Leafly’s Clickbait Headline Misleads on THCV

Imagine my surprise last week when I opened up an email from Leafly, a cannabis industry news, information, and resource site, to see this headline and teaser:

“New study: People got high without any munchies on THCV
A new study on THCV suggests this minor cannabinoid can get you high without the ‘munchie’ effect. What exactly did this study find? Let’s dig in.”

No, THCV doesn’t get you high. Leafly is a reputable site, so this kind of straight-up-wrong information was unsettling. The stakes are high right now for THCV because many states, and even Congress, are proposing sweeping bans on hemp-derived cannabinoids. If lawmakers don’t get the message that THCV is non-intoxicating and not the same THC, it’s going to get banned.

WHAT DID THE ARTICLE ACTUALLY SAY?

A lot of people expecting to learn that they could get high from THCV without munchies are going to be sorely disappointed. The article by Nick Jikomes, PhD was actually a helpful overview of THCV’s effect on CB1 receptors to block hunger signals in the brain, and a skeptical look at a new clinical trial. 

It’s worth a read, but here are the highlights:

• THC stimulates hunger by activating CB1 receptors in our endocannabinoid system.
• THCV does the opposite – it’s a CB1 receptor antagonist, blocking the receptor and hunger signals.
• The study was paid for by a brand to test the effects of its own THC+THCV gummies and had significant design flaws. It didn’t test THCV-only effects and tested different amounts of THC between groups. 
• The study may suggest that taking THCV with THC could reduce the munchies induced by THC by blocking the CB1 receptors.
• Nowhere in the article does it suggest THCV alone will get a person high.

It’s not uncommon for a person other than the article’s author to write the headlines, and their goal is to get clicks and views. I think that’s the case here. Or the headline writer didn’t read the article at all.

Either way, it’s unhelpful to risk THCV’s reputation when brands like Forge Hemp are working hard to provide clear, consistent information about this promising cannabinoid.

TRY THCV FOR YOURSELF

Luke L., our print/packaging supplier here in Denver, has been using our THCV chewable tablets for the past few months and emailed me recently:

Hey Kelly,
Hope all is well and your new flavors are working out. I just wanted to check in and see how things are going. I am almost out of the THCV tablets. I think they are doing something for me. I’m down 20lbs now. My sister is interested in your product now and would like to try/purchase some.
I’ll come pay you a visit soon. 

We’ll see if Luke would be willing to say more about his experience, and maybe even share some before/after pictures. 

If you would like to try THCV – either for weight management, or to see if it counteracts THC munchies – use code TRYTHCV to save $5 on any one tin of THCV chewable tablets.

If you have any questions, contact us any time at info@forgehemp.com or 1-877-33-HEMP9 during business hours (Denver/Mountain Time).

Thanks again,
Kelly + Team Forge