More people it seems are looking to take their day-to-day needs into their own hands with a host of natural plant derivatives known for their exceptionally positive effects. We’re seeing loads of new products enter the market, and we totally get that this can be overwhelming to novices just seeking out some natural relief, or a nice, blissful high. To help you make the best choice for your needs, we’re going to compare two products today: kratom and THCB, with the latter being a relatively new derivative of the hemp plant.
Contender #1: Kratom
Kratom refers to the dried, ground up leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, an evergreen tree which grows in Southeast Asia, and is related to coffee. The leaves of the tree are rich in alkaloids that contain properties which can change how we feel, both mentally and physically. When we take kratom, its alkaloids affect our opioid receptors, which regulate processes such as mood, pain sensitivity, and more.
Kratom naturally exists in numerous strains, referring to the specific cultivar of the tree (which varies between different regions). It also comes in three “veins”, referring to the color of the leaf’s vein at the time of harvest. While the leaves mature, the color changes, and this indicates the maturity level and prominence of individual alkaloids in the leaf. This means that color of the vein can tell us how potent the product is, and which effects are the most prominent depending on which alkaloids are most abundant at any given time during the maturation process.
Can I Get High off of Kratom?
Kratom can definitely get you intoxicated, because it attaches to the brain’s opioid receptors which can cause intoxication, similarly to opiates. How high you can get from kratom, and what kinds of psychoactive effects you can experience, will depend on the dosage, as well as the vein and the strain.
Is Kratom Legal?
Kratom is protected under federal law, as it’s never been illegal in the United States. However, a few states have made it illegal, and they are:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Hawaii
- Indiana
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
Also, remember, kratom is prohibited in a handful of municipalities across the United States, even in states where it’s otherwise legal. Because of that, we urge you to check your state laws and local laws periodically to make sure kratom is still legal where you live, as this can change at any time.
Does Kratom Have Benefits?
Kratom hasn’t been on the US market for long, which means that medical researchers are still in the early stages of understanding its distinctive benefits. Still, enough scientific papers have been published for us know that it has the potential to:
- Enhance energy, focus, and alertness
- Act as an anxiolytic
- Enhance mood
- Offers analgesic properties
- Improve sleep
- Decrease appetite
Does Kratom Have Side Effects?
Basically, kratom use can cause certain side effects, especially when not taken according to the label’s directions, if you take too much of it, or if your body just doesn’t tolerate it because of your unique physiology. Side effects you may experience include:
- Nausea
- Drowsiness
- Impaired coordination
- Increased heartrate
- Dry mouth/thirst
- Irritability/confusion
- Potential overdose
What Kinds of Kratom Products are There?
You can buy kratom in various product forms, as it’s pretty easy to infuse the water-soluble kratom powder into any formula. Now, let’s go over the products you’re most likely to encounter:
- Kratom Powder: The dried and ground up leaves, which is the pure form of kratom. It can be added to liquids or any other kind of solution you prefer.
- Kratom Liquid Extracts: These are highly concentrated liquid kratom products that are taken like a shot to offer a fast-acting and very potent experience.
- Bottled Kratom Drinks: Bottled kratom beverages include soft drinks, sparkling water, and any other type of drink infused with kratom powder.
- Kratom Teas: Kratom tea is just kratom powder placed inside of a teabag, for an easy way to extract the alkaloids into hot water.
- Kratom Edibles: Kratom gummies and other kratom-infused edibles promote long-lasting effects that come on more gradually.
- Kratom Capsules: Taking kratom in capsule form can be convenient if you’re already used to taking supplements as part of a routine.
- Kratom Vapes: These are still quite new to the marketplace, but just like any vapes, they’re available in bottle E-Liquids to be used in compatible vape pens, as well as pre-filled cartridges that attach to any 511-threaded pen-style system and AIO (All-In-One) Disposable Vapes. Vaping kratom allows you to feel the effects within minutes, but the effects don’t last as long.
