Is THCa Stronger Than THC?

Debating between THCa and THC, and unsure which to go with? We break down how to compare the strengths of THCa and THC products so you can choose the perfect one.

Key Takeaways

• THCa and THC are similar molecules with very different effects.
• Raw THCa is not psychoactive, and is therefore inherently weaker than THC.
• When you heat THCa, it transforms into THC, and that converted THC is just as potent as the THC you'd find in cannabis.
• However, some THCa is often lost during the conversion process, so one gram of THCa might not turn into one gram of THC.
• Equally, a highly concentrated strain of THCa could be considered stronger than a weak strain of THC, as the conversion would still leave you with more THC than in the weak strain of THC.
• The perceived strength of different products can also depend on factors such as the concentration of other compounds and your personal experience. 

See Related: Do CBD Gummies Have THC in Them?

The Key Differences Between THCa and Delta-9 THC

Meredith Farrow, co-founder of Clean Remedies, says:

"THCa is the non-psychoactive precursor of THC. When you consume THCa in its raw form, it has no psychoactive effects, making it by definition weaker than THC. However, with heat, THCa converts into THC, and will therefore produce psychoactive effects similar to those of THC." 

THCa (Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) are very similar compounds. They're both naturally occurring cannabinoids, produced by the cannabis plant and the hemp plant. 

However, if you've ever tried both, you'll know THCa and THC are quite different.

On the one hand, THC is the primary psychoactive compound produced by Cannabis sativa. It produces intoxicating effects, which you probably know as marijuana's iconic "high."

On the other hand, THCa is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. When THCa is consumed in its raw form, it has no psychoactive effects. Unlike THC, raw THCa will not get you high at all.

So the answer is simple, right? THCa is not stronger than THC. 

Not so fast. 

When exposed to heat, THCa goes through a chemical reaction called decarboxylation. That reaction converts the THCa into THC. The converted THC has all of the same psychoactive effects as the THC naturally found in raw cannabis plants. 

In some cases, then, one strain of THCa flower may be stronger than a strain of THC flower. 

But how does that work? What are the different therapeutic benefits of THCa and THC? And how can you tell if one will be stronger than the other?

To understand the answers to these questions, we need to zoom in on the molecular level.

Chemical Structure

THCa and THC have very similar chemical structures. The only difference is that THCa has an extra carboxylic acid group. 

Psychoactive vs Non-Psychoactive

This extra group means THCa doesn't interact with the cannabinoid receptors in the body's endocannabinoid system. This system is incredibly important, as it helps the body regulate all manner of bodily processes, from memory to mood to immunity to sleep and more.

THC's mind-altering effects are a result of how it interacts with the endocannabinoid system. Because THCa can't interact with that system in the same way, it does not cause the same effects.

In other words, THCa in its raw form is not a psychoactive compound. 

THCa vs THC

It's very easy to convert THCa to THC. All you need is heat. 

Heating THCa causes it to undergo a process called decarboxylation. As the name suggests, this conversion removed the carboxyl group, resulting in... THC. 

This isn't some unique or different THC, either. It's the exact same psychoactive THC that naturally occurs in the cannabis plant. It has the same psychoactive properties as naturally occurring THC.

The exact temperature needed for decarboxylation can vary. Lower temperatures may need longer to fully convert THCa to THC. Higher temperatures may work faster, but could degrade some of the compounds in the flower.

That means you can convert THCa to THC in many different ways. One popular method is to bake THCa flower in the oven. That leaves you with THC that can be used to make delicious edibles.

Another method is simply smoking THCa. The heat of the flame is enough to cause decarboxylation, meaning you inhale THC. Vaping THCa causes a similar effect.

The THC content you get from heated THCa products can vary depending on the amount of heat, time the product is exposed to heat, and other factors. You might not be able to convert all of the THCa into THC.

Drug Tests

Because THCa is non-psychoactive, it isn't usually targeted by drug tests. These tests are looking for evidence of THC consumption, not THCa consumption. 

To be clear, a drug test looking for THCa will likely detect it if you've consumed it. THCa can be detected in urine tests for up to a month or more after the last use in regular users.¹ 

Whether THCa causes a positive THC drug test result also depends on how you consume it. As we mentioned, heating THCa converts it into THC. If you consume THCa flower that has been heated, you are effectively consuming THC, which could then cause a positive drug test result.

Bonus: Is Delta-9 Considered “Synthetic Cannabis”?

What Affects the Strength of Cannabis Products

Comparing the strength of raw THC and THCa is simple. THCa isn't psychoactive, and THC is. That necessarily makes THC stronger than THCa.

However, as we mentioned, heating causes THCa to convert into THC. The THC that is created through decarboxylation is chemically identical, and therefore just as potent, as the THC you'd find in fresh cannabis.

In theory, that means THCa is equally as strong as THC, at least when heated. But there's another thing to consider.

We also mentioned that not all of the THCa will be converted to THC. Some might degrade into other cannabinoids, like CBN. Or it might not fully convert into THC.

The final THC content of decarboxylated THCa flower can therefore vary. As a guide, research suggests that roughly 88% of the THCa in THCa flower will convert to THC during decarboxylation.²

But that still doesn't necessarily mean THCa is always weaker than THC.

Not all cannabis is the same. There are many different strains, each with different concentrations of various cannabinoids, including THC.

Today, the cannabis industry generally produces strains with THC concentrations between 15% and 20% But some strains can have THC concentrations as high as 35%.³

Other cannabis products can have very different concentrations. Vapes or concentrates, for example, might have concentrations as high as 90%. 

These figures refer to how much of the cannabis plant, when dried, is THC. For example, a gram of dried cannabis that has a 20% concentration would contain 200mg of THC. 

