A Content Analysis of Social Media Discussions on THC-O-Acetate.
Daniel J Kruger, Karahmet Amila, Sydney M Kaplan, John Redfield, Taylor Stacy, Vitush Agarwal, Mutaz Faqqouseh, Carlton Cb Bone
Cannabis (Albuquerque, N.M.) January 1, 2023 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.26828/cannabis/2023/000164 via PubMed
Summary
THC-O-acetate, a semi-synthetic cannabinoid, is increasingly popular but under-researched. Analysis of Reddit comments from the THCO subreddit (June–November 2021) identified key topics for future study: variation in product composition, user experiences and comparisons with other substances, possible psychedelic effects, adverse experiences, and harm reduction practices. Although users expressed safety concerns—including the risk of toxic ketene gas released when heated—heated inhalation remained the most common administration method reported.
Study at a glance
| Design | qualitative analysis |
|---|---|
| Population | Reddit comments on the THCO subreddit |
| Key finding | Analysis of THCO subreddit comments identified future research topics including product composition variation, user experiences, psychedelic effects, adverse experiences, harm reduction practices, and safety concerns about ketene gas from heated inhalation. |
Abstract
Novel cannabinoids require systematic research to inform policies and practices. There is a growing interest in semi-synthetic cannabinoids by consumers, manufacturers, and regulators. However, there is a scarcity of research on these substances. Online discussion forums can provide guidance for research questions when current knowledge is scarce. The current project investigates the topics and issues covered in a social media forum devoted to THC-O-acetate (THCO), a semi-synthetic cannabinoid with rapidly rising popularity. Reddit comments posted on the THCO subreddit from June 2021 through November 2021 were coded for major and minor themes by a team of five coders and a supervisor. Major themes were established and clarified through group discussions. A second round of coding confirmed major themes and identified minor themes. The analysis identified several future research topics for THC-O-acetate, including the extent of variation in product composition, the characteristics of user experiences and comparisons with other substances, whether THC-O-acetate produces psychedelic effects, concerns and adverse experiences, and user harm reduction practices. As an acetate ester, THC-O-acetate may break down when heated and release toxic ketene gas. Although several users expressed safety concerns regarding THC-O-acetate, some explicitly mentioning ketene risk, the most common administration method reported was heated inhalation.