When it comes to cannabis, understanding THC levels is critical for both novice and experienced consumers. Whether you're crafting edibles, tinctures, or oils at home, being able to determine the potency of your cannabis product is key to a safe and enjoyable experience. In this guide, we’ll break down THC levels charts, explain their importance, and show you how to measure THC accurately at home.
What Are THC Levels?
It all boils down to how much THC gets into your bloodstream. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis that creates the “high” effect. The amount of THC in each serving is written on dispensary purchased products. Homemade edibles or home grown buds must be tested for potency.
How you consume also matters. Inhaled THC is directly absorbed into your bloodstream through your lungs. THC in edibles must get through your digestive tract and through your liver which converts it to 11-hydroxyl-THC before it enters your bloodstream. How much and what type of food you ate before taking the edible will affect the speed at which the edible gets through your digestive system.
This is why the effects of inhaled versus edibles can be very different.
Plant
For dry plant material such as buds, trim, shake, or pre-rolls, THC levels are expressed as a percentage of the plant's dry weight, indicating the concentration of THC in the product. 25~30% THCa cannabis is pretty common here in California. If a pre-roll is 10 hits, then that works out to be about about 22 to 27mg of THC per hit.
Most folks can start feeling the effects after 1-2 puffs.
Dabs / Concentrates
There are many, many different types of concentrates on the market today. They can range from distillates to resins to FECO (full extract cannabis oil). Be sure the carefully read the label to understand what you are getting. The concentrates with THCa are generally designed to be smoked while concentrates with THC are generally eaten.
Edibles
Store purchased edibles are always marked with the amount of THC in each serving. If you make your edibles at home, then you will need a tCheck device or other way to measure the amount of THC in each serving.
Remember, THC in a gummy hits your bloodstream differently than smoking and it can take as long as 2 hours before you start feeling the effects so start low and slow.
THC Drinks
THC drinks are not like edibles. THC is oil soluble, not water soluble so in order to mix THC into drinks, the THC molecule must be wrapped in something that is water soluble. This wrapping is called nano-encapsulation or nano-emulsion. The effect of the water soluble nano-encapsulation is that the THC hits your bloodstream faster (10-20 minutes) as opposed to 45min ~ 2 hours for an edible. The effects of THC drinks also tends to be shorter lived than edibles.
THC Levels Comparison
| joint | bong hits | edible | beer |
| 1~2 puffs | - | 1 ~ 3mg | 1 beer |
| 1/2 joint | 1 | 5 ~ 10mg | 2-3 beers |
| 1 joint | 2 | 10 ~ 20mg | 6 pack |
Always Know Your Dose with tCheck Potency Tester
Cannabis metabolism and detection are influenced by multiple factors, including individual physiology, consumption habits, and potency. By understanding how your body processes THC and utilizing tools like the tCheck Potency Tester, you can make informed decisions about your cannabis use.Ready to learn more about potency testing? Visit tCheck.me to explore how easy it is to take control of your cannabis experience.
