Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or THCa is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in raw and live cannabis, which actually exists in only minute quantities in the living plant. The non-psychoactivity of this cannabinoid is the main reason why ingesting cannabis in its raw form is unpopular among recreational users. Cannabis users however, are more likely to medicate using THCa since it possesses the same therapeutic benefits as THC without the high.
THCa is the acidic precursor to THC. As cannabis dries, THCa slowly converts to THC. Alternatively, being exposed to heat and sunlight will also THCa is converted to THC. Heat expedites this conversion through a process known as decarboxylation. Another way to convert THCa to THC is to store the plants; cannabis is cured to convert the THCa into THC, as well as drying it out to make it easier to burn, thus releasing the remaining THCa as THC.
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.
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%
What are THCa’s Effects and Benefits?
There isn’t enough research on THCa to definitively state what it can treat and with what degree of efficacy, but preliminary research and anecdotal evidence suggest that THCa will play a pivotal role in cannabis medicine as the industry propels forward. THCa stimulates the appetite like THC; it acts as a cannabinoid receptor agonist (a chemical that binds to a receptor and activates the receptor to produce a biological response), and in so doing helps in its neuroprotective (brain protection) effects, it is also a powerful anti-inflammatory, helps fight cancer and other tumors, aids with sleep, and more. Here are some of the potential benefits studies have started to unveil:
- Analgesic – Relieves pain.
- Anti-Emetic – Reduces vomiting, nausea, and and appetite loss.
- Anti-Inflammatory – Reduces inflammation; for treatment of arthritis and lupus.
- Anti-Insomnia – Aids with sleep.
- Anti-Proliferative – Inhibits cancer cell growth; noted in studies of prostate cancer.
- Antispasmodic – Suppresses muscle spasms.
- Modulates Immune System – THCa has been shown to both improve and potentially suppress the immune system functions.
- Neuroprotective – Slows damage to the nervous system and brain; for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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”.
Where Can I Find THCa?
Every high-THC strain that has not yet been decarboxylated contains THCa, and these cannabinoid levels are particularly high as a live or freshly harvested plant.
We hope we’ve answered your question of what is THCa. If not, you can always speak to any one of FARM’s knowledgable budtenders for dosing information, and other THCa alternatives.
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, but that doesn’t mean that it is legal. Due to that, there are a limited number of products currently available on the market.
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.
When a person wants a psychoactive effect from cannabis, they heat the product (smoke, vape, cook) beyond a specific temperature to break down the chemicals locked inside. One of the chemicals in cannabis, the non-psychoactive THCA molecule, breaks down into a THC molecule when heated and the THC molecule is very psychoactive. But, if you don’t heat the cannabis to the point of breaking down into THC, you can retain the THCA molecule in its entirety. And it seems that it’s the unbroken THCA molecule in unheated cannabis that has the biggest effect on the symptoms of Tourette Syndrome.
That’s the simple science. In actual use, the THCA is made into an oil from cannabis flower and taken internally.
Thank you for that information. I’ve just infused raw cannabis plant with an avocado and coconut oil. It’s been 3 weeks of setting outside for an hour or so then putting it back into a drawer until the next day. Next I’ll strain it and use it sublingually. Usually I’ll know the strain and it also has CBD properties but this time I’m unaware of any CBD so I was curious if the THCA alone had any benefits – I’m happy to hear it “probably” does..I’ve also used the infused oil to make a muscle relief rub and wasn’t sure if I should use his batch. But it seems this also might have some properties that would work? Thank you again for your article.
So far we know that THCA alone has anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-emetic, and antispasmodic properties. It can also suppress/enhance the immune system. It’s similar to THC without the added carboxylic acid group. As others have pointed out, it’s non-psychoactive until heated (decarboxylated). Basically, cannabis is high in THCA in its natural state. It’s not similar to purchasing CBD products because THCA can be easily converted into THC. The only “THCA-focused” products I know of are tinctures by the brand Treat Well. Aside from that, you can reap THCA benefits by juicing raw cannabis.