What is THCA?

 

THCA stands for tetrahydrocannabinolic acid and it is the precursor to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). When cannabis is growing it makes cannabinoids as carboxylic acids that most often convert into non-acidic compounds through a process called decarboxylation. Almost all cannabinoids start off in their acidic form which have differing structures and effects than that of their non-acidic versions.

THCA, although abundant in fresh cannabis, is unstable under controlled storage conditions and when exposed to light and/or heat it readily decarboxylates into THC. In fact, one THCA study found that “THCA decarboxylates even when stored between 4 and 18ºC (39-64ºF) so THC contamination in THCA is nearly unavoidable.” This THC contamination even among pure extracts is what makes lab results based only on THCA so difficult to determine.

What Does THCA Do?

THCA is considered non-psychoactive meaning you do not experience a “high” when imbibing it. This is due to the fact that THCA does not bind to CB1 receptors, the receptors that have a high binding affinity for THC.  In fact, THCA research has shown that THCA does not seem to bind much to either of the two major cannabinoid receptors.