In the world of cannabis, THC is present in two different isomers, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol. Delta-8-THC is found in small amounts in the plant naturally, but can also be produced semi-synthetically by converting CBD to strong acids. Delta-9-THC is the main psychoactive component of marijuana, and is one of only three cannabinoids included in the list of the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances. The Delta-8 double link is one position to the left of the Delta-9.If we move the double bond to the right of the delta-9-THC, it will fall into the tenth position of the cyclohexene ring.
This cannabinoid is known as Delta-10 THC. Delta-10 THC is currently available to laboratories in the United States, but not yet in Canada. It is produced exclusively by (semi) synthesis. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a family of cannabinoids that are isomers of THC, and are not psychoactive. CBD had an unclear regulatory status until recently, when it was approved by the U.
S. Food and Drug Administration for treating seizures caused by two severe forms of epilepsy. There are seven possible double bond isomers in THC, and each has several potential spatial orientations (stereoisomers). These include delta 6 a (10a) THC, delta 6 a (7a), exo THC isomer, delta 7 Delta 8 Delta 9 delta-10-THC delta-6 (7a) -THC delta-7-THC delta-8-THC delta-9-THC delta 6 a (10a) THC delta 6 a (7a). Complex Biotech Discovery Ventures, CBDV (soon to be Delic Labs), an approved cannabis and psilocybin research laboratory in British Columbia (Canada), can track most of these THC isomers. Hydroxylation strictly refers to the addition of a hydroxyl (OH) group to any molecule, while isomerization, on the other hand, refers to a rearrangement of the atomic structure of the same molecule.
Everyone knows that (−) -trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and many of its cannabinoid isomers are the main psychoactive components of marijuana (Cannabis sativa). So far we have gone from D8 to D6a (10a) and have analysed four isomers of THC in cannabis and beyond natural sources. Although the chemical formula of THC (C21H30O) describes multiple isomers, the term THC generally refers to the delta-9-THC isomer with the chemical name (−) -trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. But how many different variations and isomers of THC are there actually in cannabis and how many more can there exist if we go beyond the realm of quantitative data?In an upcoming installment we will explore Delta-8-THC in more detail. We'll stick to the basics for now and explore the different THC isomers in greater detail in future versions.
