Tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCA, 2-COOH-THC; tetrahydrocannabinol ester conjugate) is the precursor of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the active ingredient in cannabis. In the cannabis plant, THCA is the acidic precursor of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). As the cannabis plant ages or undergoes various decarboxylation methods, THCA will slowly be converted into THC. Eventually, when the cannabis flower goes through a process called decarboxylation, most of the THCA is converted to THC.
If the plants are allowed to dry, or the process is accelerated and heat is used, THCA will slowly be converted to THC. In order to produce THC, hemp plant material must be exposed to heat or some other driving force that can initiate thermal decarboxylation, during which THCA loses its acidic carbonyl group and becomes THC. Or, when exposed to high temperature and sunlight, THCa will also be converted to THC. Another way to convert THCa to THC is to preserve the plant; hemp is processed to convert THCa to THC and dried to promote combustion, thereby releasing the remaining THCa as THC.
THCA is not only more effective in treating nausea and vomiting but it can also be done without the psychological effects of THC. In recent years, THCA has become more and more popular due to its different health benefits from THC or even CBD. Review the information below to better understand THCA. Although research on THCA and its health benefits is still in the early stages of development, from the data collected in recent years, there is strong evidence that THCA is a key part of cannabis-related drugs, and the industry is making great strides. forward.
Research has shown THCA is effective in treating a variety of symptoms and conditions. THCA (along with other cannabinoids such as CBD and THC) has been shown to be effective anti-inflammatory agents, especially in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. Indeed, the researchers believe that “THCA, not CBD, should be used in non-psychoactive treatments for IBD,” and concluded that the cannabinoid may have important medical uses in the future.
A 2014 study even showed that COX-2 inhibitors (such as THCA) may increase the medical potential of psychoactive THC treatment. A 2012 study found that THCA has neuroprotective effects on neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. A study in 2020 found that THCA and CBDA (cannabidiol acid) can effectively reduce nausea caused by chemotherapy in mice. A study showed that THCA and unheated cannabis extracts have immunomodulatory effects, and their effects are not mediated through pathways related to the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors (such as THC).
A 2008 study published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapy found that both THC and THCA are potent triggers of a cellular receptor called TRPA1. Although research is limited, research suggests that THCA may indirectly affect THC-like endocannabinoid receptors. Scientists have found that THCA, like other cannabinoids, mimics the effects of the body’s natural endocannabinoids, which help calm inflammation.
Although most cannabis research has focused on psychoactive THC, there is growing evidence that THC itself may have important medicinal properties. Psychoactive THC may have a higher reputation, but it is wrong to ignore the potential of the original THCA.
The THCA molecule comes from another cannabidiol, cannabidiol. THCA is a unique compound because not only does it have no psychoactive and medical benefits, but it is also the acidic form of THC found in untreated cannabis plants.
This is important because raw cannabis is rich in compounds called cannabinoid acids, including THCA and CBDA, which are actually non-psychoactive precursors of the THC and CBD cannabinoids. THCA is found in varying amounts in fresh and non-dried cannabis but gradually decarboxylates to THC when dried, especially when heated intensely, such as when cannabis is smoked or prepared in cannabis food. THCA is rarely used directly, but its presence is usually verified when testing cannabis or hemp products for THC; some countries require measurements on these screens.
As the name suggests, THCA is closely related to THC but lacks the psychoactive properties of its more famous relatives. THCA is a non-psychoactive precursor of THC, which means it will not excite you. In general, THC is the degradation of THCA and will not cause psychoactive effects until it is heated by decarboxylation. Although research on cannabinoid acids, including THCA, is still in its infancy, there is evidence that they can help relieve certain symptoms.
A new study by Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research also shows that when taken at the same time or with THC or CBD, THCA may increase the absorption of orally ingested cannabinoids. THCA is not euphoric; unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), it has no psychoactive properties at all.
This is because THCA is a precursor to THC, just one step in the process of converting it into its final form. THCA is a precursor acid for THC: it is converted to THC by decarboxylation (heat exposure). THCA is actually a non-toxic substance that does not induce the psychoactive effects associated with THC, the compound THCA converts into when heated.
So whether it’s baking your favorite foods in the oven or smoking flowers with a lighter and pipe or joint, heating THCA turns it into THC, giving you psychoactive effects. Cannabis is capable of producing an intoxicating effect when used because the most common methods of consuming cannabis – smoking, vaporizing, cooking for food, or extraction to form a concentrate – are effective enough to initiate this process and convert THCA into the most intoxicating THC.
Since THCA is the precursor of THC, THCA is still an important cannabinoid when calculating the potency of cannabis strains, even though THCA itself is not intoxicating. But unheated THC is called THCA, it comes from the unprocessed hemp plant, does not bring you high calories, but can provide many health benefits. You won’t get high scores from raw cannabis plants because THCA has not yet been converted into THC.
THCA is produced in trichomes, which are tiny glandular hairs on the surface of cannabis plants. THCA is produced in plants along with many other cannabinoids. All THC in the cannabis plant starts with THCA; it is converted to THC when heated to decarboxylate. Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid or THCa is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that is present in raw and live cannabis, and actually has a very low content in living plants.
However, the vast majority are unaware that THC is actually found in its acidic form, THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), in the cannabis plant. In fact, when the cannabis is dried and finally burned, the THCA in the plant is converted to the better-known THC. The most obvious evidence of this is the fact that THCA does not have the psychoactive effects of THC. Any high THC strain that has not yet gone through the decarboxylation process contains THCA.
Recent Comments