Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCv), or “diet weed,” as it’s sometimes called, has become newly popular for its appetite-suppressing properties.
But how should you go about using this cannabinoid? What is the recommended THCv dosage?
For new users, our baseline recommendation is to take 10mg of THCv per day to get a feel for how it works with your body.
Then, you can slowly increase your dosage until you achieve the effects you’re looking for.
In this article, we’ll dive deeper into THCv dosage and provide a chart to make finding your dose easier.
Given the shortage of official guidance, everything here is based on anecdotal evidence — still, we hope this resource will provide you with a good place to start.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- For appetite and weight loss, start by taking 10mg THCv per day
- For anxiety, start taking 30mg THCv per day
- For pain, start by taking 30mg THCv per day
What is THCv?
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCv) is a naturally-occurring cannabinoid in the cannabis sativa plant. Unlike delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), THCv won’t get you high, nor will it create noticeable mental effects.
However, THCv does have many potential therapeutic benefits, among them appetite suppression. Many people use THCv cannabinoid specifically for this purpose, even dubbing it “diet weed” and “weederall.”
Potential Benefits of THCv
Research suggests THCv has therapeutic potential in a variety of areas:
Appetite suppression
Several studies suggest THCv may have appetite-suppressing and properties.
A 2009 study out of the University of Aberdeen, UK, suggested that THCv may reduce food intake and weight gain [1].
2013 research from the University of Buckingham, UK, found that THCv may reduce obesity-associated glucose intolerance [2].
A placebo-controlled study done in 2016 found that 5mg doses of THCv, taken twice daily for 13 weeks, decreased fasting plasma glucose and influenced levels of beneficial hormones in people with type 2 diabetes.
However, this study showed no change in body weight or appetite in the patients who received THCv as compared to those who received the placebo [3].
Stress & anxiety
Research and anecdotal evidence suggest THCv may promote a calm, balanced mind without creating psychoactive effects.
A 2015 study, which aimed to investigate the impact of THCv on psychosis, found that THCv may enhance the activation of serotonin receptors [4].
Serotonin is a hormone in your body that controls your mood, which means there may be a link between THCv and positive mental effects.
However, more studies are needed to confirm this link.
Pain
Research suggests THCv may have analgesic (pain-reducing) properties.
A 2010 study out of the University of Aberdeen, UK, found that THCv may activate the CB1 or CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system, thereby having a physically supportive effect [5].
Other research on THCv’s benefits
Apart from appetite suppression, stress, anxiety, and pain, THCv has also been researched for:
THCv is not a proven treatment for these conditions or any others. Instead, it is a natural supplement that is still being researched for these benefits. While it may help, understand that it’s not a solution for any medical problem.
How Much THCv Should You Take?
As a baseline, we recommend taking 10mg of THCv per day if you’ve never used it before.
However, if you want calculate a dose that better suits your unique needs, we recommend taking the following three factors into account (this is what our chart is based on):
Metabolism & weight
Metabolism and weight are “body factors” – factors unique to your biological makeup that will influence how much THCv you should take.
People with slower metabolisms should take less THCv, and people with lower body weight should take less THCv. And vice versa.
While it’s hard to quantify the exact impact that each of these factors have on how your body responds to cannabinoids, you can use your personal knowledge of them to inform how quickly you increase or decrease your THCv dosage from the baseline.
Why you’re using it
Depending on why you’re using THCv, you might need more or less to get the effects you need (we provide formulas for different uses).
For therapeutic use, you’ll want to start slow and work your way up, stopping once you’ve reached the point where you’ve achieved the effects you need.
Your tolerance
If you use psychoactive cannabinoids on a regular basis, you may have built a tolerance to THCv and other cannabinoids.
If you have a higher tolerance, you might need more than the recommended dosage to get the effects you’re looking for (though, by default, play it safe and start low).
On the flipside, if you’ve never used cannabinoids before, the starting recommendations should be sufficient for you.
THCv Dosage By Use: Formulas
Here’s how much THCv you should take, based on what you’re using it for:
THCv dosage for weight loss
For appetite-related use, we recommend starting with a low-strength dosage of THCv. You can calculate it using the following formula:
(0.1) x (your body weight in lbs. ) = your daily dose of THCv for weight loss in mg.
