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The liver processes THC into a by-product called 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THC-COOH). This by-product is then excreted in urine.
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The Metabolism of THC
The THC in cannabis is metabolized in the liver into 11-OH-THC, which is then further metabolized into 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THC-COOH). THC-COOH is then eliminated in the urine.
The Role of the Liver
In order to understand how THC is metabolized, it is important to understand the role of the liver. The liver is responsible for processing and breaking down many different substances that enter the body, including drugs and alcohol. When THC enters the liver, it is broken down into a number of different metabolites, including 11-Hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC) and THCCOOH. These metabolites are then further broken down and excreted from the body in the form of urine and feces.
It is worth noting that not all of the THC that is metabolized by the liver is converted into 11-OH-THC or THCCOOH. Some of it is converted into other metabolites, such as cannabinol (CBN), which does not have the same psychoactive effects as THC.
The Enzymatic Process
The enzyme that is primarily responsible for the metabolism of THC is called CYP2C9. This enzyme is found in the liver and is responsible for breaking down many different types of drugs and chemicals. When THC enters the liver, it is metabolized by CYP2C9 into two main metabolites: 11-OH-THC and THC-COOH. These metabolites are then further broken down into other metabolites, such as THCCOOH glucuronide and THCCOOEt glucuronide.
The By-Product
The by-product created by the liver when processing THC is 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC, or simply THC-COOH. This substance is then stored in the body’s fat cells and can be detected by urine tests for up to 30 days after last usage.
The Name
The by-product that the liver processes THC into is called 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THC-COOH). This substance can be detected in urine for up to 10 days after last cannabis use. It is important to note that THC-COOH is not active and does not cause any psychoactive effects.
Its Purpose
In order to understand the impact that cannabis has on the liver, it is first necessary to understand how the liver processes cannabis. When cannabis is consumed, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the liver. The liver then metabolizes (or breaks down) the cannabinoids in cannabis, including THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). This process creates a by-product called 11-OH-THC (11-nor-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol), which is further metabolized into THC-COOH (11-nor-9-carboxy-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol).
So what is the purpose of this by-product? Well, it turns out that 11-OH-THC is actually more psychoactive than THC itself, meaning that it is more likely to produce the “high” that people experience when they consume cannabis. However, this by-product is only produced in small amounts and its effects are short-lived.
The Significance
The by-product that the liver processes THC into is called 11-OH-THC. This substance is more potent than THC and is responsible for the majority of the psychoactive effects of cannabis. 11-OH-THC is also more potent than THC when it comes to its adverse effects, such as anxiety and paranoia.
Why It’s Important to Know
When people talk about the by-products of cannabis, they are usually referring to the four main cannabinoids: THC, CBD, CBN, and CBG. However, there is another by-product that is created when THC is metabolized by the liver, and that by-product is called THC-COOH. It’s important to know about THC-COOH because it is the compound that drug tests are looking for when they are testing for cannabis use. THC-COOH can stay in the body for days or even weeks after someone has used cannabis, which is why it’s used as a marker for past use.
What It Means for THC Users
The by-product that the liver processes THC into is called 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH). The significance of this for THC users is that it can be detected in drug tests long after the initial high has worn off.
For chronic users, THC-COOH may be detectable in urine for up to 77 days after last use. For infrequent users, it may only be detectable for a few days. The detection window depends on a number of factors, including how much THC was consumed, how often it was consumed, and a person’s individual metabolism.
THC-COOH is not psychoactive and will not cause a person to fail a drug test for marijuana use. However, it can be used to detect past use of THC, which is why it is often included in drug tests.
