Raw cannabis use won’t get you high no matter how much potential the flowers have because raw cannabis has no THC present but is full of THCA. So, what is the contrast between THCA and THC? This article will teach you the difference between THC and THCA and their potential benefits to cannabis users.

What is THCA?

All primary cannabinoid acids from cannabis come from the mother of all cannabinoids, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). The cannabis plant enzymes, which are unique to each strain, convert this cannabigerolic acid into three primary precursor compounds: tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), and cannabichromene acid (CBCA).

The non-psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is among the abundant and therapeutic components of a fresh cannabis plant. It is an inactive compound in the trichomes of live and freshly harvested cannabis.

Unlike THC, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is non-intoxicating as it’s the acidic form of THC.

What is THC?

The cannabis plant bears hundreds of cannabinoids, but only a few cannabinoids result in a euphoric, high feeling. Therefore, THC is the most sought-after and the primary cannabinoid in cannabis.

Formally known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC is the active version of THCA and is not found in freshly harvested cannabis.

Heating the non-intoxicating THCA activates the chemical compounds in fresh cannabis. It removes the carboxyl group in its chemical structure, resulting in THC, the intoxicating cannabis. Heated cannabis flowers produce intoxicating effects. We know the process as “decarboxylation.”

THCA VS THC Molecule Difference

THCA has large and three-dimensional molecules. Therefore, they cannot fit into the cannabinoid receptors (CB1) in the cannabis consumer’s endocannabinoid systems. The endocannabinoid receptors (CBI) are found in the brain, lungs, liver, central nervous system, and kidneys. Therefore, a cannabinoid must fit into these CB1 receptors to produce an intoxicating effect.

Unlike THCA, THC molecules can fit into the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the CBI receptors of cannabis consumers.

How do THCA Molecules convert to THC?

Heating THCA creates a transparent and highly cerebral effect. THC is weed’s principal component responsible for the high effects.

THCA decarboxylates through heating. Decarboxylation is a chemical reaction where heat or light removes the carboxylic acid group in the THCa.

Cannabis users evaporate and preserve raw cannabis flowers. As a result, a large amount of THCA converts.

The typical decarboxylation process is putting cannabis in an oven to convert unheated cannabis to active THC. Use a baking sheet or glass baking dish with parchment paper to easily collect after baking. Let’s look at other ways to convert THCA to its potent form.

Sunlight conversion

THCA converts to THC via sunlight or light heating. However, varying degrees and duration will determine the conversation level. For example, more sunlight hours means the THCA molecules will slowly convert to THC.

Room temperature Conversion

Room temperature conversion takes an extended period. For example, submerging THCA in oil will convert 22% of it to THC in 10 days at 25 degrees Celsius. In ethanol, 67% of THCA will convert while in light exposure, only 20% of THCA will convert over an extended period in a light direction.

Smoking

When smoking, not all THCA converts; therefore, smoking may be the standard method of consuming cannabis, but it is less efficient.

Vaporizing

Decarbing is an efficient way to decarb weed. Heating weed at relatively low temperatures converts the cannabinoids to THC. Increasing the temperature will ensure maximum THCA conversion. THC’s optimal vaping temperature is 315 degrees F (157 degrees C). Higher temperatures will lead to a loss of THC.

Vape Pens

You can use the decarboxylated cannabis distillate in preloaded vape pens more efficiently than vaporizing.

Purchase legitimate vape pens from allowed brands and dispensaries to ensure the cannabis oil lacks harmful ingredients.

How to Consume THCA From Freshly Harvested Cannabis?

THCA crystalline is the purest isolate on the market for those looking for around 99 to 100% energy. We find THCA in crystalline and concentrates. Therefore, you can extract THCA and consume it in its purest form. It bears a slight aroma and flavor because the cannabis extracts aim to eliminate the terpenes and flavonoids to isolate the cannabinoids.

You can consume THCA indirectly by adding cannabis to your juice, smoothie, salad dressings, raw salads, raw side dishes, raw sauces, and steamed vegetables.

