What is THCA

By James Smith | November 13, 2023
What is THCA - Discount Vape Pen

What is THCA?

THCa, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is a fascinating compound found in the cannabis plant. It’s a precursor to the well-known Delta-9 THC, the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana or hemp plants. In its raw, unheated form, THCa isn’t psychoactive, which might be a surprise to some. But when you heat THCA – It becomes THC!

When you pick or harvest a cannabis plant, it doesn’t contain Delta-9-THC, at least not in significant quantities. Instead, it’s filled with THCa. It’s only when the plant is exposed to heat, like through smoking, vaping, or cooking, that THCa undergoes a process called decarboxylation. This means a carboxyl group (that “A” in THCa) is removed, transforming it into the familiar Delta-9-THC, which is psychoactive and responsible for getting “high”.

The chemical reaction of heating THCA turns it into THC, through decarboxylation. So if you load up THCA into a vape or a joint – The output that you will be inhaling is THC!

THCa is gaining attention for its potential therapeutic properties. It’s essential to note that un-heated THCa-rich products, like raw cannabis or THCa tinctures, aren’t a guaranteed ticket to a psychoactive experience. Since no decarboxylation takes places – Consuming un-heated THCa might provide some medicinal benefits, but without the high!

Pssst… You might enjoy our article The Truth About THCA. In this we reveal an open industry secret: Your marijuana dispensary is overcharging you! Since THCA becomes THC when it’s heated, you don’t need to purchase expensive THC from a dispensary to get high!

What are the Benefits of THCA?

Most methods of consuming cannabis, such as smoking, vaping, or cooking, involve heating or burning marijuana. As a result, the majority of the THCA in cannabis will have been decarboxylated into THC by the time it enters your system. Consuming un-heated THCa on the other hand, such as edibles, won’t be decarboxylated into THC.

The positive side effects of THCA can include a subtle high, sleep support, and an improved mood. Here’s a list of the potential benefits of THCA;

  • Subtle High: If you heat up your THCA, you will likely feel ‘stoned’ like when you inhale THC. This might give you a mild buzz, like a soft and comforting blanket for your brain.
  • Mood Booster: Some folks say THCa has mood-lifting qualities. It’s like a little sprinkle of happiness for your brain.
  • Nausea Ninja: Feeling queasy? THCa can help settle your stomach, just like a friendly bartender with a magic potion.
  • Anti-Spasm Sidekick: For muscle spasms and tremors, THCa can be your trusty sidekick. It’s like a calming buddy for your muscles.
  • Appetite Regulator: If you’re not eating enough, THCa might give your appetite a gentle nudge. It’s like a polite way of saying, “Hey, time to munch!”
  • Sleep Support: If you’re tossing and turning, THCa could help you catch some Zzzs. It’s like a lullaby for your restless mind.

Just remember, THCa isn’t a one-size-fits-all compound, and its effects can vary from person to person.

Potential side effects of THCA

The side effects of THCA can include nausea, headaches and unknown side effects. Here’s a list of the potential side effects of THCA;

  • Nausea: THCA might make your stomach do a little flip-flop. If you’ve got a sensitive tummy, it could be a buzzkill.
  • Headaches: Some folks report getting headaches after using THCA. It’s like your brain’s saying, “Hey, what’s going on here?”
  • Lack of Research: The science on THCA isn’t as extensive as its THC cousin, so we’re still uncovering all its secrets. That means there might be other side effects we don’t know about yet.
  • Appetite Stimulation: If you’re not into the munchies, THCA might not be your best buddy.

Compare THCA with Delta 8, Delta 9 + Delta 10

Delta 8 Delta 9 Delta 10 THCA
• Milder high than Δ9 • Strongest psychoactive high • Balanced, subtle high • Becomes Δ9 THC when heated
• Improved mood • Most potent THC type • Gentle energizing buzz • Mood boosting
• Creativity boost • Altered sensory perception • Feelings of clarity • Munchie inducing
• Reduced anxiety • Euphoria + relaxation • Social ease • Sleep support
• Relaxation aid • Can trigger paranoia • Reduced anxiety • Settles spasms
• About Δ8 THC • About Δ9 THC • About Δ10 THC • Subtle high

How is THCA taken?

