THCA is a better Drug than THC ? MAYBE !

THC vs THCA: Explained

THC and THCA. These two molecules certainly sound about the same, and there’s only one letter changed between them, so how different can they be? As it turns out, quite a bit. When we think of cannabis, we think of THC – Smoke weed or eat cannabis edibles, THC then gets you high. So why don’t we just eat the raw cannabis plant? If we can eat edibles and get the benefits of THC from them, shouldn’t we just be able to munch on a marijuana bud and get the same effects? Anyone who’s tried this knows this isn’t the case, same with anyone who’s attempted to make edibles by just dumping raw cannabis flower into some brownie mix – Rather than getting high, you just end up with weed stuck between your teeth and some seriously bad breath for the rest of the afternoon. Though we heavily associate cannabis with THC, it turns out that cannabis plants in their raw and natural state don’t actually contain much THC. Instead, raw cannabis plants mostly contain THCA (AKA “Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid“), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that is the precursor to THC (or “Tetrahydrocannabinol“), and it’s the “A” that makes all the difference in the world. We’ll detail out some of the differences between the two below.

The Difference between THC and THCA

As noted above, one of the major differences between THC and THCA is that THCA will not, under any circumstances, get you high. Thus, you can eat raw cannabis as much as you’d like, and though you may still see some benefits from it (more on that in a bit), you will not get a buzz. When cannabis plants grow, they contain several substances we humans find beneficial, primarily cannabinoids and terpenes. In addition, plants such as industrial hemp are specifically cultivated from strains bred for a low percentage of THCA content (less than 0.3% THCA to be grown legally under USDA guidelines). Still, most cannabis plants are known for their psychoactive potential.

When we intake THC, this molecule travels through our body via the bloodstream, eventually passing through the blood-brain barrier inside our heads. From there, the THC molecule “binds” to (or “antagonizes”) specially-designed cannabinoid receptors (known as “CB1 receptors”) located on the cells within our brain; much like a puzzle piece sliding into place, these cannabinoids “fit” precisely into our receptors, giving us the buzz often sought after from smoking (or eating) marijuana.

High or No High?

THCA cannot work like THC. Whereas THC has a chemical makeup that our cannabinoid receptors can utilize, THCA has an additional carboxylic acid chain attached, essentially making it too oddly shaped to go inside our receptors. So, much like the proverbial square peg in a round hole, no matter what you do, the THCA cannabinoid simply will not fit. Again, THCA is the natural form of the THC molecule as found inside cannabis plants – THCA turns into THC when exposed to heat (and light, though more slowly), meaning that while eating raw cannabis won’t do anything for you, as soon as you apply the right amount of heat you’re now converting this THCA into THC via a process called “decarboxylation.”

Decarbing Makes the Difference

We talk about decarboxylation (aka “decarbing”) Still, the basic gist is that heat, applied properly, will ‘burn’ away that extra carboxylic acid chain in THCA, thus converting it to the THC that will actually give someone a high. Decarbing can happen in one of two ways. First, the traditional method, which is taking your marijuana and setting it on fire. From here, the process of applying heat to the cannabis flower turns THCA into THC, released via smoke, which we then inhale to get high. This process has its benefits and detriments:

• Smoking Pros:- Takes little prep work - Relatively immediate high Smoking Cons: - Inefficient - The smell of weed smoke

Smoking weed is a classic because applying fire to cannabis and inhaling the results is doable by just about anyone anywhere – people have been smoking weed for a very, very long time, just because it’s the easiest way to go about it. But direct flame isn’t the only way to decarb your weed, and aiming for a more controlled method of applying heat can have many benefits. When most people refer to “decarbing” cannabis, what they’re essentially discussing is taking your cannabis and toasting it in an oven for a set length of time at a set temperature. Once your weed has been baked (pun fully intended), the THCA inside has been mostly converted into THC at a much more efficient rate than simply burning it.

Decarbing vs Burning

There is a fine line between “converting THCA into THC” and “converting THCA into carbon atoms” (IE: completely burned, wasted and inert), and applying direct heat in the form of fire gives the end-user very little control over this line. Direct flame is more than enough to burn away and ultimately destroy the THCA molecules inside your cannabis, and what we’re usually smoking when we light up a bowl or a joint isn’t the bud that’s been directly touched by fire, it’s the bud that’s directly beside that burned bud that reaches the proper temperature for decarboxylation. If using an oven or some other form of temperature-controlled environment, you can aim for a specific, targeted temperature, meaning you can avoid reaching a heat high enough to burn or waste away your THC/THCA. There are benefits and detriments to this method as well:

Decarbing Pros: - More efficient - More versatile - Greater potency (if eaten) - Smell is diminished after Decarbing is done

Decarbing Cons: - Takes time & know-how - If not smoked decarbed weed can take longer to kick in - We say that decarbed weed is more versatile because, unlike raw cannabis, it can now be eaten outright. Assuming you’ve decarbed properly, the THCA within has been converted into THC, meaning it’s completely ready to use as-is. If you want to eat your cannabis straight, you certainly can (though we don’t recommend it). But we are all saying everything about converting THCA to THC. What if you wanted it to remain as THCA-ALL THE BENEFITS WITHOUT THE HIGH !

THCA Have Benefits?

