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What is THCA (Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid)

What is THCA

THCA is a cannabinoid, which means it is one of the ingredients that produces the effects of cannabis. Cannabis contains dozens of cannabinoids, each of which interact with different receptors in the brain and body to produce effects such as relieving anxiety, making the mouth feel dry, stimulating hunger or inducing drowsiness.

When people become interested in cannabinoids, one of their first questions is whether THCA has psychoactive effects. THCA does not create a euphoric state. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), it is completely non-psychoactive. This is because THCA is a precursor to THC - it is just one step in the process of transformation into its final form.

 

Tetrahydrocannabinol THCA chemical formula

How is THCA produced?

Like several other primary cannabinoids in cannabis, THCA begins its life as a CBGA. As the cannabis plant matures, an enzymatic process takes place in its trichomes that causes much of the CBGA to turn into THCA, CBDA and CBCA. These are acidic versions of the better-known cannabinoids THC, CBD and CBC.

This transformation process has given CBGA the nickname 'the mother of all cannabinoids'. Some of the CBGA remains unchanged (it later becomes CBG), but most is synthesised into other cannabinoids - notably THCA and CBDA, which are found in higher amounts in the plant than their cannabinoid counterparts.

The difference between these cannabinoid acids and their later versions is that they are not considered pharmacologically active in their acidic forms.

THCA vs. THC

The easiest way to understand the difference between THCA and THC is to realize that THCA is not considered pharmacologically active. This means that some of its effects are not active either.

The most striking evidence of this is the fact that THCA does not have psychoactive effects like THC. In order for THCA to be activated and converted into THC, it must undergo curation or decarboxylation.

 

Decarboxylation in an oven heated to the appropriate temperature

THCA is converted to THC by decarboxylation

'Decarboxylation' means the removal of a carboxylic acid from a compound. When this happens to THCA, it becomes THC. Decarboxylation occurs very quickly when the substance is exposed to heat, this process usually starts at a temperature of around 110 degrees Celsius. The easiest way to decarboxylate the THC in marijuana is to light the material on fire (which makes smoking a combined decarboxylation/use method).

Many people also decarboxylate cannabis by spreading the flowers evenly on a baking sheet and placing them in an oven heated to the appropriate temperature and leaving them in it, stirring occasionally, for about 40 minutes (or until the material turns brown). This is an excellent way to fully activate the THC before consuming the cannabis in edibles.

Curing cannabis causes some decarboxylation, but the THC levels in the cannabis after curing will still be incredibly low. Before curing and decarboxylation, maximum levels of THCA are found in fresh, leaves and flowers.

Benefits of THCA

What are the benefits of THCA if it is not pharmacologically active? Although it was long assumed that the absence of psychotropic effects meant that THCA had no effects or benefits at all, studies now prove otherwise. Researchers are investigating the use of THCA for the following conditions, among others :

Inflammation

Scientists have found that THCA, like other cannabinoids , mimics the effects of natural endocannabinoids that help calm inflammatory processes. This means that further studies exploring the potential benefits of THCA could include its use as an anti-inflammatory drug.

Anticonvulsant

In 2017, researchers published a peer-reviewed article in the journal Epilepsy and Behavior describing how THCA can be used in combination with CBD in epilepsy patients. In patients who observed relief with the THCA combination, doctors found that low doses were the most effective. They also found that smaller doses of THCA were needed to achieve the same effects as a larger dose of THC.

 

The sign of World Epilepsy Day - a twisted purple ribbon in the hands

THCA for epilepsy

Small doses of THCA combined with CBD can be beneficial for people with epilepsy.

Neuroprotective

Research is also underway to better understand the neuroprotective properties of THCA. In a study on brain cell degeneration and Parkinson's disease, THCA, THC and CBD demonstrated the ability to increase cell numbers and protect neurons. Another study pointed out that THCA's benefits include "potent neuroprotective activity," and its authors suggested that the substances should be considered in the treatment of Huntington's disease and other neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.

Antiemetic

THC has long been used as an anti-nausea drug for people undergoing chemotherapy, but studies show that THCA may be an even better option. THCA is not only more effective in treating nausea and vomiting, but is free of the psychoactive effects caused by THC.

How to consume THCA

As the benefits of THCA become clearer, many people are wondering how to consume it. Some people consume cannabis by smoking or vaporizing it, but because THCA is converted to THC by decarboxylation, this is not the best way to take advantage of the beneficial effects of THCA. The most common way to use THCA is by consuming it through extracts, ointments and orally.

 

THCA crystals may contain up to 99% THCA

THCA isolate

When cannabinoids like THCA are studied in laboratory conditions, scientists use extracts that allow them to isolate and study the individual compounds in cannabis.

Dispensaries also sell THCA extracts. The product known as THCA crystals can contain up to 99% THCA and is considered the purest and most potent extract on the market. These extracts can be consumed without decarboxylation, delivering all the effects of THCA without the psychoactive effects. When consumed via vaporization or dabbing, THCA extracts provide powerful and immediate psychoactive effects. THCA crystals are particularly useful for medicinal users who need large doses of THC to treat their symptoms.

THCA with external use

Many people also reap the benefits of THCA by using external-use products made with the element. Creams and balms containing THCA are useful for soothing pain and inflammation through CB2 receptors found throughout the body. Although THCA does not bind directly to CB2 receptors, it does act on other non-cannabinoid receptors to reduce pain. It alsohelps increase levels of pain-relieving chemicals such as anandamide.

THCA-containing edibles

Because curing cannabis converts a small amount of its THCA into THC, the best way to get the maximum amount of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid is from fresh cannabis leaves and flowers that have not undergone curing.

Once the flowers and leaves are cut from the plant, they can be ingested like any other leafy green. Fresh cannabis should be stored in a refrigerator, preferably in a place designated for vegetables.

People use fresh cannabis in the following ways:

  • Juicing (often mixed with fruit juice to reduce bitterness)
  • Steaming the leaves and then eating them
  • Eating the leaves with fresh salad
  • Chopping the material and mixing it into salad dressings and sauces
  • Use in the form of garnishes

THCA FAQ

Because the abbreviation THCA sounds very similar to THC and the two cannabinoids are very closely related, this can cause considerable confusion. Here are some of the questions people often ask about THCA.

Does THCA have psychoactive effects?

No. THCA cannot cause psychoactive effects until it is decarboxylated. The most effective way to make it is to heat the plant material - either by smoking/vaporizing it or by heating it in an oven. Small amounts of THC are also decarboxylated by curing.

What are the effects of THCA?

As it does not cause any psychoactive effects, the effects of THCA are not particularly noticeable. However, scientific studies have raised discussion about the possible benefits of THCA for health problems. It shows promise in treating pain and inflammation, nausea and vomiting, epilepsy, brain degeneration, etc.

What are the secrets of THCA?

Recreational users and the patient community have long believed that THCA is only useful if it is decarboxylated and converted to THC. For this reason, other cannabinoids have received the most attention in terms of scientific research.

In recent years, the scientific community has begun to come to the same conclusion as ordinary health-conscious cannabis users: tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) in its raw form has many uses and great therapeutic potential. Studies show that it is promising when taken alone, but it is also effective in increasing the potency of other cannabinoids.

What this means for medical treatments in the future remains to be seen. Until then, this is a strong argument for advocates of using cannabis to boost health. The findings have also drawn the attention of those who want to learn more about the secrets in this incredibly powerful plant.

 

Author: Canatura

 

   

Photo: Shutterstock

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