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THC vs THCa: What is Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid
If you have some experience with cannabis, you’re probably already familiar with THC, one of the two most common cannabinoids in marijuana (the other one being CBD). However “what is THCa?” is a question that we hear quite often from both cannabis enthusiasts and newcomers to marijuana. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about this acidic cannabinoid.
THCa, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is one of the hundreds of cannabinoids found in cannabis plants that are believed to offer several therapeutic benefits, although research into its potential benefits is ongoing.
While its name and chemical composition is very similar to THC, THCA has very different properties from the latter. Unlike THC, THCA is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid.
As a matter of fact, THCA is THCs predecessor and converts to tetrahydrocannabinol as the cannabis plant is subjected to light and heat. Therefore, THCA products are extracted from raw cannabis plants.
Keep reading to learn more about THCA, and why it is growing in popularity as research uncovers more of its unique properties.
What is THCa?
THCA is often referred to as the precursor to THC. It is a cannabinoid acid found in the fresh cannabis plant.
When cannabis plants are growing, they produce a range of cannabinoids depending on the specific strain of the plant. Almost all of these cannabinoids begin as carboxylic acids such as THCA, then convert into non-acidic compounds through the process of decarboxylation or “decarbing.” The acidic version of each cannabinoid typically has different effects from its decarboxylated form.
Other cannabinoid acids you may encounter are
CBGA (Cannabigerolic acid)
CBDA (Cannabidiolic acid)
CBCA (Cannabichromenenic acid)
CBGVA (Cannabigerovarinic acid)
THCVA (Tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid)
CBDVA (Cannabidivarinic acid)
CBCVA (Cannabichromevarinic acid)
How does THCa interact with the human body?
The human body (and some animals) contains a unique set of receptors that are part of the Endocannabinoid System. This system was discovered relatively recently by Raphael Mechoulam. ECS has a critical role in maintaining the homeostasis of the human body, which affects our brain, immune and other systems. [Source]
Unlike THC, THCA is a non-psychotropic cannabinoid. In other words, it does not produce the intoxicating effect that is commonly associated with cannabis and THC.
This is a result of the size of the THCA molecule. This is a large molecule that does not bind to cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system.
Current research suggests that THCA does not bind much to either CB1 or CB2 receptors, the two major cannabinoid receptors.
This does not mean that THCA has no effects on your system, however.
Recent research has suggested that marijuana extracts comprised primarily of THCA may have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties for some people. It has also been suggested by some studies to reduce nausea and vomiting.