Despite not being shaped properly to fit inside our cannabinoid receptors, THCA can still have potent medical effects. Although scientific research and lab testing are still somewhat lacking on the subject, reports claiming therapeutic benefits of THCA are numerous, showing strong anti-inflammatory properties, alongside alleviating a wide array of neurodegenerative diseases. Comparisons to CBD have been commonplace, and ingested THCA may offer significant medical benefits similar to THC while not providing the psychoactive effects.

And, while you certainly can take THCA in its natural state by eating it, most THCA products, SUCH AS THE DIAMONDS IN THE PICTURE IN THIS ARTICLE. are meant to be smoked (more likely vaporized). As mentioned earlier, applying heat to THCA turns it into THC, meaning a vaporized/dabbed THCA diamond is essentially the same as smoking a crystal of pure THC – This is why THCA diamonds are TYPICALLY combined with a solution of terpenes and other cannabinoids  to help “round out” the pure THC high.

Wrapping Up 1

When it comes to THCA vs THC, if you’re looking to get high, there’s only one winner – The classic Tetrahydrocannabinol, hands down. But that doesn’t make THCA without its potential virtues, and, much like CBD before it, research and testing results are slowly becoming available, with THCA-focused products hitting store shelves.

THCA: The Customized High

Products such as "THCA diamonds” and “THCA powder” are essentially ultra-pure (usually upwards of 90%+) concentrations of THCA. Cannabis plants carry a wide variety of terpenes and other cannabinoids that, in their unique combinations, give different strains of weed different sensations and effects. Pure THCA contains none of that, and is essentially a concentrated amount of THC-in-waiting. While this may sound great in theory, many who have tried smoking nothing but THCA concentrates on their own report them somewhat lacking, providing a strong but somewhat “featureless” high. To alleviate this, many companies who produce THCA concentrates also sell accompanying jars of terpenes and other cannabinoids (referred to as “sauce”). This separation of THCA from sauce enables the end smoker to create a custom-tailored smoking experience, allowing them to play with the ratio of THCA-to-terpenes and even mix and match as they see fit. For someone interested in the ultimate weed smoking experience, custom designed THCA+sauce mixtures may be the pinnacle of the art.

But does THCA have to be smoked? Only if you7 want to get high? Yes. Until the dicarboxylic acid chain is removed from THCA it will not get you blazed. End of story. But if you’re not interested in getting high, and instead you’re looking to THCA as a potential (and potentially potent) medical aid, then THCA doesn’t have to be smoked at all.

The Medical Use of THCA

Again, THCA is found naturally in the raw, unheated cannabis plant, so if you’re looking to take THCA as a medical treatment… well, you can chew down on a fresh bud of marijuana if you’d like but we recommend investing in a batch of toothpicks and breath mints first. Instead, other products such as the aforementioned powder or even THCA tinctures and THCA oil can be used for oral dosing. But be aware: THCA can be broken down into THC in the digestive system, essentially providing the same potential for getting someone high as if they’d eaten a cannabis edible. To mitigate this, it’s often recommended to take THCA either by holding it in the mouth (against the gum line or under the tongue), or as a suppository; while the amount of THCA converted over to THC when ingested is likely negligible, for some any chance is too much, leaving non-oral administration as the only 100% safe route.

THCA’s Promising Medical Effects

So why take THCA if it’s non-psychoactive? Though studies and scientific research into THCA’s effects and direct mechanisms are still somewhat slim, early reports show many of the same therapeutic benefits as CBD and regular THC. STUDIES SHOW THAT THCA HAS GREAT ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES (potentially even higher than CBD), as well as having promise as an anti-NAUSIA and appetite loss. Equally as important, THCA has been shown to have strong neuroprotective properties, offering potential benefits in treating a wide variety of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases by aiding against memory loss, seizures, and other common symptoms. THCA even works in inhibiting cancer cell growth, showing significant promise as a treatment in studies of prostate cancer.

Where Can I Buy THCA?

THCA is still a relative newcomer on the cannabis product scene, and though not federally illegal it does fall into a grey enough area that finding it outside of legalized states is fairly unlikely. And though a somewhat recent entry into the world of marketable cannabis, new products are being developed at a rapid pace. For those living somewhere that has legalized either medical or recreational marijuana usage, your local dispensary should carry some THCA-based products; given THCA’s notable potential for medicinal use states with a focus on marijuana as a medical aid will likely carry THCA products alongside their other wares.

If looking to avoid the psychoactive properties of THC make sure your product is clearly listed as containing “THCA”, and does not contain “activated” THC inside. Most products will clearly state whether or not they contain THC, but always make sure to check the label carefully if avoiding a buzz is one of your concerns.

Wrapping Up Final

Though similar THCA is very different from THC, CBD and other cannabinoids, and one that could be a massive source of aid and relief for many seeking relief from serious ailments. I hope my write up about this unique molecule has given you a bit more insight into the spectrum of cannabinoids and how they effect us in their own unique ways. And remember: Just because THCA won’t get you high that doesn’t mean it can’t be even MORE helpful and in other unique ways to address diseases and disease state management.

You might have to be TOTALLY DEBILITATING in order to get the therapeutic effect of Cannabis in the THC world. Stay tuned for our next steps in this THCA arena, without the high !