THCv dosage for anxiety & stress
To promote mental relaxation, we recommend starting with a medium-strength dosage of THCv. You can calculate it using the following formula:
(0.3) x (your body weight in lbs. ) = your daily dose of THCv for anxiety and stress in mg.
THCv dosage for pain
To promote physical relaxation, we recommend starting with a medium-strength dosage of THCv. You can calculate it using the following formula:
(0.3) x (your body weight in lbs. ) = your daily dose of THCv for pain in mg.
THCv dosage for general wellness
For general wellness, we recommend starting with a low-strength dosage of THCv. You can calculate it using the following formula:
(0.1) x (your body weight in lbs. ) = your daily dose of THCv for general wellness in mg.
THCv Dosage Chart
How to Dose Different Types of THCv Products
There are many different ways you can consume THCv, and each consumption method has unique dosing considerations. Here’s a bit about each.
For reference, bioavailability is the percentage of THCv you consume that your body actually uses. It varies slightly by product, however, the differences aren’t significant to the point we account for them in our formulas.
THCv Gummies and Edibles Dosage
Average Bioavailability: 10-20%
Average Onset: 30-45 minutes
The most popular type of THCv edibles are gummies. Gummies offer a fixed-dose consumption method, meaning you can get the same amount of THCv in each piece.
Because of this, THCv gummies are ideal if you plan to take the same dose on a regular basis. They can also be split into pieces for smaller doses.
THCv Capsule Dosage
Average Bioavailability: 10-20%
Average Onset: 30-45 minutes
THCv capsules, for all intents and purposes, function very similarly to THCv edibles in terms of onset time and bioavailability.
The downside to capsules is that, unlike edibles, they can’t be split into smaller pieces if you want to reduce the amount you’re taking.
THCv Oil & Tincture Dosage
Average Bioavailability: 20-30%
Average Onset: 5-10 minutes
THCv oils and tinctures have a faster onset and higher bioavailability than edible products because they can be taken under the tongue and swallowed, rather than being swallowed immediately.
Oils allow for very precise dosing, as you can measure your dose down to the drop using the metered dropper that comes with most products.
Here’s what you need to know about dosing THCv oil.
Generally, oils come with 1-milliliter droppers. Based on the strength of your product, here’s how much THCv will be in each dropper of oil:
100 mg bottle = 3.3mg. THCv per 1 ml.
250mg bottle = 8.3mg. THCv per 1 ml.
500mg bottle = 16.7mg. THCv per 1 ml.
1000mg bottle = 33.3mg. THCv per 1 ml.
1500mg bottle = 50mg. THCv per 1 ml.
3000mg bottle = 100m. THCv per 1 ml.
5000mg bottle = 166.6mg THCv per 1 ml.
THCv Vape & Flower Dosage
Average Bioavailability: 40-50%
Average Onset: 2-5 minutes
THCv can be inhaled, either through a vape or by smoking hemp flower containing high amounts of THCv.
There are a few benefits to inhalable THCv over other methods: it’s faster acting, has a high bioavailability, and allows you to “microdose” (if using a vape) throughout the day.
The downside is the obvious health risk that comes with vaping or smoking anything.
THCv Side Effects
THCv is considered well-tolerated and safe to consume, and there isn’t much research on its side effects.
However, anecdotal evidence suggests THCv may cause the following side effect in some people:
- Reduced appetite
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Nausea
Starting with small doses and working your way up can help you avoid the majority of these side effects.
Can You Take Too Much THCv?
Research suggests that THCv is safe and well-tolerated, and you can’t “overdose” on it. As mentioned, there isn’t much research on how THCv makes you feel.
However, consuming too much THCv may cause increases in the potential side effects discussed above.
It’s unknown how often these effects occur, but they’re important to be aware of.
Is THCv Legal?
The 2018 Farm Bill made all hemp-derived cannabinoids, including THCv, legal on the federal level.
Hemp is a variant of the cannabis sativa plant that contains less than 0.3% THC by dry weight.
