What is THCa?

Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa) is one of the 100-plus naturally occurring cannabinoids that are found in the cannabis plant.

THCa is the chemical precursor to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In other words, all THC is just a converted form of THCa.

How Does THCa Become THC?

THC is what makes cannabis flower (hemp or marijuana) psychoactive — THC is the component rendering the psychoactive effects.

However, live cannabis plants don’t contain any THC. Instead, they contain tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa).

And the THCa they already contain becomes THC through a process called decarboxylation.

In decarboxylation, THCa loses its acid group, becoming the neutralized version of itself, THC.

The decarboxylation process happens to a small degree during the storage of hemp. However, it primarily occurs whenever the cannabis plant is heated — this is how prerolls, vapes, and dab rigs work.

When heated, the THCa becomes THC, and its psychoactive properties are “activated.” So what you’re consuming when you smoke THCa flower is THC.

In products like edibles and drinks, the THCa is decarboxylated beforehand.

This step can also be skipped to keep the THCa as it is. In this way, THCa gummies, tinctures, and other non-psychoactive products can be made, and the THCa in them will stay as THCa upon consumption.

What are the Effects of THCa?

Raw THCa that hasn’t undergone the decarboxylation process has few noticeable effects. Some people have noted slight feelings of energy or drowsiness after using THCa, but these effects aren’t very consistent across users. 

However, heated THCa – THC – creates a strong head high with feelings of euphoria and relaxation. Some people also report heightened sensory perception, an altered perception of time, and increased appetite.

What are the Benefits of Raw THCa?

Preliminary research indicates that THCa, despite having no psychoactive effects, may offer a variety of therapeutic benefits:

• Relaxation — THCa may promote mental calming and relaxation without the psychoactive effects that THC has.
• Irritable bowel diseases (IBD) — In one study, THCa was found to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in patients with various inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Neuroprotective properties — This study found that THCa potentially has neuroprotective benefits, which indicates that it may be a promising treatment for Huntington’s disease and other neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory conditions.
• Seizures — Preliminary research shows THCa may have therapeutic potential for the reduction of seizures.

What are the Benefits of THC?

THC’s effects and “high” are well known. However, it can do more than just get you high — THC has a variety of potential therapeutic uses:

• Relaxation — Since THC is so potent, many people enjoy using it to get high and relax. In places where marijuana is illegal for recreational use, hemp-derived THC provides many users with a legal alternative.
• Pain — Research and anecdotal evidence suggest that THC may help with pain due to its psychoactive effects.
• Nausea — A 2010 study found that a mix of THC and CBD provided protection against chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
• Sleep — Because of THC’s ability to induce drowsiness, many people find that it helps them get to sleep more quickly and stay asleep for longer.
• Appetite Stimulation — THC’s ability to stimulate appetite is the origin of the term “munchies,” which refers to the hungry feeling you get after smoking marijuana. However, this effect may be beneficial for people with HIV, people in chemotherapy, and people with anorexia who struggle to maintain a healthy appetite.

What are the Side Effects of THCa & THC?

THCa’s side effects aren’t well-researched. However, Anecdotal evidence suggests THCa may cause some people to feel drowsy or tired, while for others, THCa creates energizing effects.

Once heated, THCa becomes THC, which may cause the following side effects:

• Anxiety
• Dry mouth
• Memory loss
• Difficulty thinking and speaking
• Red eyes
• Delayed reaction time
• Heart rate increases
• Increased appetite

Types of THCa Products

There are a few main types of THCa products. 

• Flower – THCa flower is dried hemp that can be rolled into prerolls and smoked. I
• Prerolls – THCa prerolls are pre-rolled hemp smokables. 
• Vapes – THCa vapes offer a vapor-based way to inhale THCa, which turns to THC when heated. 
• Dabs – THCa dabs can be added to flower and used in prerolls, or they can be inhaled through a dab rig. 
• Edibles —  THCa edibles containing this cannabinoid in its raw form offer a different set of benefits than regular THC.

Is THCa Legal?

Yes. The 2018 US Farm Bill made THCa and other cannabinoids federally legal as long as they are derived from hemp. 

Hemp is a variant of the cannabis sativa plant that contains less than 0.3% THC by dry weight. It is genetically the same as regular cannabis except for its THC content. 

Will THCa Cause You to Fail a Drug Test?

Both THCa and THC will show up on drug tests.

THC is screened for due to its presence in marijuana, which is illegal in many states. THCa, on the other hand, is sometimes used as the target analyte for THC (meaning that the drug test looks for THCa to determine whether you’ve been consuming THC).

Therefore, if you have to undergo regular drug testing for work or other reasons, we recommend abstaining from using products containing either THCa and THC.