What Is THCA: Is It the Same as THC?

THCA is a chemical compound in cannabis that doesn’t actually get you high. It can eventually get you high, though, if you apply 200 to 290 °F (93 to 143 °C) worth of heat to it. We’ll teach you everything you need to know about THCA, so you can decide if it’s a good fit for your medicinal or recreational cannabis line-up.

Does THCA produce a high?

No, THCA does not produce a high on its own like THC (the psychoactive compound in marijuana) does. To get high from THCA, you’d need to heat it up in some way (like vaping or smoking it), which turns the THCA into THC (specifically, Delta-9).

Section 1 of 10:

Can THCA get you high?

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THCA doesn’t get you high or cause intoxication like marijuana. After being heated, THCA will turn into THC and then have the ability to get you high—but it won’t make you feel high in its raw form. However, raw THCA or a THCA edible may still show up on a drug test and appear as marijuana.^{[1]
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- Although not used for intoxication, many people use THCA to relieve inflammation, nausea, and pain, as well as arthritis and seizure symptoms.

Section 2 of 10:

What is THCA?

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THCA is a chemical compound (cannabinoid) found in cannabis. You might be familiar with tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC, which is the cannabinoid that gives marijuana its characteristic high.^{[2]
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Research source} THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) is the cannabinoid that comes a chemical step ahead of THC—or, rather, THCA transforms into Delta-9 THC when it’s decarboxylated (smoked, vaped, or otherwise heated up).^{[3]
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- The decarboxylation process happens within a specific temperature range; typically, 200 to 290 °F (93 to 143 °C).

Section 3 of 10:

What forms does THCA come in?

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THCA comes in various forms, like flower, crystals, and more. THCA comes in all shapes and sizes, including traditional cannabis buds (flower). You can also buy it in crystallized form, or even as a patch that’s applied directly to your skin (without any psychoactive side effects). You can also shop THCA products like:
- Gummies
- Carts
- Joints
- Waxes
- Did you know? Some weed enthusiasts use crystallized THCA in addition to the THC-potent wax that’s typically used in a dab.^{[4]
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Section 4 of 10:

THCA vs. THC

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When you think of a really strong cannabis high, you’re probably envisioning Delta-9—this is the compound that really takes your mind to new levels.^{[5]
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Research source} THCA, on the other hand, isn’t psychoactive, and doesn’t give you that type of high.^{[6]
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Delta-8 provides a less obvious high. While Delta-8 creates a noticeable high as well, it definitely isn’t as strong as Delta-9.^{[7]
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Research source} We can thank hemp-based CBD for a lot of the Delta-8 products on the market.^{[8]
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- This is different from THCA, which isn’t psychoactive on its own.

Section 5 of 10:

THCA Benefits

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Yes, THCA is believed to have potential benefits, like helping with nausea. While more research needs to be conducted, several studies still point to some helpful qualities that THCA could potentially offer, like:
- Aiding with nausea and vomiting^{[9]
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- Offering treatment possibilities for Alzheimer’s^{[10]
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- Providing neuroprotective benefits^{[11]
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- Having cancer-fighting benefits^{[12]
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Section 6 of 10:

THCA Side Effects

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As long as the “A” is still part of the name, THCA won’t be getting you high like THC would.^{[13]
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Go to source} Because of this, THCA can be a user-friendly cannabis option for people who are looking to reap the rewards of THCA without the altered headspace that typically comes with THC.^{[14]
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THCA does have psychoactive side effects when smoked. If you smoke, vape, or otherwise heat up your THCA, it’ll turn into THC.^{[15]
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Go to source} This means you can expect the typical side effects you’d get from traditional THC, like:
- Enhanced senses
- Adjusted perception of time
- Relaxation
- Happiness
- Delayed reactions
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Anxiety
- Paranoia^{[16]
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Section 7 of 10:

THCA Dangers

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In one study, researchers found that people who consumed over-the-counter hemp seed oil were at risk for being flagged in a urine test.^{[17]
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Research source} While this study doesn’t pertain to THCA specifically, it does suggest that other non-THC cannabinoids (like THCA) could also cause issues during a drug test.^{[18]
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Most cannabis products are unregulated, including THCA. The FDA-approved cannabis product is Epidiolex, a seizure drug made with a form of CBD. No other cannabis products (including THCA products) are regulated by the FDA, which is important to consider when it comes to your own personal consumption.^{[19]
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- Since THCA products don’t fall under the FDA’s purview, it’s hard to know how they manufactured (e.g., ingredient quality, exact potency) and if they got contaminated somewhere along the way. That’s why it’s super important to only buy products from dispensaries and sellers that you completely trust.

Section 8 of 10:

Is THCA legal?

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Yes, as long as the THC content in the weed is less than 0.3%. When push comes to shove, marijuana laws ultimately depend on the state you live in—but THCA, being non-psychoactive and different from THC, can be addressed with the federal Hemp Farming Act of 2018. This Act states that hemp with less than 0.3% THC can be excluded from the Controlled Substances Act (like THC-potent cannabis).^{[20]
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- Hemp is a type of cannabis (same as marijuana) with a lower concentration of THC.^{[21]
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Section 9 of 10:

The Science Behind THCA, Delta-8, and Delta-9

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THCA’s molecular structure prevents you from getting high. If you were to look at a really zoomed-in picture of a THCA molecule versus a THC molecule, they’d look almost identical, but the THCA one would be a little bit bigger. This larger THCA molecule can’t properly sync up with the brain’s CB1 receptor like the THC molecule does—in other words, it doesn’t get you high.^{[22]
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- Your CB1 receptor is the component that really processes cannabis and its effects within the brain. This is different from your body’s CB2 receptor, which is based more in your body’s immune system.^{[23]
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- Did you know? The number in Delta-8 vs. Delta-9 corresponds with where the molecule’s double-bond can be located from a chemical standpoint. With Delta-8, this specific double-bond can be located on the 8th carbon atom of the molecule; with Delta-9, it can be located on the 9th.^{[24]
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Section 10 of 10:

FAQs

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Yes, it’s possible to become addicted to cannabis products (like THCA). Slightly less than 10% of people get addicted to cannabis, though this risk increases for people who started using cannabis at a young age or who use it regularly.^{[25]
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THCA can be dangerous if you aren’t being careful and mindful when you use it (especially while smoking or vaping). For instance, cannabis products like THCA can be dangerous if you start driving while high, since the symptoms of being high can impact your ability to drive safely.^{[26]
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Yes, THCA turns into Delta-9 when it’s smoked, vaped, or otherwise heated.^{[27]
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