THC analogs

THC analogs are compounds that share the core structure of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol but differ in the position of a double bond, a side chain or an added chemical group.

The group includes naturally occurring isomers such as delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC, homologs with different side-chain lengths such as THCV and THCP, and modified derivatives such as THC-O-acetate and hexahydrocannabinol, which is a hydrogenated form. Most analogs sold today are made by chemically converting hemp-derived cannabidiol rather than extracted from the plant, a process that can leave behind reaction by-products and unidentified compounds. Their psychoactive potency ranges from weaker than delta-9 THC to considerably stronger.

Analogs occupy a legal gray area: the 2018 Farm Bill defines hemp by delta-9 THC content, so products high in other analogs have been marketed as hemp-derived, while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and many states have issued warnings or bans and the Drug Enforcement Administration has stated that synthetically produced analogs are controlled substances. Standard cannabinoid potency panels may not separate every analog, and drug tests can detect their metabolites. Safety data for most analogs are sparse, and none has an approved medical use.