Another way of consuming THCA is by taking raw cannabis tinctures and raw cannabis edibles. These products have dosing information; hence, you will know how much THCA and other cannabinoids you consume.

How to Consume THC?

You can smoke THC by dabbing it and loading it into a bowl. Then, use a flame to smoke a dried cured bud under high heat and roll a joint to increase potency.

THC Benefits

High-THC strains are best known for their psychoactive effects. But besides reducing muscle spasms and alleviating sleep, THC has more to offer.

The benefits of THC include:

• Addiction treatment: It is used in addiction treatment options to reduce the motivation to ingest reward-based substances like opioids, heroin, and alcohol, maximizing the chances of completing the opioid treatment program.
• Metabolic output increase: You can use THC to increase the Metabolic Output Increase, which may reduce Body Max Index (BMI), lower diabetes rates, and fight diet-related obesity.
• Vasodilation: THC aids with vasodilation, thus minimizing pain and eye pressure connected to glaucoma.
• Anxiolytic: It acts as an anxiolytic by maximizing anandamide amounts which serve as the natural brain neurotransmitter that controls anxiety.

THCA Benefits

Despite it being in its infancy research stage, THCA may bear potential benefits. Also, its ability to convert to THC under room temperatures challenges experts studying it; however, there are several benefits that THCA possesses. The benefits of THCA include

• Eases pain: Like green tea, garlic, avocado, Greek yogurt, kale, and other superfoods, raw cannabis can help ease arthritis, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia.
• Anti-inflammatory: A Creaky Joint study claims THCA has anti-inflammatory properties that act as pain relief. THCA can also inhibit the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes that cause pain, fever, and inflammation.
• Prevents neurodegenerative diseases: THCA protects you from neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and ALS. In addition, THCA fights against the damaging effects of neurodegenerative diseases.
• Antiemetic: According to an NCBI study, THCA has antiemetic properties. Lower doses of THCA may help ease nausea and vomiting.
• Treats cancer: More benefits of THCA are in its anti-proliferative properties. It can therefore help to treat prostate cancer.
• Reduces Obesity: THCA may help reduce obesity and help with obesity-related diseases like diabetes and fatty liver disease. In addition, it may help correct insulin resistance and glucose intolerance.
• Appetite loss: THCA also treats appetite loss and has antioxidant properties that counteract free radicals’ harmful effects.
• Sleeping Aid: THCA also has potential therapeutic properties. Its therapeutic potential makes it a great sleeping aid.

What is the Best THCA Percentage in a Cannabis Plant?

The cannabis industry hasn’t yet set a standard method of presenting data to cannabis consumers. Therefore, it is challenging to read labels and lab reports.

However, two potency testing methods are available: liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC). These two methods will each give a different potency value for the same cannabis sample because the high temperatures used in GC will decarboxylate most THCA. LC does not require these temperatures.

Therefore, ask your dispensary staff about the potency level, which will give you the desired effects. But, first, let’s look at how each potency testing method works.

Gas Chromatography

GC converts extracted cannabinoids into a gaseous mixture at high temperatures. Then, they are run through a filter of sorts, which measures the diverse levels of cannabinoids. GC method drawbacks include;

• It does not give THCA levels
• It gives varying scores of THCA and THC
• Heat causes more THCA to decarboxylate
• The final test results may underestimate the THC potency
• It can’t tell the difference between THCA and THC. Hence it is not suitable for edibles. Only 70% of THCA converts to THC

Liquid Chromatography

This method works under room temperatures. It is the most efficient method for measuring THC potency levels. LC uses a mathematical formula to determine the THC and THCA potency levels in cannabis consumer strains.

THC total = (THCA%) times 0.877 + (THC%)

For example, with 20% THCA and 4% THC, the THC total will be 20% multiplied by 0.877 + 4% equals 21.5%.

Conclusion

Despite THC being famous, THCA is twice as important. Also, beware cannabis use may cause adverse effects like anxiety, increased heart rate, dry mouth, and paranoia.