Cannabidiol -> THC conversion, and implications

[wreckhead]

According to the Wikipedia article and its source, CBD cyclizes to THC in the presence of an acid.

Now my chemistry knowledge is basic, so what exactly is cyclization? Does it require heat to take place? I'm wondering because of course the stomach contains hydrochloric acid, so when cannabis is eaten, this could mean the CBD converts to THC which would make the high more anxiogenic than when smoked.

Another possibility would be to simply grind up some weed, add to acid and evaporate. Then you'd [possibly] have more THC, though this isn't necessarily better. THC and CBD content varies greatly, but this could definitely increase potency quite significantly.

Anyone?

 

[Hammilton]

Now my chemistry knowledge is basic, so what exactly is cyclization?

Fairly obvious, but here:

Cannabidiol:

THC:

The B ring in THC is open in Cannabidiol, and in the presense of an acid closes to form THC. I don't know if HCl will work, but I would not be surprised. Sulfuric acid has been used.

Going into other methods starts getting into synthesis, so I'll stop there- although it seems that there are many other possible methods.

I have played around with this; I think my results are documented here somewhere, though probably under my old account name, "Ham-milton." I did a similar experiment using heat to decarboxylate THC acid (which is the predominate form of THC in the plant) and distributing un-heated and heated cannabis blind to about a dozen participants. The heated and unheated samples came from the same strain, and groups were determined at random. You'll find that it's fairly easy to obtain 12-20 people to smoke a bit of weed rather easily. Which sample was given was determined by random number generator.

I would not use cannabinoids in plant matter though. Adding the acid and then neutralizing it is not easy to do, more sensibly would be to perform this on an extraction.

 

[wreckhead]

Cool, thanks. So according to this table, effects were increased by about 25%... Interesting.

Did you notice significantly more anxiety from the "treated" weed?

 

[Hammilton]

I didn't, but that wasn't really something we looked at. There was a round two with a bit larger sample. I migt now have posted that table though. Not sure if I can get at it now though, since it was on my old computer.

 

[Tsukasa]

That must be why oral weed tends to be most psychadelic, just like pure sativa strains if smoked, which have the most THC/CBD which are like completely opposite in effect, THC being psychadelic. rofl I am so fucking stoned

 

[theWorldWithin]

Oral weed is psychoactive predominantly because of 11-ho-thc which is formed in the liver during first pass metabolism if I remember correctly. 11-ho-thc is more potent by weight and many claim it is more psychedelic but that is rather subjective so the effect may be due to simply a higher amount of agonism from a stronger cannabinoid.