THCA FAQs
Find the most frequently asked questions about THCA below.
THCA, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid–specifically Delta-9 THCA, is a naturally occurring cannabinoid in hemp and cannabis (Cannabis sativa) plants. It is the acidic “precursor” to THC and exists primarily in young, freshly harvested cultivars. THCA is non-psychoactive until it converts to THC through non-enzymatic reactions when exposed to heat.
Delta-9 THC and THCA are both tetrahydrocannabinol chemicals with a critical molecular distinction: THCA has a carboxylic acid group on a benzene ring, and THC doesn’t. The extra ring gives THCA a three-dimensional shape and a larger chemical structure. This makes it a crystalline solid while THC is a liquid. When THCA converts to THC, it loses that extra group and becomes the intoxicating compound we all know and love.
THCA shares many of THC’s therapeutic qualities. But the extra carboxyl group in THCA results in different interactions with the human body than THC.
Research shows that THCA has promise for multiple health benefits and medical uses, including: nausea relief, reducing inflammation, reducing chronic pain and much more!