What is THCA?
Consider yourself a bit of a THC expert?… How about THCA? The two are intertwined so you’ll add to your understanding of the former by learning about the latter. Allow us to give you a quick breakdown of tetrahydrocannabinol’s precursor: THCA. Here’s everything you need to know.
What is THCA?
Put most simply, THCA is raw cannabis. It is an inert compound and the acidic form of THC.
THCA transforms into THC when exposed to light, heat, or even time (if you want to get fancy with your terms, it’s a process called “decarboxylation”). Decarboxylation will make the cannabinoids active and ensure you gain the plant’s full benefits — but it will also activate the psychoactive properties for which THC is known. That said, some preclinical research (like this study done in 2020) seem optimistic of THCA’s helpfulness in treating inflammation. Others claim it as a nutrient rich superfood teaming with vitamins, minerals, and healthy fatty acids (Omega 3&6).
More research needs to be done before we can be certain of THCA’s other benefits.
Is THCA Legal?
Though the government has not currently listed THCA under the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) controlled substances, it might be considered an analog of THC (in which case, possession of it would be prosecuted under the Federal Analogue Act). Tread carefully.
Is THCA Psychoactive?
No. As mentioned earlier, THCA will not get you high… That said, decarboxylated THC is psychoactive. THCA becomes THC when the plant material is exposed to light or heat. (For example, smoking or vaping THCA will convert it into THC.) THCA can even convert if left at room temperature given enough time.
Does THCA Interact with Medication?
There hasn’t been much research done on how THCA interacts with other medications or vitamins. However, there are definitely a number of crossovers between how they interact with THC and CBD.
There have been found a number of medications that interact with CBD. This doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t be taken together. It just means you’ll need to adjust the dosages of each substance with the help of medical professional for best results and a lessened possibility of side effects.
In our article on how CBD interacts with medications, we list some of the more common drugs to be mindful of:
- Antidepressants (like Fluoxetine and Prozac)
- Arthritis medication (like methotrexate or most other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs called NSAIDs)
- Medications causing drowsiness (like antipsychotics and benzodiazepines)
- Antibiotics (like erythromycin or clarithromycin)
- Antihistamine
- Heart medications (some calcium channel blockers, amiodarone)
- Blood thinners (like warfarin)
- Thyroid medication (levothyroxine)
- Several seizure medications (including clobazam, lamotrigine, and valproate)
- Erectile dysfunction
- And a few others
For this reason, we recommend reaching out to a healthcare professional before taking THCA with anything else (in fact, you should really do this whenever you take more than one medication of any kind).
How can I take THCA without it converting to THC?
You can also switch out your kale for THCA and give raw cannabis juicing a try. THCA juicing seems to be a largely popular way to consume the plant and it’s gaining traction at cafes. (If you want to make it at home, we’re a fan of this “Good Morning Green Monster” recipe).
THCA can also be found in raw cannabis tinctures and transdermal patches.
One Final Note: Although we strive to provide you with accurate information, we are not infallible. We hope you will consider this your starting point in your research on understanding THCA. To stay educated and informed, we encourage you to find more resources and experts on the subject as new studies continue to come out.