The same is true for THCa. 

So what happens if you compare a strain of THCa flower with a THCa percentage that's higher than a strain of THC flower with a lower THC percentage? Depending on how much of the THCa is converted to THC when heated, you might end up with more THC from the more concentrated THCa flower. 

In that scenario, that specific strain of THCa could be considered stronger than the weaker strain of THC.

Some people also find that different strains with similar THC (or THCa) percentages can cause different highs. That might be because the different strains have different concentrations of other cannabinoids and terpenes, which can affect the overall experience. ⁴

You might even find that the exact same THCa product or THC product causes a different experience at different times. That's because the way our bodies process THC depends on many factors, including 

Ultimately, strength depends on various factors. Some people find that THC feels more intense when they are tired or hungry, for example.

It's therefore important to account for the concentration of cannabinoids, the method of consumption, and your personal situation when determining how strong a particular product might be.

Potential Health Benefits of THC

THC is most famous for its intoxicating effects. But both THC and THCa have plenty of potential therapeutic benefits. 

For example, studies have shown that THC can help people fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply.⁵ Research has also found that it can help provide relief from nausea symptoms.⁶ And roughly one-quarter of all medical cannabis users use THC for potential pain relief.⁷

Potential Benefits of Consuming Raw THCa

When THCa is converted to THC, it provides those same potential therapeutic benefits.

But research suggests THCa has its own unique potential benefits when consumed in its raw form. 

Anti-Inflammatory Properties

For example, research has found that THCa has anti-inflammatory properties. THCa seems to achieve this in three ways.⁸

First, studies suggest THCa may block an enzyme called COX-2 that contributes to inflammation. Second, it also appears to reduce levels of other messenger chemicals that can cause inflammation. Third, it can activate a specific receptor that is associated with anti-inflammatory effects.⁹

Are THCa and THC Legal?

Under federal law, it's legal to produce hemp. Hemp plants are legally limited to a maximum THC concentration of 0.3%. 

That means THCa is legal at the federal level. State and local laws may vary, so make sure to check before buying.

It also means that certain hemp-derived THC products are also legal. Some of these products contain Delta-8 THC, a very similar compound to THC that is sometimes called "diet THC." Others contain Delta-9 THC, which is chemically identical to the THC naturally found in freshly harvested cannabis. 

Where to Buy THCa Flower and THC

Today, it's easier than ever to buy legal, high-quality THCa and THC products.

Clean Remedies uses sun-grown  hemp to produce natural and clean products. 

"The reason that is number-one important in our eyes," Owner and CEO Meredith Farrow explains, "is because hemp is a bioaccumulator. It sucks up all the heavy metals, toxins, pesticides — any of the yucky stuff that's in the soil. Then you'd be ingesting that."

The product you choose depends on your desired experience and effect. 

And if you want THCa? We offer three strains of THCa flower: Sativa, Indica, and a hybrid. 

Prefer to skip the middleman and go straight to Delta-9 THC? Our natural grape-flavored gummies blend 5mg of Delta-9 THC with 25 mg of CBD in each gummy. We have other gummies with both CBD and THC, too!

And if you just want THC, our natural watermelon-flavored gummies contain 10mg of Delta-9 THC per gummy.

Conclusion

Raw THCa has no psychoactive effects. It's therefore by definition weaker than THC.

But when heated, THCa turns into THC. That THC is just as potent as the THC you'd naturally find in cannabis plants. 

How much THC you get from a batch of THCa depends on various factors, like the level of heat and how long you heat it for. It also depends on how much THCa you start with.

Keep Reading: Delta 8 vs Delta 9 For Sleep: What's the Difference?

Frequently Asked Questions

What Will Get You Higher, THC or THCa?

That depends on many different things. 

If both are taken raw, THC will get you higher. Raw THCa has no psychoactive effects.

If the THCa is decarboxylated, it turns into THC. In that sense, it becomes just as potent as naturally occurring THC.

However, some of the THCa is usually lost in the conversion process. That means you may end up with less THC than you had THCa.

In general, though, you can get just as high with THCa as you can with THC.

Is 30% THCa the Same As 30% THC?

In their raw forms, THC and THCa have very different effects. THC is psychoactive, and THCa isn't. So, in terms of becoming high, 30% THCa and 30% THC are not the same.

However, heat can transform THCa into THC. But this conversion process isn't always perfect. Some THCa is lost, isn't properly converted, or degrades into other cannabinoids.

Even with heat, 30% THCa usually won't be exactly the same as 30% THC.

What Percentage of THCa Will Get You High?

That depends on what you do with the THCa. It's not psychoactive, so when taken raw, it has no intoxicating effects. You need to heat it to convert it to THC.

That can be done by burning it, either with a flame or in a vape or something similar. Different strains have different concentrations of THCa. At the low end, you can expect concentrations around 10%, while more potent strains might have concentrations above 20%. 

Sources

1. How Long Does THCA Stay In Your System: Urine Test
2. THCA to THC Conversion Rate: What You Need to Know
3. Understanding THC Concentration and Potency | Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board
4. Why Some Cannabis Strains Feel Stronger Than Others Even at the Same THC Level
5. Cannabis as a Sleep Aid: Does it Work?
6. Cannabis offers immediate relief from symptoms of nausea, but product use matters | UNM UCAM Newsroom
7. Medical Cannabis for Chronic Nonmalignant Pain Management - PMC
8. The Cannabinoids, CBDA and THCA, Rescue Memory Deficits and Reduce Amyloid-Beta and Tau Pathology in an Alzheimer’s Disease-like Mouse Model - PMC
9. THCa as Nature’s Anti-Inflammatory | DNA Genetics

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