November 04, 2022 5 min read

THC-O is making waves through the hemp market thanks to its reputation for being incredibly potent. According to some sources, it’s up to three times more potent than traditional Delta-9-THC, so it blows other hemp-derived THC products (like Delta-8) totally out of the water. The question is–just how potent is this new psychoactive cannabinoid? Does THC-O make you trip?

Both new hemp consumers and avid THC connoisseurs are alike in wondering what to expect from THC-O. After all, the cannabinoid is sometimes described as “borderline psychedelic.” The truth is, though, it probably won't make you “trip” like shrooms, LSD, or other psychedelics, but you can still expect some potent, heady effects. Here’s what you need to know:

Table of Contents

THC-O Won’t Make You “Trip”
Will THC-O Make You Hallucinate?
How to Use THC-O
What THC-O Dosage Should I Use?
Potent THC-O Doses: Are There Any Potential Side Effects?

Key Takeaways

  • THC-O won’t take you on a trip like psychedelic mushrooms, but it does induce a potent, heady high.
  • The effects you experience from THC-O are dose-dependent, and higher doses may provide much stronger effects.
  • Different THC-O products contain different terpene blends or other ingredients that may have different effects.
  • Make sure that you purchase a high-quality THC-O product before you begin to experiment with THC-O dosages.

THC-O Won’t Make You “Trip”

THC-O isn’t taking you on a magic carpet ride like mushrooms or LSD, and you probably won’t get any fierce visualizations when taking mild to moderate doses of THC-O, but there still may be some truth to the claim that THC-O is “borderline psychedelic.”

A model of THC-O's molecular structure and an example of the hemp material it is sourced from

After all, THC does impact your cognitive functions and your vision, so it’s fair to say that high doses of THC-O could cause some very mild visual effects, but not to the point of hallucination. What you will feel, however, is an intense high that's uplifting, energizing, and heady. Many people find that THC-O's effects help to unlock creative thought, which may be why many people experience enhanced self-reflection or have an otherwise "spiritual" experience.

Many people also find that higher doses of THC-O can create a body high that feels similar to “floating,” and it’s becoming a popular tool for enhancing some spiritual practices thanks to how well it relaxes the body and opens the mind. You can find reports of people using THC-O to enhance meditation practices, which is why it earned itself the nickname “the spiritual cannabinoid.”

Will THC-O Make You Hallucinate?

No, you aren’t likely to hallucinate after taking THC-O, and the hemp derivative shouldn’t induce any potent visuals like you may expect from psychedelic substances, like psilocybin mushrooms. You may, however, experience enhanced visual effects, such as a higher sensitivity to color and brightness, which can create a vivid visual experience. To learn more, read “Can THC-O Make You Hallucinate?”

How to Use THC-O

Although THC-O won't necessarily make you trip, you can definitely fine-tune a potent, creative, uplifting experience by altering your THC-O dosage and choosing the correct formulas. Its "borderline hallucinogenic" effects are most often attributed to larger doses, although you may also experience different effects from different dosing styles and formulas.

For instance, vapes and flowers have fast-acting, hard-hitting effects that can be stacked on a dose by dose until you reach the lift you're after. This is a benefit for anyone looking to experiment with larger doses, especially compared to edibles that may take over an hour to kick in after each dose.

Also, consider the formula and additional ingredients. Some THC-O products also contain Delta-8 which may help to "balance" the psychoactive effects. Delta-8 is milder and more grounding, providing a good counter for THC-O's "head in the clouds" effects.

Vida Optima Elev8 THC-O Vape Pen

Some formulas also contain terpenes that alter the experience. For instance, a Sativa-leaning strain will usually be more heady and expressive, while indica-leaning strains can be mellow and relaxing. Because of the diverse range of possible effects, you may find that different products are better suited for different points in the day or different situations.

What THC-O Dosage Should I Use?

If you're trying to reach the "spiritual" level of THC-O's effects, you're probably wondering what a top-tier THC-O dosage looks like. Even if you're trying to experience THC-O's most powerful effects, you should ease into THC-O Dosage carefully.

After all, THC-O is up to three times more potent than traditional cannabis products, so you may be surprised by how little it takes to produce incredibly strong effects. You may not necessarily need to start with a THC-O microdose, but you may want to start as low as 5 milligrams if it's your first time taking THC-O. Then, you can decide how you adjust your dosage accordingly.

A THC-O vaporizer is perfect for experimenting with dosage since it takes only a few minutes to take effect. That means that you can wait for the effects to fully kick in before taking another instantaneous dose, and then you can stack those doses to the perfect lift level. To learn more, read "How Much THC Should I Take?"

Potent THC-O Doses: Are There Any Potential Side Effects?

You’re looking at the possibility of high doses of a potent psychoactive cannabinoid, so it's only natural to ask–are there any possible side effects? The answer is yes–but it’s more or less what you can expect from traditional THC products.

Currently, THC-O research is limited, which means we have to draw conclusions about its side effects from anecdotal reports, as well as what we know about Delta-8-THC’s side effects. In general, the risk profile is thought to be pretty similar, meaning that THC-O may have some rare, mild side effects when used in responsible doses.

Some of the side effects most commonly associated with THC-O may include:

  • Dry, red eyes
  • Dry mouth
  • Increased thirst
  • Increased hunger

With larger doses, the risk may be higher, although side effects are still rare. Some additional side effects that could arise with larger doses include:

  • Anxiety
  • Paranoia
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Rapid heart rate

To learn more, read “THC-O Side Effects.”

Avoiding Side Effects

Aside from taking doses that are too large, the most common reason behind THC-O side effects is a poor-quality formula. The hemp industry is still widely unregulated, and quality standards vary from state to state. That means you have to carefully choose your THC-O brand and distributor based on your own quality research. Here are some tips for finding a high-quality THC-O product:

  • Always look for a well-made supplement from a trustworthy distributor.
  • The best supplements are made in a cGMP-compliant facility using USDA-certified, organic (pesticide-free) hemp material.
  • The process for making THC-O is a bit involved, so it’s imperative that the manufacturer has experience with cannabinoid extraction.
  • Be sure that the products you choose are third-party tested to ensure they are free of harmful contaminants and to prove label accuracy.

At Vida Optima, all of our hemp THC products are 100% Farm Bill compliant and are made according to industry-leading standards. We use in-house and third-party testing processes throughout manufacturing to ensure that our THC-O formula is clean and potent.

Looking for legal THC products? Check out our Elev8 Collection of vapes, gummies, edibles, and more.

Elev8 25mg Delta 8 THC Gummies


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