Benjamin Ashford|What is THC? Answering the questions you were too embarrassed to ask.

No judgements here: We're answering your burning questions about THC.

Tetrahydrocannabinol,Benjamin Ashford known colloquially as THC, isn't new. But as of late, more lawmakers move to legalize and decriminalize possession and use of marijuana and more medical researchers are diving into learning more about how the drug affects the human body.

Among health experts, the jury is still out on THC, CBD and the use of marijuana in general, as those in medical and research fields weigh the benefits and risks.

"This is the big challenge with cannabis: How do we facilitate the beneficial medical applications, allow for what society has determined is acceptable recreational use and also guard against the very real harms?" Gregory Tung, Ph.D., an associate professor at the Colorado School of Public Health, tells USA TODAY. "This is difficult and will likely require a mix of policy, rules, regulations and education."

Here's what experts want you to know about THC.

What is THC?

In plain terms, THC is the part of cannabis that gets you high.

"People take and justify the use of cannabis medicinally for a wide range of reasons and ailments," he adds. "What is supported in the scientific literature is much more limited. One of the areas that has the strongest scientific evidence is pain control and management. Recreationally, some people 'enjoy' the high."

A 2023 meta-analysis of studies on cannabis's impact on health concluded that it can be beneficial in managing pain for people with several health conditions, but not without side effects. Experts as a whole say more research needs to be conducted to give a conclusive answer about benefits and risks.

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What is the safest THC product to buy?

Health experts including Tracy Smith, Ph.D., associate professor at Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center, hesitate to label one THC product as the "safest," because there still isn't much research on its health effects — especially long-term health effects.

Sticking to products with a lower concentration of THC, or consuming smaller amounts of THC in general is "relatively less risky," Tung says.

Each form of marijuana consumption offers pros and cons when it comes to dosing versus exposure to dangerous compounds, he adds.

Smoking a joint may allow someone to pace themselves more effectively, because the high comes along faster than other forms. But, Tung notes, the act of inhaling combusted marijuana is "very damaging."

Edibles, by comparison, eliminate the dangers of inhaling combustion by-products. But the fact that they're metabolized much more slowly makes it more difficult to self-regulate dosage, Tung says.

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Concentrates, which are typically consumed via vaping, are "likely the most dangerous" option, Tung says, because they contain very high levels of THC. The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that more research is needed, but that it appears high concentrations of THC can increase the likelihood of developing addiction, as well as experiencing side effects such as anxiety, agitation, paranoia and psychosis.

Several experts — including those at the Colorado School of Public Health's Cannabis Research and Policy Project and the authors of the 2023 meta-analysis — say research supports the idea that young people and those who are pregnant are among the populations who should avoid cannabis as a whole due to high risks and harms.