Tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces the 'high' associated with marijuana use. It's one of over 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.
Acronym formed from 'tetrahydrocannabinol', where 'tetra' means four (referring to four hydrogen atoms), 'hydro' refers to hydrogen, and 'cannabinol' derives from 'cannabis' plus the chemical suffix '-ol' indicating an alcohol compound.
THC was first isolated and synthesized in 1964 by Israeli chemist Raphael Mechoulam, launching the modern era of cannabis research. Interestingly, the human body produces its own cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) and has specific receptors for THC, suggesting an ancient evolutionary relationship between humans and cannabis compounds.
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