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THCA vs. THC: More Different than You'd Expect

Spyros Papamichail
May 25, 2023

THCA, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is a cannabinoid that has gained a lot of traction lately as it has shown a lot of promise as a treatment for a wide variety of conditions. And while it is closely related to THC, its properties are vastly different.

There is a limited amount of research on THCA so far, but here’s a rundown of what we know about this interesting cannabinoid.

THC vs THCA

thca vs thc molecule infographic

Let’s start with the basic science. THCA is a precursor of the most famous cannabinoid out there, THC. It is produced by CBGA (cannabigerolic acid) during the lifetime of the plant, by an enzyme called THCA-synthase. In fact, THCA is one of the three major cannabinoids produced by CBGA, with the other two being CBDA and CBG. In turn, THCA is converted into THC through a process called decarboxylation.

The mechanism is simple. During the lifetime of the plant, heat and oxygen will gradually remove carboxyl groups from THCA, slowly transforming it to THC. But the amounts of THC that are already formed on the plant when it is harvested are very low. In order to transform the vast majority of THCA to THC, the plant needs to be fully decarboxylated. This happens through the application of heat; lighting up a joint, using a weed vaporizer, heating it in the oven, or activating it inside the lab.

An interesting thing that comes out of this relationship between THCA and THC is the way that maximum THC is calculated. THCA contains an extra carboxyl group, thus making it heavier than THC. In order to calculate total THC, this needs to be factored in. So, instead of just adding THCA and THC content, the proper way to do it is:

Total THC = [(%THCA) x 0.877] + (%THC)

So let’s say for example that the analysis of a strain shows that it contains 12% THCA and 2% THC before decarboxylation. In this case, following the formula above would give us:

Total THC = (12 x 0.877) + 2 = 12.5%

THCA and its relationship with THC came under scrutiny recently due to the USDA's Final Hemp Rule. Find more about the “total THC” testing requirement here.

cannabinoid formation infographic

Potential benefits of THCA

It is important to remember that THCA has only had a limited amount of research so far. Most of its benefits are not conclusive, but it has shown a lot of promise in the following areas:

THCA exhibits similar anti-inflammatory properties to other cannabinoids according to a 2011 study. Further anti-inflammatory properties were observed in a 2017 study, where the authors proposed the use of THCA instead of CBD in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

A 2017 study found that THCA exhibits potential in seizure prevention. Researchers also found that THCA is more potent than THC in the treatment of nausea and vomiting according to a 2013 study.

A 2012 study as well as a 2017 study found that THCA exhibits neuroprotective properties that can be useful in treating Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, a recent (January 2020) study found that THCA “reduces adiposity and prevents metabolic disease cause by diet induced obesity”.

Will THCA get you high?

Chances are you have seen this in a movie: a car is being chased by the police, and one of the passengers decides to gulp down a bag of weed, reaching a super high by the time the car chase is over. While that sounds plausible, it sure is an exaggeration. Raw cannabis may contain only a little bit of THC, and you’ll need to consume very large amounts to get high from it. Before the process of decarboxylation, the plant mostly contains THCA, which will not get you high.

THCA side effects

There haven’t been any notable side effects observed with the consumption of THCA. It is hypothesized that some THCA may turn into THC in the digestive track and cause psychotropic effects. But even if that’s the case, the amount of THC produced and its effect will probably be negligible.

As always, it is advisable to consult with your physician before adding THCA to your regime, especially if you are on prescribed medication.

Will THCA show up in a drug test?

A variety of drug tests will use THCA as a target analyte for marijuana testing. Due to that, THCA has the potential to turn a drug test positive. If you are planning on getting tested, you should avoid consuming products that contain THCA.

Where can THCA be found?

THCA stands in a gray area when it comes to legality. It is not listed as a controlled substance under federal law, but being that it is a precursor of THC, it can be considered as an analog. And let’s not forget that the cannabis plant contains mostly THCA and not THC.

In places where THC is legal, there is a growing market of products formulated with 99% pure THCA extract known as diamonds. This is commonly referred to as “diamond sauce,” “terp sauce,” or just straight-up “sauce.” It can be dabbed or vaporized in a variety of ways.

Regardless, THCA can be found in freshly harvested cannabis. In order to avoid decarboxylation, the plant needs to be consumed raw, as the application of heat will inevitably turn part of THCA into THC. Due to that, there is a rising trend of using raw cannabis leaves to make smoothies and juices, or even adding them into salads. If consuming cannabis raw doesn’t sound like your thing, a quick google search will point you toward a selection of raw cannabis tinctures or products like transdermal patches. Also note that some full-spectrum CBD products may contain THCA, but most of the time it is only found in trace amounts.

My first attempt at vaping came back in 2009 on some of the first cigalikes to ever reach Europe. A couple of attempts -- and vaping tech generations later -- I managed to quit smoking in 2016, and have since then developed somewhat of an obsession with all things vaping. When I am not consuming vape reviews I am either tinkering my NBA fantasy teams or playing board games with friends.
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Justin Bozeman
Justin Bozeman
6 months ago

Have you smoked THCA? The high is almost identical to street or dispensary delta 9 bud. You imply it wont get you baked if its not heated which of course is true but confounds the issue of whether or not it gets you high which it does really, really well.

Victor Huertas
Victor Huertas
1 year ago

Great article…just went to a networking event and your information is spot on based on our learnings from the event!

John Denver
John Denver
5 months ago

I’m sitting next to a pound of this crap this is NOT THC, it will NOT get you high like THC, plain and simple, it’s like Delta 8 flower, been a smoker my whole life and anyone telling you this will get you “high” like THC buds, is just leading you on for marketing. Trust me, it’s nowhere near as potent. Its HEMP, its NOT CANNABIS! Stop misinforming people!

Don S
Don S
5 months ago
Reply to  John Denver

Every last word in this article is 100% accurate and if you took the time to actually Google the topic and review the research and facts you would see precisely how incorrect your remarks are. Personally I would research anything thoroughly prior to posting remarks publicly just so that I had my facts straight thus preventing myself from potentially looking foolish. Your remarks are a perfect example of how misinformation gets spread.

Jim McDonald
Staff
Jim McDonald
5 months ago
Reply to  John Denver

Did you even read the article?

“Raw cannabis may contain only a little bit of THC, and you’ll need to consume very large amounts to get high from it. Before the process of decarboxylation, the plant mostly contains THCA, which will not get you high.”

Steven
Steven
5 months ago

Just tried THCA and they are a list of bad side effects like heart and lungs

Jim McDonald
Staff
Jim McDonald
5 months ago
Reply to  Steven

Smoking any substance has negative effects on the heart and lungs. Is that what you mean?