Table 1.
Compositions of THCO Reddit Forum User's Posted Comments (N = 3437)
| Major Themes | n | % of Total | % of Theme |
| Mention of other substances | 707 | 20.6 | 100 |
| Effects of THC-O-acetate | 522 | 15.2 | 100 |
| Comments on specific brands/products | 517 | 15.0 | 100 |
| Discussion of THC-O-acetate use (Frequency, Administration methods, Preparation methods) | 485 | 14.1 | 100 |
| Comparisons with other substances | 434 | 12.6 | 100 |
| Concerns | 333 | 9.7 | 100 |
| Discussion of chemical/physiological mechanisms | 162 | 4.7 | 100 |
| Adverse Experiences | 136 | 4.0 | 100 |
| Discussion of THC-O-acetate production (how THC-O-acetate) is manufactured | 99 | 2.9 | 100 |
| Reasons for THC-O-acetate use | 34 | 1.0 | 100 |
| Themes with elaboration | n | % of Total | % of Theme |
| Mention of other substances | 707 | 20.6 | 100 |
| Mention of delta-8-THC | 387 | 11.3 | 54.7 |
| Mention of delta-9-THC | 288 | 8.4 | 40.7 |
| Mention of Psychedelics (LSD, DMT, Psilocybin) | 32 | 0.9 | 4.5 |
| Mention of other substances | 258 | 7.5 | 36.5 |
| Effects of THC-O-acetate | 522 | 15.2 | 100 |
| Lack of any effects | 95 | 2.8 | 18.2 |
| ’Standard‘ THC experiences | 92 | 2.7 | 17.6 |
| Lengthy onset | 53 | 1.5 | 10.2 |
| Psychedelic/spiritual experience | 48 | 1.4 | 9.2 |
| Lengthy duration | 39 | 1.1 | 7.5 |
| Sedating/calming | 37 | 1.1 | 7.1 |
| Lack of psychedelic effects (but other effects present) | 30 | 0.9 | 5.7 |
| Psychedelic hallucinations (visuals, hearing sounds, etc.) | 25 | 0.7 | 4.8 |
| Physical/body sensation | 20 | 0.6 | 3.8 |
| Decreased effects from tolerance | 19 | 0.6 | 3.6 |
| Euphoria | 16 | 0.5 | 3.1 |
| Medically beneficial for pain relief | 11 | 0.3 | 2.1 |
| Energizing | 9 | 0.3 | 1.7 |
| Cross-tolerance between cannabinoids | 4 | 0.1 | 0.8 |
| Weird dreams | 4 | 0.1 | 0.8 |
| Increased sexual arousal | 4 | 0.1 | 0.8 |
| Lots of laughing | 4 | 0.1 | 0.8 |
| No changes in effects from tolerance reported | 3 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| Feeling drunk | 2 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Improved sleep | 2 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Disrupted sleep | 2 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Comparisons with other substances | 434 | 12.6 | 100 |
| Comparison with delta-9-THC | 241 | 7.0 | 55.5 |
| Comparison with delta-8-THC | 235 | 6.8 | 54.1 |
| Comparison with Psychedelics (LSD, DMT, Psilocybin) | 46 | 1.3 | 10.6 |
| Comparison with other substances | 90 | 2.3 | 20.7 |
| Concerns | 333 | 9.7 | 100 |
| Variation in product composition or effect | 63 | 1.8 | 18.0 |
| Health | 60 | 1.7 | 17.1 |
| Safety concerns from novelty of product, lack of research | 57 | 1.7 | 14.1 |
| Legality | 47 | 1.4 | 12.9 |
| Safety | 43 | 1.3 | 8.1 |
| Inconsistencies in product quality | 27 | 0.8 | 5.7 |
| Safety concerns from impurities | 19 | 0.6 | 4.2 |
| Shelf life/stability | 14 | 0.4 | 2.4 |
| Ketene risk | 8 | 0.2 | 2.1 |
| Smell | 7 | 0.2 | 1.8 |
| Building tolerance | 6 | 0.2 | 1.2 |
| Variation in metabolism/effect | 4 | 0.1 | 1.2 |
| Accessibility | 4 | 0.1 | 1.2 |
| Concerns with specific brands | 4 | 0.1 | 18.0 |
| Adverse experiences | 136 | 4.0 | 100 |
| Physical adverse experience (e.g., coughing) | 91 | 2.6 | 66.9 |
| Anxiety | 14 | 0.4 | 10.3 |
| Pain | 12 | 0.3 | 8.8 |
| Bad trip/unpleasant experience | 9 | 0.3 | 6.6 |
| Bad taste | 6 | 0.2 | 4.4 |
| Overconsumption from effect latency | 3 | 0.1 | 2.2 |
| Unpleasant after-effects | 3 | 0.1 | 2.2 |
| Poor sleep quality | 2 | 0.1 | 1.5 |
| Feeling “drunk” | 2 | 0.1 | 1.5 |
| Reasons for THC-O-acetate use | 34 | 1.0 | 100 |
| Medical - Pain | 8 | 0.2 | 23.5 |
| Unspecified Medical/Therapeutic | 6 | 0.2 | 17.6 |
| Medical - Insomnia/Sleep issues | 5 | 0.1 | 14.7 |
| Medical - Anxiety | 3 | 0.1 | 8.8 |
| Substitution for synthetic cannabinoids | 3 | 0.1 | 8.8 |
| Recreational | 2 | 0.1 | 5.9 |
| Medical - Arthritis | 1 | 0 | 2.9 |