If you’ve been keeping up with all the mymilligram features over here, you’ve already learned about cannabinoids like CBG (to chill you out) and delta-8 (for a light high and reducing nausea), which you can microdose with Level’s line of Tablinguals (along with some of the more well-known cannabinoids: THC, CBD, and THCA). But now it’s time to talk about the cannabinoid that has a bunch of people in the industry buzzing over its energy-inducing and appetite-suppressing qualities: THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin). 

This cannabinoid is high in strains like Durban Poison, and in new strains like Pineapple Purps and Doug’s Varin (check out more on Leafly here). Because of the way THCV works with receptors in the brain, it seems like one of its superpowers is that it turns off the munchies switch. According to this post in MedicalJane, “It’s believed that it blocks the rewarding sensations we experience when eating, often unhealthy, comfort foods.” So, swipe left on that quesadilla.

This is great news for people suffering from obesity or just trying to lose extra weight, and can also be useful for people who consume cannabis—whether for medical or recreational purposes, or both—who don’t want to deal with the munchies as a side-effect. BECAUSE THE MUNCHIES ARE REAL. I love Blue Dream, which is in two of my favorite products, but it’s also known for kicking in the munchies. When I find myself putting spoonfuls of ice cream on potato chips at midnight, things are quite possibly a little out of hand at that particular moment.

There are other potential medical benefits of THCV being studied as well, from helping with type-2 diabetes, to anxiety (especially PTSD), epilepsy (it’s anti-convulsant), Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease (it’s a neuroprotectant), and bone growth—there are links to some studies here if you want to read more. 

You can explore THCV with Level’s new Stimulate Tablingual. It contains a 1:1:1mg ratio of THCV:THC:CBG per tablet (1mg of each), and each pack contains 15 tabs. I asked chief scientist Chris Emerson why CBG is in the formulation, and he said they added it to the Tablingual to soften the effects of the THCV and keep users from being too amped (kind of like the dampening effect CBD has on THC). THCV can also dial down the intensity of THC, and reduce paranoia and some of THC’s psychoactive effects.

THCV is not necessarily psychoactive for some people—it can actually feel more euphoric. But everyone’s chemistry is different, so you may feel a little lifted, or not. Since this Tablingual is designed to be stimulating, plan on trying it during the day—it may be disruptive to sleep later if you take it too late. (I’m doing some experimentation with taking a Stimulate to stave off some of those Blue Dream–induced munchies in the evening, but I want to time it right so I don’t mess with my bedtime.) 

When taking a Tablingual, take a sip of water to hydrate your mouth first, and then place the Tablingual under your tongue and let it dissolve—it can take a couple minutes to fully dissolve, and try not to swallow it if possible since it’s designed to be absorbed sublingually. Onset can be as soon as 10 minutes, but I personally don’t notice anything psychoactive—I just feel a bit perkier and focused on my work about 30 minutes later. 

How I like to use Stimulate/THCV

A lot of us start dragging when that afternoon lull moseys in around 4pm. When I need a boost, instead of hitting the espresso machine for a second shot, I can pop a Stimulate and let it start to work in the background. I have also taken one before attending a presentation, when I was a little sleepy and worried I was going to nod off (or just not pay as much attention)—I ended up feeling more alert and was even taking more notes than usual.

It’s not like you’re going to feel an instant rush of energy (this isn’t cocaine) or jittery like you just had a double espresso from Peet’s or amped after a Mini Thin (remember those ephedrine-packed tablets in college?). This is more subtle. But give it some time and you may feel a bit more alert and productive—it’s time to jam on those emails that have piled up or grind on that spreadsheet. It’s almost like the tiniest dose of Adderall—you can focus and get things done, but you also feel a little happy about it (there’s a twinge of euphoria for me if I take more than one).

A side benefit is that if you take a Stimulate in the afternoon, you may not be so hungry for dinner—it can stave off hunger pangs for a bit. But when that next wave of hungries rolls in, you should do something about it before they become HANGRIES. Taking THCV is not about skipping dinner—but perhaps suppressing your appetite for a bit, lessening your portion size, passing on seconds, or just not pigging out in a munchies-induced haze, sure. It’s like it makes food a little less interesting.

On a day when I didn’t have enough sleep (thanks, endless construction on my apartment building), I tried a Stimulate earlier in the day (after breakfast/before lunch) and then another in the late afternoon. It helped me stay focused on work and feel energized enough when it was time to go out that evening. It takes a lot to suppress my appetite (born hungry!), but I did notice I wasn’t as fixated on what time dinner was coming. 

You can expect to see more products being released with THCV in the near future, with many hailing it as the new diet aid. But it’s not a readily available compound, so it’s not something that is going to be widespread like CBD (for now). Leave it to Level to always be on the cutting edge of cannabis products.

Visit levelblends.com for more info and the mymilligram page on getsava.com to purchase Stimulate (and the other Tablinguals)! 

Disclaimer: The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product.