THCP vs THC comes down to two carbon atoms. THC’s side chain is five carbons long; THCP’s is seven, and the longer chain grips the body’s CB1 receptor much more tightly. The researchers who identified THCP in 2019 measured a binding affinity about 33 times that of THC. That’s a lab measurement of how well the molecule sticks, not proof that a THCP vape is 33 times stronger, but it’s a good reason to go slowly.
THCP, THC and THCA compared
| THCP | THC | THCA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A THC analog with a 7-carbon side chain (Vice, Cornbread Hemp) | Delta-9 THC, with a 5-carbon chain | The raw acid form of THC |
| Active as sold? | Yes | Yes | Only once heated |
| Relative strength | Binds CB1 with higher affinity than THC (Recovered) | The reference point | Becomes THC at about 0.877 by weight |
| In the plant | Trace amounts | Abundant, as THCA | Abundant |
| Vapes on this site | 16 | 1,389 | 16 |
Where the 33 times figure comes from
THCP was first described at the end of 2019 by a team of Italian researchers, Citti and colleagues, in the journal Scientific Reports. They isolated it from FM2, an Italian medicinal cannabis variety, and measured how strongly it binds the CB1 receptor in the lab: 1.2 nanomolar, against 40 for delta-9 THC. Lower means tighter, and 40 divided by 1.2 is where 33 comes from.
Sellers often shorten that to 33 times stronger. It isn’t the same claim. Binding affinity is one step in a long chain, and there are no controlled human studies comparing the two. What sources do agree on is direction: Recovered notes THCP may produce stronger and longer-lasting effects than THC. Treat it with more caution than a THC vape, not less.
THCP vs THCA
These two get compared because both appear on hemp-derived labels, but they’re opposites. Nurse Wellness puts it simply: THCP is psychoactive as it is, while THCA is non-intoxicating unless heated. In a vape that distinction mostly disappears, because the coil heats THCA into ordinary THC. So a THCA vape is, in effect, a THC vape. A THCP vape is something stronger added to a blend.
THCP vapes we list
All 16 come from TRĒ House, from $19.99 for a 1 g cartridge to $39.99 for a 2 g pen. Nine of them are blends by name: THC-P with delta-8, delta-9 and delta-10, with HHC, or with THC-O. The other seven are sold simply as THCP pens and cartridges. None of the listings states how much THCP is in the oil, which is the number that would matter most. For a product with a published figure, the state-market range from brands such as Cresco and High Supply shows a batch result on every listing.
| Cannabinoid on the label | Listings | Brands | Formats | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THCP | 16 | TRĒ House | 12 disposables, 4 carts | $19.99–$39.99 |
| THCA | 16 | TRĒ House, Pulsar, Papa's Herb | 16 disposables | $29.99–$49.99 |
| Delta 8 | 19 | TRĒ House | 13 disposables, 6 carts | $16.99–$39.99 |
| HHC | 13 | TRĒ House | 12 disposables, 1 cart | $19.99–$49.99 |
These rules have an end date. Hemp-derived vapes are sold under a federal definition that is about to change. From December 11, 2026 hemp is judged on total THC, THCA and delta-8 included, and a finished product can contain at most 0.4 mg of total THC per container. One part arrives sooner: from November 12, 2026 hemp no longer covers cannabinoids that the cannabis plant can’t naturally produce. The law behind both was enacted on November 12, 2025. Many states have their own restrictions now, so check yours. General information, not legal advice.
For adults 21 and over. The full range is in Weed Pen’s catalogue.
THCP questions
Does THCP get you higher than delta-9?
Sources say it’s more potent: it binds the CB1 receptor with higher affinity than THC. There are no controlled human studies that put a number on the difference in effect.
Is THCP a synthetic or natural substance?
It occurs naturally in cannabis in trace amounts, which is how it was discovered in 2019. Lucky Elk notes the THCP in products is often created through chemical conversion, not extracted.
Which gets you higher, THCA or THCP?
THCA becomes ordinary THC when heated. THCP is described as stronger than THC, so THCP is the more potent of the two.
Is THCP really 33 times stronger than THC?
No. The 33 times figure is its binding affinity at the CB1 receptor in a lab test, from the 2019 study that identified it. It isn’t a measure of effect.
Is THCA the strongest THC?
No. THCA is the raw form of regular THC. It isn’t stronger; it’s unheated.
Sources and method
- Citti C, et al. “A novel phytocannabinoid isolated from Cannabis sativa L. with an in vivo cannabimimetic activity higher than Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol.” Scientific Reports, 2019
- Vice; Cornbread Hemp; Recovered; Lucky Elk; Nurse Wellness (THCP vs THCA)
- Weed Pen catalogue: 16 THCP vapes, 16 THCA vapes
Catalogue figures are counts, medians and ranges over the listings on this site on September 19, 2026. Tested THC is the maker’s own batch result as shown on each listing; we don’t run our own lab tests. Products are for adults 21 and over, and cannabis laws differ by state.