Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or THC, is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in raw cannabis buds. Since THCA does not bind to cannabinoid receptors like THC does, ingesting raw THC will not result in any kind of psychoactive effects.
Simultaneously, when heated, raw THCA can transform into THC with psychoactive effects; this process is known as decarboxylation, which changes THC-A into THC. This process, which naturally occurs more slowly as marijuana plants develop and dry out, or more quickly when a raw hemp plant is heated via vaping or smoking, removes a specific carboxyl compound from raw THCA.
THC-A: What is it?
In addition to the cannabinoid indicated in the introduction, raw cannabis plants naturally contain tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or THC-A.to other cannabis compounds like CBD and THC. Unlike THCA, THC exhibits distinct psychoactive effects when consumed raw.
Commonly reported psychoactive effects of THC include euphoria accompanied by mental elevation, relaxation, and stimulation. Eating fresh or undried THCA flowers does not result in euphoric effects from tetrahydrocannabinolic acid.
On the other hand, users enjoy strong effects since THCA is converted to THC during the decarboxylation process. Because of its possible therapeutic advantages, THC-A is more intriguing nowadays. According to early studies, THC-A possesses a variety of antiemetic, anticonvulsant, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory qualities.
Accordingly, those who smoke THCA or consume it in various ways may find it helpful for a variety of ailments, including as individuals who have inflammatory and neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, particularly when ingesting Mr. Hemp Flower Lab-Tested Products that have a high THCA content, however further study is required.
Can you get high off THC-A?
Still, the key question is: does THCA make you feel high? We must investigate the nature of THCA in order to determine if ingesting it causes you to experience psychedelic qualities. As was previously noted, THC-A may be found in a wide range of cannabis products at varying quantities and forms. High-potency THC is thought to have originated from this acidic precursor.
Since the cannabinoid’s chemical structure prevents it from binding to the many CB1 receptors found throughout the brain, THCA isolate is not psychoactive in its natural state. THCA is changed into THC by the decarboxylation process, which is the process of eliminating the carboxyl bond from the native molecular structure of THC-A, commonly by using various heating methods.
The same process may also occur naturally as raw cannabis matures and dries, resulting in a product that has a high THCA content yet heats up to pure THC.
Different interactions between THC-A and THC result in “high” feelings as THC interacts with the receptor system. The basic line is that while THCA does not produce a “high” when vaporized, cooked, or smoked, it does produce THC, which is the psychoactive compound that produces the “high” sensation.
THC-A Forms
This leads us to distinct versions of THC-A that give advantages even if THC-A in its native condition is non-psychoactive. The plant’s actual flower THCA is found in its most natural form as a cannabinoid found in hemp flowers and marijuana plants itself.
Because of its relatively high THCA concentration, fresh and undried marijuana is chosen by people seeking the medicinal effects of THCA. THCA has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects; hence, those who take it as a raw dietary supplement typically use fresh cannabis plants.
Since heating THC-A by vaping or smoking starts its conversion to THC, ingesting TCHA in this manner also guarantees the best possible preservation of THC-A.
A Patch
Transdermal patches are a popular choice for THC-A users. These particular goods are made with precision to allow for accurate dose management by supplying the bloodstream with a continuous and reliable dosage of THCA for a longer duration.
This kind of consumption bypasses the digestive system and delivers THCA directly to the bloodstream, where it typically has therapeutic benefits more quickly. Furthermore, since there is no heating involved in this process, it guarantees that no THCA turns into THC.
Diamond Crystals
Those who want to use THCA for whatever purpose can also obtain it in the form of THC-A diamond crystals, which are typically thought of as the purest form of the drug. The production of THC-A diamond crystals involves a special extraction procedure designed to separate THCA from the unprocessed plant material.
The end product has a crystalline structure like tiny diamonds. Diamond crystals of THC-A can be rubbed or smoked, THCA is transformed into its psychoactive relative, THC, when ingested in this manner.
Decarbing THC-A
A straightforward chemical procedure known as “decarboxylation” tries to convert the inactive molecule THC-A into THC. Having said that, if you want to feel “high,” decarboxylation is a crucial component of the THC-A experience.
Smoking
The most popular technique for decarboxylation is still smoking. Burning marijuana releases its natural THCa content, which is quickly transformed into THC by the high heat.
The desirable effects of THC are felt by users as the process unfolds on its own. More precisely, during combustion, users inhale THC, which often causes effects to manifest quite rapidly.
Vaping
By vaping marijuana at a little lower temperature than smoking it, combustion byproducts are eliminated. Vaping may be more effective for certain people as it generates vapor rather than smoke.
Effectively converting THCA to its psychotropic relative, vaping also makes taste customization possible because many vape devices have temperature settings that vary greatly.
Dabbing
Converting THCA to THC is another well-liked decarboxylation process that entails vaporizing various concentrates over a heated surface, depending on your own sensitivity. Dab pens are known to provide stronger THC effects since THCA concentrates are usually stronger.
Furthermore, dabbing has a rather short impact onset time, enabling the more seasoned customers to favor this approach.
Baking
Baking is another well-liked decarboxylation technique, and it’s utilized to create cannabis-infused edibles. First, the cannabis is heated slowly in an oven for a longer amount of time at a low temperature.
More precisely, it is usually heated for forty minutes at 220–245°F (104–118°C) to facilitate the conversion of THC-A to THC without causing any harm to the plant material.