Is THCA Psychoactive?
Happy New Year, friends! For some, the new year is all about making resolutions and sticking to them (for what, a month?), but for me, I think the new year is about trying new things. Why not try a different cannabinoid and mix things up a little bit? THCA is an excellent choice to add into your routine, but you may have some questions. For instance, is THCA psychoactive? The answer to this question isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Read on to learn the answer, and all about this exciting cannabinoid.
In the meantime, if you want to discover whether or not THCA is psychoactive for yourself, shop our selection! Choose from THCA blunts (available in indica, sativa, and hybrid), or opt for our indica Tres Leches prerolls. Rest assured that our products are lab tested, so you can skip the stress and unwind with ease.
What is THCA?
THCA is a naturally occurring cannabinoid. Its full name is tetrahydrocannabinolic acid; it’s the acidic form of THC. One of the primary cannabinoids, THCA is formed through the breakdown of CBGA, which is the first cannabinoid that a plant will produce.
Because THCA is such a large molecule, it does not fit properly with our CB1 receptors. A cannabinoid’s attachment with our CB1 receptors is what produces a high. Since THCA can’t bind to these receptors, it is not psychoactive. This seems to answer our question, but there’s actually more to the story.
Just add heat
If you’re looking to get high, I still wouldn’t rule out THCA if I were you. Just add heat, and, presto! THCA turns to THC, and we all know that if there’s one thing THC is famous for, it’s getting people high. Heat alters the structure of the molecule by removing a carboxylic acid group, and suddenly, this molecule is the perfect shape to lock in with our CB1 receptors.
You may be wondering if this conversion is something fancy that needs to be done in a lab. Luckily for you, you have all the tools you need to perform this chemistry project right in your home! The heat can come from a lighter, vaping, dabbing, or the oven when you decarb your flower before making edibles. Ever wonder why you actually do that? The whole key to making edibles that hit is “activating” the THC before putting the flower into your butter/oil/whatever. When that bud is in the oven, the abundant THCA converts to THC.
THCA in its raw form
So, when you add heat, THCA converts to THC, and becomes totally psychoactive. But what about THCA in its original form? Well, in order to consume legitimate, non-psychoactive THCA, you would need to ingest it without exposing it to heat. You can do this by grinding up some flower into your smoothie, or enjoying a specially made tincture. In its raw form, the benefits of THCA are similar to THC, but without the whole getting high thing. This cannabinoid has huge medical potential for patients looking for relief while remaining sober.
The bottom line
In its raw form, THCA is not psychoactive. However, when you add heat, this changes. Heat converts THCA to the very psychoactive THC. This conversion can take place by smoking a THCA blunt or preroll, vaping, dabbing, or decarbing flower in the oven before making edibles. If you wanted to consume THCA in its raw, non-intoxicating form, you would need to make a special effort to do so by either consuming raw flower, or enjoying a specially made tincture.
If you’re interested in experiencing some psychoactivity, DVNT has you covered. You can convert THCA to THC from the comfort of your own home by smoking one of our blunts or prerolls. With five different kinds of blunts to choose from, you can indulge in THCA at any time of day, no matter what you’re craving.