Why Buy THCa Products from Natural Ways CBD?

At Natural Ways CBD, we only carry products that contain less than 0.3% THC and have been tested by a 3rd-party lab to verify their safety and potency. 

But legal, safe, and effective products are table stakes for any CBD and THC brand — what truly sets us apart is our:

• Selection & prices: But we aren’t limited to carrying our own products; we also curate the best of what other companies have to offer. This means you get more options to choose from without needing to spend more time vetting products: you can confidently select an option and know that it will be safe and effective. Our selection comprises 100+ products from more than 10 brands, including well-known brands like 3Chi and 8th Wonder Cannabis. Enjoy competitive prices on your favorite items while accessing our array of CBD, CBG, CBN, delta 8, and delta 9 products.
• Shipping & returns: We offer free next-day shipping on all orders over $49 dollars so you can get your essential therapeutic items (and favorite recreational items) for less. All of our products come with a 14-day return guarantee if unopened. If your product(s) arrive and you discover they’re not what you need, you can return them with no hassle.
• Values:  We put people over profit. Our company was started after the owners experienced a medical scare with a family member and witnessed how CBD products helped. We’re dedicated to making natural wellness available to all; we do that by offering the highest-quality products at fair prices.

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.
• Inflammation: A 2017 study found that THCa has anti-inflammatory properties.
• Neuroprotective properties: A 2017 study found that THCa potentially has neuroprotective effects, suggesting that it might have therapeutic potential for neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation.
• Seizures: A preliminary research review found that THCa has shown therapeutic potential for seizure reduction. 

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 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 in situations where they 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

What’s the Difference Between THCa and THC?

THCa and THC differ in three primary ways: their origin, their strength/effects, and their side effects:

1. Origin in hemp: THCa is found in live hemp plants, while THC isn’t. For THCa to become THC, it must be decarboxylated – heated – so that it loses its acid ring.
2. Strength: THCa does not create a noticeable mental effect, while THC, which can be thought of as the “activated” form of THCa, does. THC creates the euphoric, relaxing head high commonly associated with the cannabis plant.
3. Side effects: THCa’s side effects aren’t well-researched. However, anecdotal evidence suggests THCa may cause some people to feel drowsy or tired while causing others to feel energized. On the other hand, side effects of THC include anxiety, dry mouth, memory loss, difficulty thinking and speaking, red eyes, delayed reaction time, heart rate increases, and increased appetite. 

What’s the Difference Between THCa and THCv?

THCa and THCv differ in three primary ways: their potential benefits, their psychoactive properties, and their interactions with the endocannabinoid system (ECS):

1. Effects on the body: Research has found THCa to have potential anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, indicating it may have therapeutic benefit for people with conditions involving these things. By contrast, research suggests THCv has appetite-suppressing properties and may have a regulating effect on blood sugar levels.
2. Psychoactive properties: THCa is non-psychoactive in its natural, raw form, only becoming psychoactive when decarboxylated (heated), converting into THC. THCv, however, can have mild psychoactive effects at higher doses, though these effects tend to be more stimulating and shorter in duration than those of THC. 
3. Endocannabinoid system interactions: THCa primarily works outside the ECS, acting as an enzyme inhibitor rather than binding to the ECS receptors directly. THCv interacts more directly within the ECS, acting as a CB1 receptor antagonist at low doses, which is linked to its appetite-suppressing effects, and as a CB1 agonist at higher doses, producing mild psychoactivity.

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. 

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.