What is THCA? Benefits, Uses, and More

If you’re familiar with cannabis, you’ve likely heard of THC, the active cannabinoid responsible for many of the effects the plant and its products may have on the body and mind. When it comes to THC — and other cannabinoids — one little letter can make all the difference.

Look closely at a product label or lab test results, and you’ll see “THCA” (or THC-A) listed. This is the precursor to THC, and without THCA, there is no THC. The THCA content of a product can tell you a lot about what you may experience; plus, THCA may have some effects on its own.

Exploring THCA

THCA, short for Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is the acidic precursor to the active cannabinoid THC. It’s how THC exists in the cannabis plant as it grows and once it’s harvested.

Every cannabinoid has an acidic precursor, which is the compound’s state before exposure to heat. Cannabigerol (CBG) has CBGA, Cannabichromene (CBC) has CBCA, and Cannabidiol (CBD) has CBDA, just to name a few examples.

Here’s a closer look at how THCA works and its relationship to THC.

Does THCA get you high?

When you ingest THCA, it does not produce any psychoactive or intoxicating effects. This is why consuming cannabis flower directly is not effective; it typically won't have the desired impact. However, THCA can convert into active THC, and consuming THC will result in a high.

THCA vs THC: How one turns into the other

THCA converts to THC when exposed to heat. All acidic cannabinoids are activated by heating them in some form, whether with a dry herb vaporizer or through making edible products. This process is known as “decarboxylation.” In the case of making edibles, decarboxylation is a deliberate part of the process.

For example, when making infused cannabis products on a small scale like you might at home, you’ll heat ground cannabis flower at low temperatures over long periods of time. This process converts the THCA content to THC.

On a chemical level, the difference between THCA and THC is a carboxylic acid group attached to the THCA molecule. This carboxylic acid group is not present in activated THC, hence the term “decarboxylation.”

THCA benefits: What the research says so far

So far, THCA has primarily been used in animal studies. The results of these studies may or may not translate to humans, which is why more research is needed. However, these studies provide insight into how THCA works in other mammals and how it may benefit humans.

• Pain relieving properties: THCA may offer effective pain relief in a number of ways. One study exploring THCA’s effects on human cells in vitro and in mice in vivo found the cannabinoid capable of “preventing the infiltration of inflammatory cells … and cartilage damage.” This led researchers to determine THCA could hold “potential for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.” Other studies have observed THCA’s anti-inflammatory potential, which may also reduce aches and pains throughout the body.
• Neuroprotective properties: An in vivo study exploring the effects of six cannabinoids on mice intoxicated by a particular mycotoxin found that THCA may offer neuroprotective properties. The results led researchers to conclude that the compound “is worth considering for the treatment of Huntington's disease and possibly other neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases.”
• Anti-nausea and vomiting properties: An in vivo study exploring the anti-nausea potential of THC and THCA in rats and shrews found “THCA may be a more potent alternative to THC in the treatment of nausea and vomiting.”
• Anti-convulsant properties: An in vivo study exploring the anti-convulsant potential of THCA in mice found that, when present alongside THC, THCA may act as an anti-convulsant that could prevent seizures. However, researchers noted that when THCA or THC were present alone, they may act as a pro-convulsant, which stimulates the nervous system. This could possibly worsen seizures. More research is needed to understand how these compounds mediate these effects

Scientific research into THCA remains limited and ongoing. These findings are subject to further testing, both in animals and humans.

Which cannabis products contain THCA?

Many cannabis products contain some THCA, though based on how you consume them, you’re most likely consuming the THCA content as THC. Here are some products you may encounter with THCA on the label and how they’re typically consumed.

• Flower: Cannabis flower naturally contains THCA, generally in much higher concentrates than active THC. However, once you smoke or vape flower, the THCA largely converts to THC.
• Concentrates: Badder, sugar, wax, and many other types of concentrates contain THCA. Diamonds are particularly notable, though, because they’re nearly pure THCA, averaging around 99% THCA content. Once vaporized or dabbed, the THCA in diamonds converts to THC, making diamonds one of the most potent cannabis products on the market.
• Edibles: Edibles contain activated THC, which is why they work when orally ingested. However, they may sometimes contain a little bit of THCA. Check the label of, or test results for, the specific product for more information.
• Tinctures: Like edibles, tinctures contain activated THC but may also include THCA. Tinctures that include THC will make you feel heady and cerebral, whereas those that only include THCA likely will not.
• Topicals: You may also encounter THCA-infused topicals for localized relief to specific areas. You may also find THCA transdermal patches, which deliver cannabinoids to the bloodstream over time without causing noticeable intoxicating effects like a THC transdermal patch would.

What does it mean when a product label lists THCA?

To determine how much THCA is in a product, check the label. You'll see the amount of THCA the item contains written out, which gives you a rough idea of how much THC it may contain when you consume it.

Not all THCA will convert to THC, though. Generally, the estimated amount that will convert during consumption is 87.7% of the total THCA content. For example, if a pre-roll label says the product contains 220 milligrams of THCA (or 22% THCA for a 1-gram pre-roll), you can expect it to convert to about 192 mg THC, or 19.2% THC content.

At licensed dispensaries like Curaleaf, all our products are labeled with the cannabinoid content the item contains. If you want to drill down deeper into what compounds are in your cannabis, you can check out the Certificate of Analysis (COA) provided by the laboratory that tests the products before they’re sold.

Find the right THCA product at Curaleaf

When you shop at a Curaleaf dispensary, you gain access to deep knowledge and first-hand experiences that help you make educated decisions about cannabis. No question is off-limits to our staff, whether you’re curious about THCA or already know your canna-ABCs. You’ll find us in 14 states, so head to our dispensary locator to find the most convenient Curaleaf.