Do you know how much THC is in a joint? Here's how you can find out

July 16, 2022

Do you know how much THC is in a joint? Here’s how you can find out

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.

One of the most common questions novice and regular smokers have about their joints is, “What is the estimated milligrams of THC in a joint?” The answer to that isn’t as simple as you’d like.

Photo by athima tongloom/Getty Images

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In 2016, a drug and alcohol addiction study suggested that a 0.3g cannabis blunt contained approximately 20mg of tetrahydrocannabinol. They also pointed out that this amount is ambiguous as there are different strains of cannabis. Additionally, the study found that the total amount of THC in a joint could be determined by the part of the plant smoked and the potency of the strain.

The amount of THC in a regular joint depends on so many variables. However, if you don’t mind a little math, calculating the exact amount of THC in your joint would be a walk in the park once you’re done with this piece. You will also understand the various factors that determine how much THC is in your joint and how it affects your health.

Calculating the total amount of THC in a joint

A standard analytical testing lab measures the theoretical maximum amount of THC that could be contained in a joint using the mathematical expression: “THC max = THC + THCA / 358.48 * 314.47”.

This expression gives the lab an estimated amount of THC in a blunt. If you frequently buy blunts from legal pharmacies, you may notice this estimate on the product packaging. This mathematical formula can estimate the potency of different cannabis strains.

This is where things get a little complicated. There could be a notable difference in how much THC you have in your joint and how much THC you can consume in one sitting.

The fact that a joint contains up to 20 mg of THC does not mean that you would ingest the entire amount. This situation can be attributed to the availability of THCA (THC in its non-psychotropic form) in a non-inflamed joint. THCA in a joint converts to THC when ignited. This process is chemically known as decarboxylation. It describes the removal of carboxyl from THC acid.

The temperature, as well as the time it takes for decarboxylation to occur in the joint, determines the total milligrams of THC you would consume in a joint. It has been reported that at least 40% of the THC is lost when smoking a joint.

Factors to consider when calculating THC

Four factors determine how many milligrams of THC you can consume in a joint: potency, joint size, bioavailability, and physiology.

power

The amount of smoke you inhale from a joint determines how much THC is released. The more you inhale and the higher the potency of the weed, the more THC will be absorbed. It’s important to emphasize that it’s impossible to absorb all of the THC present in the joint due to losses through combustion, inhalation, and uneven decarboxylation.

joint size

Joint sizes vary. Some weigh 0.3g while others can weigh 0.66g and more. The amount of weed rolled up in your joint has a major impact on how much THC is absorbed. The smaller the joint, the lower the amount of THC entering your system. The longer or wider the joint, the more THC would be available for consumption.

Note that it is preferable to avoid longer and wider joints as they take longer to burn. The THC molecules are either burned off before you can consume them or carried away by air resistance. It’s best to have multiple smaller joints than a single large joint. More cannabis per joint; therefore, more THC enters your bloodstream.

bioavailability

Bioavailability is a term that describes the amount of a cannabinoid that enters the body’s system after consumption.

Smoking joints is one of the easiest ways to increase cannabinoid bioavailability, as opposed to eating edibles or other cannabis-infused products. When you smoke, the THC gets into your endocannabinoid system and into your brain in no time as it is absorbed into the bloodstream almost immediately. When inhaled into the lungs, the smoke has the unique ability to easily cross the blood-brain barrier. There is no waiting period for the cannabinoids to break down. They are quickly absorbed.

Marijuana joint Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

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However, all this does not mean that no THC is lost after inhalation. Most studies show that THC bioavailability is limited to 30%. However, this can vary depending on the smoker.

The more bioavailable THC in your bloodstream, the higher your high will be. For example, since a 0.3g joint contains 20mg of THC, 20% of this will provide a low high, 30-40% will provide a medium high, and 50% will be high.

The physiology of the smoker

Everyone has a different body chemistry. There is no standard way for the human body to break down or tolerate THC. How your body absorbs THC depends on how much smoke you inhale, the capacity of your lungs, and how much THC is exhaled with the smoke.

A newbie responds differently to THC than a regular or regular user. The more you consume joints, the higher your tolerance becomes; therefore, the more THC your body can process. Additionally, users respond differently to THC, regardless of the potency of the strain.

How much THC can I take?

Here’s a simple experiment you can use to find out how much THC you’re consuming in a blunt.

Step 1: Check the label to find out how many milligrams of THC are in the joint you plan to smoke.

Start with the first hit and count the total hit you take until you’re either satisfied or done with the joint.

Step 3: Using the expression “Max. THC” is the total amount of THC in milligrams in the joint.

Step 4: Divide the maximum THC by the total number of puffs taken. This would give you an estimate of your THC consumption.

Note that there will always be an error factor in this experiment.

final remark

If you don’t have the patience to do this arithmetic, a more leisurely, albeit expensive, method of determining exactly how much THC you’ve consumed is through blood testing. It’s the only way to know for sure.