no reliable way to prove your positive test came from legal THCP rather than federally illegal marijuana.
Mood ships products to 41 states where it has verified their legality, maintaining transparency about where it can and cannot deliver.
How to Know If Your THCP Is Actually THCP
The THCP market suffers from inconsistent testing standards. Many laboratories lack validated methods for accurately measuring THCP content, leading to COAs that might overstate or underestimate actual potency.
Quality indicators include recent test dates within 6 months, ISO-accredited laboratory credentials, and specific THCP percentages rather than vague terms like "fire" or "potent."
The report should show testing for contaminants, including heavy metals, pesticides, and microbials.
Watch for red flags like missing batch numbers, photocopied COAs, or reports showing only "total cannabinoids" without breaking down individual compounds.
Some brands doctor their reports or use outdated tests from different batches.
Mood addresses the testing reliability problem using validated methodologies, identifying and quantifying THCP content.
Each batch comes with accessible, current testing that customers can verify.
The Friday Night Rule for First-Time THCP Users
After processing all this information, here's the practical wisdom: treat your first THCP experience like a weekend camping trip, not a quick evening walk.
Choose Friday night for your first experience, giving you Saturday to navigate peak effects and Sunday to return to baseline before work obligations.
Clear your entire Saturday schedule — the morning and the whole day.
Have easy meals prepared, plenty of water accessible, and comfortable spaces ready.
Start with 0.3mg regardless of your cannabis experience and set a timer for two hours before considering any additional serving.
Keep CBD on hand since some users report it helps moderate intense effects.
Tell someone trustworthy about your plans so they can check on you if needed.
Document your experience, including the amount you took, when you took it, and how long the effects lasted, to create a personal reference guide for future decisions.
Many users find that their ideal THCP experience is much lower than initially expected.
This measured approach to THCP isn't about fear but respect for a uniquely potent cannabinoid.
Mood's vape products support careful exploration with precise labeling, validated testing, and consistent quality that removes unnecessary variables from your experience.
The difference between a transcendent THCP experience and a cautionary Reddit post often comes down to preparation, patience, and starting with less than you think you need.
In the world of THCP, less isn't just more — it's the only responsible starting point.
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