It’s due to the Farm Bill that you’re able to purchase THCV products online.
The state-by-state legality of THCv, however, is more unclear.
Because THCv doesn’t create the psychoactive effects commonly associated with delta 9 THC, it’s often flown under the radar in regulatory conversations.
Conclusion: What’s The Best THCv Dosage For You?
There are a variety of factors that play into determining your perfect THCv dose.
And since THCv doesn’t render obvious mental effects, you’ll have to experiment and observe yourself closely to determine which dose provides you with the mental and physical balance you’re seeking.
However you experiment, remember that safety is the most important thing. everything. Always start with small doses before working your way up (10mg for new users), and speak with your doctor before using THCv if you’re using any prescription medications.
THCv Dosage: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions our customers frequently ask us about THCv dosage.
Will THCv get you high?
No, THCv won’t get you high. Unlike THC, THCv is not inebriating.
How long will the effects of THCv last?
Due to the way THCv works with your body, it has a faster onset than THC, but its effects don’t last as long.
How do the recommended THCv and THC doses compare?
THCv and THC are completely different in terms of how they make you feel, despite sharing those three familiar letters. THCv is not inebriating; THC is. Starting out, we recommend taking 10mg of THCv for therapeutic use. Our starting therapeutic recommendation for THC is 2.5mg per day; a microdose. These are just starting amounts — you’ll need to experiment with each cannabinoid over time to learn how much you need to get the results you want.
Which strains are high in THCv?
If you decide to use THCv flower, a few high-THCv strains include Doug’s Varin, Pineapple Purps, Durban Poison, Power Plant, Willie Nelson, and Red Congolese.
Sources
[1] Riedel, Gernot et al. “Synthetic and plant-derived cannabinoid receptor antagonists show hypophagic properties in fasted and non-fasted mice.” British journal of pharmacology vol. 156,7 (2009): 1154-66. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2008.00107.x
[2] Wargent, E T et al. “The cannabinoid Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) ameliorates insulin sensitivity in two mouse models of obesity.” Nutrition & diabetes vol. 3,5 e68. 27 May. 2013, doi:10.1038/nutd.2013.9
[3] Jadoon, Khalid A et al. “Efficacy and Safety of Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabivarin on Glycemic and Lipid Parameters in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Pilot Study.” Diabetes care vol. 39,10 (2016): 1777-86. doi:10.2337/dc16-0650
[4] Cascio, Maria Grazia et al. “The phytocannabinoid, Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabivarin, can act through 5-HT₁A receptors to produce antipsychotic effects.” British journal of pharmacology vol. 172,5 (2015): 1305-18. doi:10.1111/bph.13000
[5] Bolognini, Daniele et al. “The plant cannabinoid Delta9-tetrahydrocannabivarin can decrease signs of inflammation and inflammatory pain in mice.” British journal of pharmacology vol. 160,3 (2010): 677-87. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00756.x
[6] Espadas, Isabel et al. “Beneficial effects of the phytocannabinoid Δ9-THCV in L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson’s disease.” Neurobiology of disease vol. 141 (2020): 104892. doi:10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104892
[7] Oláh, Attila et al. “Differential effectiveness of selected non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids on human sebocyte functions implicates their introduction in dry/seborrhoeic skin and acne treatment.” Experimental dermatology vol. 25,9 (2016): 701-7. doi:10.1111/exd.13042
[8] Silvestri, Cristoforo et al. “Two non-psychoactive cannabinoids reduce intracellular lipid levels and inhibit hepatosteatosis.” Journal of hepatology vol. 62,6 (2015): 1382-90. doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2015.01.001
[9] Hill, Andrew J et al. “Δ⁹-Tetrahydrocannabivarin suppresses in vitro epileptiform and in vivo seizure activity in adult rats.” Epilepsia vol. 51,8 (2010): 1522-32. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2010.02523.x
[10] Romano, Barbara et al. “Pure Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin and a Cannabis sativa extract with high content in Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin inhibit nitrite production in murine peritoneal macrophages.” Pharmacological research vol. 113,Pt A (2016): 199-208. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2016.07.045
