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THC is THC, right? Not exactly. There are different forms of THC, and one of them is called tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or THCA. In this guide, we explain:
- What is THCA?
- How does THCA work?
- What is the difference between THC and THCA?
- Does THCA show up on a drug test?
- Where can you find THCA?
What is THCA?
If THC is the child, THCA is the parent. THCA itself is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid that is found in marijuana plants. When the plant is heated, the THCA is converted into THC the psychoactive cannabinoid that most cannabis users are familiar with. This process is called decarboxylation and is the scientific way of describing what happens when cannabis is 'activated' by heat. (Either by smoking or vaporizing it, or by heating it in time).
How does THCA work?
THCA is unique because it is large. The size of this molecule means that it cannot interact with the CB1 receptors of the endocannabinoid system in the body. For this reason THCA without decarboxylation has no psychoactive properties. But that doesn't mean it's not an important cannabinoid with the potential for therapeutic properties.
What is the difference between THC and THCA?
The main difference between THC and THCA is simply that THC cannot exist without THCA. THCA is converted into THC when cannabis flowers or other marijuana products are decarboxylated are decarboxylated. In addition, THCA itself is not intoxicating and has the potential for unique benefits that continue to be studied.
So does THCA show up on a drug test?
The answer is yes. There are a variety of drug tests that look for THCA as a target analyte. This means that if you have to undergo a drug test or that a drug test is pending, THCA will also be analyzed.
Where can you find THCA?
Most cannabis strains contain THCA before they are consumed. There are some strains that contain higher amounts of THCA than others, including Novarine THCV:THC. If you are interested in the non-intoxicating effect of THCA you should look for a product that is pure THCA. These products are sometimes referred to as "diamonds". There are also full-spectrum products available that contain THCA in their ingredient list. This is another way to try THCA, but it is likely that you will also experience the entourage effect of multiple cannabinoids working together. THCA-containing products are not legal in most EU countries, so there are hardly any legal products on the European market yet.
Disclaimer
It is important that you are aware that we make no medical claims. The content of this site is for informational and educational purposes only. The information we provide comes from various research papers, scientific articles and research we have compiled from external sources. Please note that legislation varies from country to country. For this reason, we recommend that you always inform yourself about the local laws in your home country.
