What Is The Difference Between THC & THCA?

What is THCA?

You’ve heard of THC, but what about THCA? THCA ,or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is a cannabis compound found in the marijuana plant. There has been limited research on it, but the initial studies that have been done show promising health benefits.

THC vs. THCA

Unlike THC, THCA is non-intoxicating, so it does not make you feel high. This cannabis compound is present in raw and live cannabis, but when the marijuana plant dries, it slowly converts to THC. When heat is applied to the cannabis flower or plant, the process speeds up and is known as decarboxylation. This is what happens when you smoke or vape a cannabis bud.

Does THCA get you high?

THCA is non-intoxicating, so it will not get you high. Initial studies have shown that it may be inert, which means it makes no difference to our body. This is because THCA cannot pass through the blood-brain barrier and attach to our endocannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) like THC and CBD do.

Related: All about cannabis distillate: What is it? How is it made?

What are the benefits of THCA?

As stated earlier, there has been limited research done, but what we have seen so far suggests that it can play a large roll in cannabis use for medical purposes. Here are the benefits of what research has found so far:

• Anti-inflammatory properties for lupus and arthritis treatment
• Neuroprotective properties for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
• May prevent vomiting due to nausea
• Inhibits cancerous cell growth in studies of prostate cancer

There have also been claims from people who say THCA have treated their insomnia, muscle spasms, and pain. We will probably have to wait until cannabis is fully legalized in order to dive into deeper research regarding this cannabinoid and its many uses.

 

Where can I find it?

THCA is present in every cannabis plant that hasn’t been decarboxylated (heated) yet. This is why people have turned to juicing raw cannabis plants to reap the benefits. You might be wondering if you can also drink weed infused tea in order to consume THCA? When you consume tea, cannabis undergoes decarboxylation. Unfortunately by the time the cannabis has been dried and heated, all the THCA has converted to THC.

If you’re interested in learning more about cannabis and CBD, check out our daily blog! There, you’ll find other articles like:

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