- Kratom Topicals: Kratom topicals are applied to the skin, so that the alkaloids absorb transdermally.
Contender #2: THCB
THCB (tetrahydrocannabutol) is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in cannabis, and it’s present in the hemp plant in trace amounts, although it can be recreated through isomerization. While it was only discovered a few years ago, we do know that it’s quite potent (more potent than delta 9 THC) and has a high affinity for CB1 receptors that control nervous system responses so that they may function more efficiently.
Like we’ve seen with every cannabinoidin the cannabis plant, tetrahydrocannabutol binds to cannabinoid receptors (CB receptors) in the body, which mainly exist within the nervous system, and other bodily systems as well. Cannabinoid receptors require cannabinoids to regulate processes of the body through the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a system in every mammal that is tasked with maintaining homeostasis. This is why cannabinoids are associated with so many distinctive properties at the same time.
Can I Get High off of THCB?
THCB is intoxicating, and it’s more intoxicating than delta 9. It’s probably a bit less potent than THCP, for reference, which is 10 times as strong as delta 9 THC. THCB’s high is reported as being quite calming yet euphoric, and it can induce a powerful body high that can leave you couchlocked if you have a low tolerance.
Is THCB Legal?
The Farm Bill passed in 2018 in the United States, which finally made the hemp plant legal under federal law. This law states that all hemp derivatives can be sold legally as long as they contain no more than 0.3% delta 9 THC by dry weight. All cannabinoids except delta 9 THC are therefore legal without restrictions, and that includes THCB.
Still, states are permitted to prohibit certain cannabis-derived products, and some have banned all intoxicating cannabinoids. These states are:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
Does THCB Have Benefits?
THCB has not undergone much research pertaining to its benefits, but once again, THCB is known for offering similar effects to delta 9 THC, only stronger. And, as we know of many potential benefits associated with delta 9 THC, not to mention the fact that cannabinoids in general can offer numerous potential benefits, we can guess that THCB offers properties such as the ability to:
- Reduce stress levels
- Improve mood
- Offer analgesic properties
- Offer anti-inflammatory properties
- Reduce nausea
- Increase appetite
- Aid in sleep
- Support digestive and immune function
- Offer neuroprotective properties
Does THCB Have Side Effects?
Cannabis is deemed nontoxic to the body, and that applies to individual cannabinoids as well. Cannabis has never been shown to cause major adverse events or life-threatening effects. However, if your tolerance is low or you take too high of a dose, you can end up with certain side effects. And, there are certain side effects that come with psychoactive cannabinoids, if you get too high. The good news is that side effects reported are mild and short-lived, and include:
- Dry eyes
- Dry mouth
- Reduction in blood pressure
- Fatigue/drowsiness
- Increased appetite
- Paranoia/anxiety
- General impairment
- Forgetfulness/fogginess
What Kinds of THCB Product Types are There?
THCB can be found in just a handful product types that each provide their own value:
- Vapes (Disposables and Cartridges): Vaping THCB offers a fast-acting and potent way to get in a nice serving of your favorite cannabinoid, along with a nice selection of strains, all while being convenient, travel-friendly, and discreet.
- Edibles: Edibles like gummies produce long-lasting effects with a gradual onset.
- Concentrates (aka “Dabs”): Concentrates are concentrated cannabis products that are dabbed – that is, flash-vaporized at a high temperature using a special “dabbing” device – for an ultra-powerful and fast-acting experience.
- Tinctures: Tinctures are bottled oils that are intended to be taken sublingually (below the tongue) to absorb quickly and offer long-lasting effects. They’re easy to take and come in a variety of milligram strengths.
Will You Choose Kratom or THCB?
It’s undeniable that there’s value in both kratom and THCB – and that they share a lot in common, in terms of their potential benefits, and the fact that they’re both intoxicating. The key takeaway is that they interact with the body in such different ways that you really won’t know which one you prefer until you try them both, which you can do at The Calm Leaf.