THCV is one of the most talked-about cannabinoids in cannabis and hemp, often associated with an uplifting, clear-headed experience. Many products position it as a daytime option for energy, focus, and productivity, while some consumers also seek it out for its potential appetite-related effects. That reputation has earned THCV the nickname “diet weed,” but the science is still developing, and individual experiences can vary.

Benjamin Lind, co-founder and chief science officer at Humboldt Seed Company, explained to VICE how each plant’s genetics affect its ability to product cannabinoids like THCV. “There is definitely a genetic component that’s baked in coming primarily from equatorial varieties,” he noted. Plants must receive the right genes for the long chain of chemical reactions that eventually produce THCV in significant quantities.

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