What Is THC-A?
Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is the non-psychoactive parent cannabinoid of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. THCA is abundant in any fresh, raw, and living cannabis plant. After consuming weed, we are left with THCA as we metabolize larger THC molecules. It is also the main cannabinoid found in hashish (a concentrated THC resin produced from the flowers of the cannabis plant) and Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), a medicated subdural oil derived from cannabis. Here are some additional details regarding THCA:
Chemical and Physical Properties
Chemical Structure:
C22H30O4 (THCA)
THCA is the carboxylic acid form of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.
Stability: THCA is unstable at high temperatures because heat can easily cause it to undergo decarboxylation, which removes a carboxyl group and converts it to THC.
Solubility: Badly soluble in water, but soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol and butane.
Biosynthesis and Occurrence
Biochemistry: the active ingredient is produced in the trichomes (glandular hairs) of the plant by THCA synthase, which detaches the carboxylic acid from cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) to form THCA.
Natural Occurrence Perhaps the most prevalent form of the cannabinoid acid is tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, better known as THCA. You can find THCA in living cannabis plants. The living plant itself has very low concentrations of THCA – this cannabinoid acid is most concentrated in the flowering tops of female cannabis plants grown for their buds. These tops have the highest possible content of THCA before they are dried and cured.
Effects and Uses
Non-psychoactive: THCA doesn’t have psychoactive effects because it doesn’t bind very well in that form to the CB1 receptors in the brain.
Medicinal prospects: Some studies suggest it could have therapeutic value, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-emetic (anti-nausea) and neuroprotective, and even antiproliferative effects (although this evidence is much less established, and larger-scale clinical studies are needed to realize these benefits).
How to consume it: THCA can be consumed raw using a variety of methods: juicing raw cannabis, taking THCA tinctures, or using other forms of non-heat methods.
Decarboxylation
Process: To turn THCA into THC – the psychoactive cannabinoid we know and love – one needs to apply heat to decarboxylate the THCA when you smoke, vape, or cook with it.
Temperature and Time: Decarboxylation =/220-240°F (104-116°C) 30-45 minutes Higher temperatures = faster, but also more degradation of some cannabinoids/terpenes.
Health and Safety
Raw Consumption: THCA is non-toxic and non-intoxicating when consumed Raw, as seen in most green juice therapies, but this method is risky and therefore cannot be recommended. Again, it is best practiced under the guidance of a healthcare practitioner and solely for therapeutic purposes.
Regulation and Testing In some states, cannabis products are tested for their THCA content, which can be converted to THC to estimate their maximum potency.
Legal Status: THCA’s legality varies by region. It is often regulated by the same laws that govern THC and cannabis as a whole – in some jurisdictions, high-THCA raw cannabis products could be legal to consume, while in other jurisdictions, it is regulated like cannabis.
Conclusion
THCA is therefore one of the most important cannabinoids – yet also the least well-understood of the four major cannabis alkaloids. Cannabis users and researchers alike need to keep up to date with what we know about THCA, how it is converted to THC, and why it doesn’t produce psychotropic effects. In the meantime, THCA is likely to gain a more substantial role in the medicinal cannabis armamentarium.
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