Is THCa Flower Real Weed?

You may have noticed THCa showing up more frequently. It has become more of a staple; you may see it at gas stations, convenience stores, and smoke shops that aren't licensed to sell THC. So, what is THCa? Will it produce the same effects as THC?

What is THCa?

THCa is tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. THC, on the other hand, is just tetrahydrocannabinol. From a chemistry standpoint, the only difference between the two is that THCa has a carboxylic acid attached to the benzene ring while THC is not. This means that the two are very similar, while THCa has an extra group that easily detaches to form THC.

When you heat or "light up" THCa, the carboxylic acid sheds from the compound (decarboxylation), making it THC.

What is the Difference Between THC and THCa?

If you are smoking either substance: there is effectively no difference between the two besides the strain you smoke. As explained above, when you smoke THCa, it becomes THC, producing the same effects as an equivalent THC plant. 

Some people may say that THCa isn't real weed or doesn't get them as high. If this is the case, it can primarily be attributed to the placebo effect. They think the THCa won't get them as high because it isn't pure THC. But THCa is simply a precursor to THCa, and it gives way as soon as it is heated to be smoked.

How Does THCa Compare to Standard Weed?

Similarities:

• Both are classified as cannabis flower: they smell, look, grow, and feel the same.
• If you smoke either, you are smoking weed, and you will get high.

Differences:

• THCa, prior to smoking, has a carboxylic acid group that THC does not have.
• THCa can be marketed as legal under the U.S. Farm bill in some cases because its technical content of THC is less than 0.3%.
• In its raw form (without being heated), THCa does not cause intoxication in the same way that THC does.

With both THCa and THC, you can use our guide to figure out how to identify the best cannabis flower.

Legal and Use Considerations with THCa

Because THCa can convert directly into THC with heat, its legal status is a bit complicated. Some jurisdictions treat flower with high THCa content the same as THC containing cannabis, even if it technically has less than 0.3% THC content.

If you are looking to buy or sell THCa, it is important to look into the legal implications in your area to ensure that you won't be liable for legal repercussions.

Lab tests can be conducted at any point to determine the amount of THC in a cannabis plant, and if that value breaks the 0.3% threshold, the flower will no longer be protected under the farm bill.

Is THCa Flower Real Weed?

In short, yes, THCa flower is real weed. If you are going to smoke it, THCa becomes THC and produces the same effects. It is labeled as THCa because it changes the legal and regulatory implications of its use.

If you, for some reason, consume THCa without heating it in any form, it most likely will not produce any effects. It still has that carboxylic acid attached, which prevents the molecule from binding onto the receptors that instill a "high."

Wrap Up

THCa may seem to be or feel different from classic THC, but if you are smoking it, they are ultimately the same. It's helpful for sellers who want to use the farm bill to protect themselves and their products.