The Definitive Guide to THC Percentage

The immense amount of disinformation among those interested in cannabis made it a necessity to create the definitive guide to THC percentage.

A consumer might figure out that cannabis with too high of a THC percentage might not be enjoyable for them. Lab-tested cannabis can give a definitive answer as to the THC content as appearance and aroma can be misleading.

THC gains its fame from being a cannabinoid that contributes to the psychoactive component of cannabis. In other words, THC is what gets a consumer high.

Hemp and CBD flower both have minuscule amounts of THC which is why their legal status is different in the US than THC-containing cannabis.

The beauty in today’s world of dispensaries is that the flower that you purchase has been lab-tested for the most part. Consumers want to see lab results as certain terpenes help them in a variety of medical ways.

THC and CBD levels are usually shown on a label of the cannabis that you purchase.

THC Percentage and Strains

High THC flower can be grown at home, bought at a dispensary, or even delivered depending on your location.

If you want a more balanced high, you might want to look into a THC/CBD hybrid strain. Lower levels of THC might be perfect for a person that has just started their cannabis journey.

Delta 8 THC has also been called a “weed light” although these flowers are sprayed.  

Asking someone at a local dispensary can be a crapshoot when just starting out consuming cannabis. The cannabis of today dwarfs the marijuana of the past in terms of how high a person can get with one hit.

THC and CBD have been shown to benefit consumers when used together which is important to note. Far too many people do not understand the medicinal aspect of THC simply because it gets a person high.

Understanding the differences between Indica and Sativa strain is very important. A person might not enjoy a Sativa as their mind races even with lower levels of THC. The levels of THC along with the strain are the two most important aspects of top-shelf marijuana you will consume.

Below are a few high THC strains available on the market today:

• Gorilla Glue #4 is notorious for having high levels of THC that leave you glued to your couch. GG4 has been tested at up to 30 percent THC which is around 10 times stronger than marijuana was in the 1970s.
• Amnesia Haze tests at high levels regularly and can make you quite forgetful if the name delivers on its promise. This strain regularly tests between 20 and 25 percent THC.
• Girl Scout Cookies has tested up to 29 percent THC and has a plethora of awards to show for it. The strain originated in 2011 or 2012 with its grower remaining a mystery. This has been a source of hot debate but the one fact that is not debatable is the strain came from San Francisco.
• White Fire OG is one of the prettiest flowers on the market along with testing in up to 29 percent in THC levels. This is a hybrid of The White and Fire OG which is sure to pack a punch in your bowl.
• Chemdog is a phenotype of DogBud that a breeder picked up in the parking lot of a Grateful Dead show. The bud tests between 20 and 24 percent THC which is no surprise with a lineage including a Grateful Dead show.

How THC Levels Have Changed Over The Years

Today’s cannabis is not like that of the 1970s with THC percentages hovering between 5 and 7 percent for high-grade weed strains. Most cannabis had around 3 percent of THC which is seen tenfold in some strains currently. 

The THC levels of today are astronomical when compared to just a few decades ago. Marijuana growing has been taken to the next level and will continue to flourish as legal restrictions continue to be lifted. 

The 1980s and 1990s didn’t have any real reliable testing when it came to THC levels in marijuana. Everything from the storage of the cannabis to other outside factors made the results of the tests unreliable at best. The tests that were done did show a small increase to around 5 percent when it came to the THC levels of cannabis on average.

The 2000s until the present-day have been the true Golden Age for cannabis THC percentages. Technology has made growing cannabis more convenient than ever.

All a person has to do is check out a valuable resource online or ask an online community about growing, smoking, cooking, or the best dispensaries locally. The average THC content of marijuana in Colorado is around 19 percent which is incredible.

Below are a few of the reasons for the jump in THC levels over the years:

• Hydroponic indoor grows allow for complete control of the growing environment.
• Seed genetics are improving in a variety of ways. The durability of a certain strain might be taken into account when being bred with a sensitive strain.
• Quality soil and nutrients can help increase THC levels and improve things like bud density come harvest time.
• Cannabis growing certification programs like those offered online at CTU puts expert advice at your disposal. The ability to post pictures online to ask others about your grow is also helpful. Being able to detect a mite infestation could potentially save an entire crop. Dealing with certain mites can be as easy as investing in some ladybugs that eat the mites.
• Legal restrictions being lifted in some states led to quite a bit of experimental growing to be done. The federal legalization could lead to even higher THC levels as long as government intervention is minimal.

The push for more THC has seemingly slowed a bit with some strains hovering around 35 percent. Understanding elevated THC levels and your enjoyment of marijuana go hand in hand. Looking at a THC percentage chart can allow you to truly understand THC and how it impacts you personally.