The cannabis industry is growing rapidly because some cannabis products have several health benefits. Some useful cannabis extracts like tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) have anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anti-tumor properties.
While THCA doesn’t have any intoxicating effects, THC is intoxicating. In this article, you will understand THCA, its benefits, different THCA products, and how it’s different from THC.
Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid Explained
Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is a popular cannabis extraction. All of the cannabinoids come from the cannabigerol acid. Cannabigerol Acid (CBGA) is also known as the mother of all cannabinoids.
CBGA converts to three major cannabinoid compounds as the cannabis plant matures. It occurs after it combines with corresponding enzymes. The three major cannabinoid precursor compounds from CBGA are:
- Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCA)
- Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDA)
- Cannabichromenic Acid (CBCA)
Now that you understand what is tetrahydrocannabinolic acid take a look at the difference between THCA and THC.
THCA vs THC
Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid or THCA is not the same as Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THCA converts to THC by the process of decarboxylation. It can be done by heating or any other process that THCA loses its acidic carbonyl to become THC.
One of the major differences between THCA and THC is; one is non-intoxicating while the other is intoxicating. This is the reason why you don’t feel anything when you chew fresh and raw cannabis. On the other hand, you may feel a ‘psychoactive high’ by smoking or vaporizing them because they convert into intoxicating THC. Now, let’s understand what the potential benefits of THCA are.
Benefits of Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCA)
Thanks to THCA because it doesn’t have intoxicating effects like THC. Apart from that, some preliminary studies show that THCA has some therapeutic benefits.
- Treatment of Arthritis: Since THCA has anti-inflammatory properties, it can help in the treatment of arthritis and lupus.
- Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases: THCA can also help in treating various neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease because it has neuroprotective properties.
- Reduce nausea: THCA also helps in reducing nausea because of the anti-emetic properties, and it can also help in appetite loss.
- THCA is also useful for prostate cancer because of its antiproliferative effects.
Apart from these, THCA is also very useful for some common health ailments like muscle pain, insomnia, etc. Although there is no valid scientific research, preliminary studies and anecdotal reports show that THCA has these health benefits. So, how can you consume it? Let’s know about different ways you can take THCA.
How to Consume THCA?
Since THCA converts to THC when exposed to heat, you need to choose a proper way to consume it. If you consume THCA products by smoking or vaping, chances are higher they will convert to THC, and you may feel high. So, here are some effective ways you can consume THCA.
- Raw Cannabis Juice: One of the best ways to ingest THCA into your body is by consuming raw cannabis juice. Since they don’t have any intoxicating effects, cannabis enthusiasts prefer drinking juices of raw cannabis. It has become a trend in some beverage shops. It’s very simple to prepare cannabis juices; it’s similar to any other leafy green juices. So, you can prepare fresh cannabis juice and get all the potential health benefits. Since THCA is not exposed to heat in the process of making juice, you don’t have to worry about its intoxicating effect.
- Cannabis Tea: Do you drink green tea? You can also get the benefits of THCA by adding a few green leaves of cannabis to prepare cannabis tea. Remember, don’t heat cannabis tea to very high temperatures.
- Cannabis Tinctures: Another great way to consume THCA is by taking cannabis tinctures. You will find cannabis tinctures of several brands in the market. You can buy them online or visit cannabis stores. Since the manufacturers label and mention the amount of THCA in these products, you will be aware of how much you have taken into your body.
- Topicals: There are also many THCA infused topicals that you can apply to your skin for reducing inflammation, muscle pain, and other skin problems. However, ensure that you read the product ingredients before purchasing them.
With the rising demand for cannabis products, manufacturers are coming with innovative ideas to meet consumer needs. Apart from the above, there are other cannabis products available such as cannabis spray, gummies, chocolates, pills, etc. So, ensure that you read the ingredients before buying from any store. Now, let’s know about the legal status of THCA.
Side Effects of THCA
Although everyone may not get the same side effects after consuming THCA or using any cannabis products, here are some possible effects:
- Your social behavior may slightly change after consuming THCA.
- You may feel dizzy and lightheaded.
- It can cause headaches.
- THCA may also cause a decrease in memory and cognitive ability.
- You may feel paranoid and become suspicious.
- It can cause dry mouth, throat irritation, and cough.
Apart from these common side effects, you may also vomit after consuming THCA. So, you should stop consuming any cannabis products if you observe any of these effects in your body. Moreover, don’t use any cannabis products with other medications without consulting your doctor. Since there is not much scientific research and evidence supporting THCA, so you should be careful before consuming any cannabis products.
Is Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCA) Legal?
Even though it is not mentioned that Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid is illegal, however, the compound THC is not legal by the federal government. Cannabis products that have less than 0.3% THC are legal according to the Farm Bill passed in 2018. So, you should ensure before purchasing a cannabis product that it doesn’t contain more than 0.3% THC.
Final Words
I hope the above article has helped you to get some insights into Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCA). Even if it’s not intoxicating, you should consult your doctor before consuming any cannabis products. Lastly, don’t forget to share your opinion on this post in the comments section.
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