THCV: The merger of two 21st century billion dollar industries

Through Lydia Karuki

Weight loss is a billion dollar industry with Americans spending a staggering $33 billion on products each year. While the industry was valued at $250 billion in 2021, the burgeoning cannabis industry was valued at $13 billion in the same year and is aiming for the $100 billion mark. Will the new cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) help get it there?

THCV is one of the numerous phytocannabinoids present in Cannabis sativa. As much as it shares structural similarities with the psychoactive cannabinoid THC, the two differ in many ways.

First, THCV does not induce any psychoactive effects. Anecdotal reports even suggest that THCV, like CBD, can offset some of THC’s intoxicating effects. Second, while THC is an appetite stimulant, THCV has the opposite effect; it suppresses appetite and increases energy metabolism. This has earned it the nickname “diet weed”.

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Study links THCV to weight loss

A 2020 study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research demonstrated the appetite-suppressing effects of THCV. Researchers were interested in finding out the therapeutic potential of THCV in treating obesity and diabetes.

The study was a systematic review of peer-reviewed electronic literature published from 1970 to 2019. The following seven keywords were considered for inclusion:

• THCV
• THC
• Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana)
• obesity
• body weight
• metabolism
• diabetes

Researchers found that THCV suppressed appetite and increased satiety in rodent studies. It was also well tolerated, especially when offered with CBD.

Action at the CB1 receptor

THCV is a structural analogue of THC, the two act differently at the CB1 receptor. While THC is an agonist of this receptor, THCV has an antagonistic effect there. Unlike THC, THCV suppresses appetite in both fasted and non-fasted mice. This makes THCV a suitable candidate for treating obesity. Researchers concluded that more research is needed to elucidate THCV’s weight-loss properties.

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Combining cannabis with weight loss

The cannabis industry has attracted the interest of large pharmaceutical companies. Pfizer recently acquired cannabinoid-based company Arena Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion. The company is working on an investigational drug, Olorinab, intended to treat irritable bowel syndrome. HW Pharmaceuticals has filed over 100 cannabis-related patents, as have many other big pharma companies.

RELATED: THCV: Powerful appetite-suppressing cannabinoid

Both weight loss and cannabis are multi-billion dollar industries that are on a positive growth trajectory and are therefore on the radar of multinational pharmaceutical companies. It will be interesting to see how Big Pharma react when science proves beyond a reasonable doubt that THCV is both safe and effective for weight loss.

This article originally appeared on MyCannabis.com and has been republished with permission.