THCA can be consumed in a variety of ways. It can be smoked in blunts or joints, vaped in disposable weed pens or oil cartridges, or eaten in edibles and gummies. Explore our full THCA range here, or see which method will suit you best;

THCA PreRolls

If you’re a purist, you might want your THCA rolled into a joint or pre-roll blunt. Light it up like Bob Marley used to. Smoking a blunt is one of the oldest and most well-known ways to ingest your THCA – Just spark up and inhale!

Smoking can be harsher on your lungs than vaping, and since there is combustion involved, there are many well documented health-risks associated with smoking, too. The smoke will have that sticky-icky smell to it, so it isn’t a discreet or stealthy method. But if you’re with friends, a social puff-puff-pass can be great fun! Buy THCA PreRolls here.

THCA Flower

Premium ThcA hemp flower is best enjoyed using a dry herb vape. You can even attach your vape to water pipe for water-cooled, milky hits. Or if you prefer to smoke, you can roll your flower up in a blunt wrap or cone!

To get the most out of your flower, use a grinder to achieve a nice even finish and smooth experience. There are a whole range of strains and flavors to explore – Buy THCA Flower here!

THCA Disposable Weed Pens

Disposable weed pens contain a THCA distillate oil, which you vape. Vaping your THCA oil is easier on your lungs than smoking, since no combustion is involved. So rather than inhaling smoke, you’re inhaling vapor. The effects are fast-acting with vaping. Weed pens are available in a whole range of juicy flavors, strains, and device colors and designs. The devices themselves are usually sleek, small and easy to conceal.

Disposable weed pens are extremely convenient. They come pre-filled, charged and ready-to-use. You take a puff whenever you want, and when you run out of oil, you simply buy a replacement. The drawback is that each time you dispose of a used weed pen, a battery is thrown in the trash. Buy THCA Weed Pens here.

THCA Vape Cartridges

Vape cartridges are tanks that come pre-filled with THCA oil. They have a mouthpiece at one end, and a 510 threaded screw piece at the other end. To vape your cart – Simply screw the cartridge into a 510 cart battery which delivers the power to heat the oil in your cartridge, converting it to vapor which you inhale. The effects of THCA are fast-acting with vaping.

Vaping using a cart battery gives you much more control over the strength, potency, and flavor of your vapor. You can also explore device designs, battery life, and clever features like digital display screens. As well as pre-filled THCA carts, you can also buy empty vape cartridges and fill them with oil yourself!

THCA Edibles

If you want to spare your lungs the effects of smoking or vaping – Then edibles are for you. Simply pop an edible in your mouth, chew and swallow. Simple! They come in a variety of juicy flavors, and taste absolutely wonderful.

Since edibles will be tested to an extremely accurate strength value – it makes precision dosing simple. But note the effects will take longer to hit you than smoking or vaping THCA. Since you aren’t heating the THCA, it won’t be converted into THC either. So make sure you are patient. It’s easy to get impatient and take too many, especially since gummies taste so good. So be careful and don’t overdo it! Buy THCA Edibles here.

Related Articles:

We hope you enjoyed the final post in our series! If you want to learn more about other THC strains, explore the articles below!

 

James Smith - Author at Discount Vape PenWritten by James Smith

James is our Head of Vaping Community. He’s a crucial part of Discount Vape Pen team – he listens to our customers and acts as the voice of the people. James is a proud advocate of CASAA, and is a top online contributor on the Vaporents subreddit – Which is Reddit’s largest flower vaping community.

Away from his keyboard – James will be listening to EDM music or walking his dog, Winnie! Meet all our Discount Vape Pen Authors here.

Posted in About THC, General Questions, Learning Center