What is THC?

If you spend enough time learning about the medical benefits of cannabis, you'll notice that THC is mentioned a lot. But what is THC, and what does it do?

THC is short for tetrahydrocannabinol, and it's a chemical compound found in cannabis plants (marijuana). When it's ingested or inhaled, THC binds to the cannabinoid receptors in your brain. Low doses of THC help reduce pain and nausea, and help stimulate the appetite. In some cases, it can also reduce aggression. Larger doses of THC result in the marijuana "high" - an altered perception of time and space that comes with feelings of happiness, fatigue, or both.

In countries where marijuana is an illegal drug - even for medicinal purposes - many people use synthetic forms of THC that are produced in a laboratory. The prescription drug Marinol is one such lab-made version of THC, and its used to treat eating disorders, as well as reducing the side effects of cancer chemotherapy and mitigate the effects of AIDS. In addition, early research suggests that the use of Marinol or natural THC may help reduce the tics experienced by patients with Tourette Syndrome.

While Marinol is widely available, with prescription, many people who have also used THC in a natural form find that the version actually derived from cannabis is more effective than the synthetic version. This is one of the reasons chronic patients are often willing to break U.S. law to obtain marijuana, if they don't live in one of the fifteen states (or Washington, D.C.) where medical marijuana is allowed.

The stigma associated with drug use has, according to many doctors and physicians, caused a widespread prejudice against THC, despite the fact that many prescription drugs cause side effects that are far more devastating than anything marijuana might do. Even over-the-counter drugs, like acetaminophen (the analgesic found in Tylenol and Excedrin) can have harmful side effects - overuse can harm your liver.

Moreover, the benefits of THC far outweigh any risk. Research done on mice has shown that THC can actually arrest and reduce the growth of tumors, and recent studies point to THC as a way to prevent, delay, or reduce the severity of Alzheimer's disease. Still other research indicates that THC is beneficial for people with Multiple Sclerosis, and that it may help control the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

To be fair, marijuana is an addictive drug, but it's never been considered highly addictive, and the studies which suggested that extended use could disrupt brain function have been called into question in recent years. Control group research comparing habitual marijuana users to those who have never used marijuana show almost no differences in their MRI scans, and many medical researchers continue to advocate prescription access to cannabis-derived THC.