What Is THCa & How Is It Different From THC?

As cannabis continues to break into the mainstream, more and more cannabinoids are making their way into the spotlight. While THC and CBD may still be the stars of the show, more previously-forgotten and little-known cannabinoids are beginning to enter the conversation. One of these cannabinoids is THCa.

What Is THCA?

As you can probably tell from its name, THCa is a cannabinoid that is very similar to THC. In fact, it's actually considered to be the acidic precursor to THC. In simple terms, this means that before there can be THC, there must be THCa. 

Despite what most people think, THC does not naturally exist in cannabis plants. When you see the shiny trichomes that cover a cannabis plant, it’s not THC you’re looking at, but rather THCa. So next time you’re browsing the THC levels of the buds at your favorite Lake Elsinore dispensary, remember that what you’re actually seeing is their THCa levels. 

It’s believed that cannabis plants developed THCa as an evolutionary protective mechanism to deter predators. By biting into acidic it, pests and predators would be repelled and deterred from ingesting or otherwise harming the plant.

Getting THC From THCA

THCa doesn’t really get us ‘high’ in the same way that THC does. That’s because the THCa molecule is shaped differently than THC, meaning that it doesn’t really fit into CB1 and CB2 cell receptors in the same way that THC does. As a result, THCa is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid that does not produce any kind of mind-altering effects until it is converted to THC. So in order to actually get ‘high’ from cannabis, its THCa content must be converted into THC. 

THCa is converted into THC by being exposed to heat. When you apply the flame from a lighter to the bud in your bowl, this conversion takes place instantly. Same goes for the heat in your vaporizer. Additionally, If you leave some of your buds in the sun for a while, you can expect that a tiny amount of THCa will be converted into THC. But this is obviously a slow and inefficient way of doing things.

A more effective way of making this conversion happen is through decarboxylation. Decarboxylation is a process that applies moderate heat over longer periods of time in order to convert THCa molecules into THC without burning them. Decarbing your bud will allow you to bake with cannabis flower and enjoy it like an edible. There are several convenient methods to decarboxylate your cannabis at home.

THCa In Concentrates At Your Local Lake Elsinore Dispensary

You may have seen THCa being sold in the form of a concentrate at your local dispensary – specifically in the form of concentrated THCa crystals. THCa crystals either isolated, providing nothing but straight hits of THC once heated, or they’re mixed in with a ‘sauce’ of terpenes, kind of like live resin. Next time you’re at your favorite Lake Elsinore dispensary, keep an eye out for some THCa diamonds or other cannabis concentrates high in THCa. 

Benefits of THCA

Although much more research is needed, it's believed that THCa may have therapeutic and beneficial properties of its own. Early research has linked THCa to many possible benefits including anti-inflammatory properties, neuroprotective properties, and antiemetic properties.