British patients now have access to THCV-rich cannabis flowers

British patients can now be prescribed a new variety of medical cannabis rich in tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), a cannabinoid that has yet to be fully explored, whose potential effects on appetite and metabolism are attracting growing interest among researchers.

Named THCV Harmony, this variety developed by the British producer Glass Pharms is available by prescription by the Releaf Private Clinic. A first since 1973, according to the two companies, marking the return of the THCV in the UK’s therapeutic arsenal more than fifty years after it was removed from medical prescriptions.

This market launch opens up new opportunities for the diversification of the medical cannabis in the UK, a market that has so far been largely dominated by THC- and CBD-based products. THCV has a therapeutic profile that differs from that of other cannabinoids, particularly in weight management.

Why is THCV attracting interest in medical cannabis research?

Unlike the THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, the THCV has sparked the interest of scientists because of its potentially different effects on appetite. THC stimulates the CB1 receptors within the endocannabinoid system, thereby contributing to the increased appetite often associated with cannabis use. At lower doses, THCV appears to act as a CB1 receptor antagonist, which can produce the opposite effect.

Preclinical research has established a link between THCV and reduced food intake as well as changes in body weight, while small studies in humans have explored its potential influence on glucose regulation and metabolic health.

A British cannabis strain developed for cannabinoid precision

The new variety, THCV Harmony, contains 10 % of THC and 7 % of THCV, an exceptionally high concentration of a cannabinoid that is usually present only in trace amounts.

The production of seedlings of cannabis with consistent THCV levels presents some challenges in terms of cultivation, particularly when pharmaceutical production requires reproducible cannabinoid profiles. According to Glass Pharms, it took more than a year to develop and stabilize this variety.

Releaf has secured the company's entire initial production quota, which amounts to 100 kilograms, with exclusive access for its patients through the end of the year. Other clinics will be able to purchase the product afterward.

For James Duckenfield, CEO of Glass Pharms, this development reflects a shift toward more precisely formulated cannabis-based medications.

«The next step is precision in cannabinoids: medications with clear and reproducible profiles, so that clinicians know exactly what they’re prescribing. THCV is a good example of this. Scientific advances are truly exciting, but promises are no substitute for evidence, which is why concrete data from British patients will be so important.»

From the 1973 cannabis tincture to modern prescriptions

This announcement also revisits a largely forgotten chapter of the’History of Medical Cannabis in the United Kingdom. Until 1973, doctors could prescribe a cannabis tincture made from plants imported from Pakistan. Oxford researchers studying this preparation helped identify THCV in the early 1970s. When the import license for the tincture was not renewed, access to these cannabis-based preparations came to an end.

Although the United Kingdom has legalized specialized medical cannabis prescriptions in 2018, commercially available products have largely focused on THC and CBD, leaving minor cannabinoids relatively underrepresented.

The launch of THCV Harmony therefore marks both a historic milestone and a diversification of the British medical cannabis market.