THCa vs THC: Which Is Stronger?

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive compound naturally found in the cannabis plant. 

It works by interacting with the body's cannabinoid receptors to provide intoxicating effects including relaxation, euphoria, altered perception, and even increased appetite. 

THCa vs. THC: Key differences

While similar in some ways, there are key differences between THCa and THC.

The most significant difference between THCa and THC can be found in a single carboxyl group, which is lost during decarboxylation.

When heated, smoked, or vaporized, cannabis undergoes a chemical reaction that sees THCa converted to the psychoactive THC. 

Once THCa undergoess decarboxylation, its chemical structure changes, causing it to adopt psychoactive properties.

THCa vs. THC: Which is stronger?

While THC is not technically “stronger” than THCa, it can cause psychoactive effects that THCa does not unless heated. 

More research is needed to fully understand the impact of THC and THCa and how they can affect certain physical symptoms.

THCa: Potential health benefits

There is currently evidence to suggest that THCa may offer therapeutic benefits when taken in raw form. Some of these benefits may be anti-inflammatory, anti-emetic, neuroprotective, and antioxidant. 

Anti-nausea properties

Anti-nausea effects can be particularly helpful for users dealing with certain medical conditions. THCa shows promise in alleviating nausea brought on by chemotherapy and other cancer drugs.

Anti-inflammatory effects

Other potential therapeutic benefits of THCa may include anti-inflammatory effects.

THCa may even help with digestive issues and autoimmune conditions.

THCa also may help in protecting the brain against neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Bonus: Are THC Gummies Legal? Status by State

THC: Potential health benefits

THC is the primary psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant. Due to its psychoactive effects, THC is commonly consumed for recreational use and even medical use.

There are many well-documented benefits associated with THC use that go beyond psychological aspects. These include:

• Pain relief
• Nausea reduction
• Appetite stimulation (in cases of chemotherapy) 
• Muscle relaxation
• Stress relief
• Anxiety relief

Pain relief

THC can provide moderate pain relief due to its interaction with the body’s endocannabinoid system. These effects can be particularly beneficial in neuropathic conditions as well as in the management of chronic pain.

Still, although THC does contain anti-inflammatory properties, it is not always recommended to treat acute and chronic pain due to its psychoactive effects. 

More research is needed to determine the long-term efficacy of THC on pain management. 

Nausea reduction

THC interacts with the endocannabinoid receptors in the brain and gut, also known as the brain-gut axis, which is responsible for regulating digestive functions. This can suppress the urge to vomit, making THC helpful in battling nausea. 

Appetite stimulation

THC stimulates the appetite by interacting with the body’s CB1 receptors, triggering effects like increased hunger, often referred to as “the munchies.” 

On a deeper level, THC stimulates neurons in the brain’s hypothalamus, which is the portion of the brain responsible for food cravings. This can cause hunger even though your body is not in need of calories. 

These effects are why THCa, THC, and other marijuana products are used in patients dealing with certain conditions, like cancer.

Muscle relaxation

THC has the potential to act as a muscle relaxant. It achieves this effect by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system to reduce muscle spasms and improve motility. 

THC may even help with spasm control in individuals with neurological conditions like Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

How do THC and THCa impact mental health?

People dealing with mental health challenges may find that cannabis use helps alleviate symptoms associated with stress and anxiety.

THC interacts with the body’s CB1 receptors, which can impact mood and relaxation. Due to this, THC in lower doses can provide relief from anxiety, while higher doses may have the opposite effect and instead cause panic or anxiety. 

While there are currently no cannabis-derived products that have been approved by the FDA to treat anxiety and other mental health issues, some individuals may still benefit from THCa and THC. 

Which is better for mental health?

When it comes to managing anxiety with cannabis, THCa is generally better tolerated than THC. This is because the psychoactive high found in THC can have a negative effect. 

What is the proper dose for anxiety?

Cannabis’s psychoactive effects can vary from person to person. Because of this, individuals dealing with stress or anxiety should start with a very low dose of these products in order to first gauge their reaction. 

Choosing the right cannabis product

The right cannabis product for an individual may vary from person to person. Some factors that may impact whether THCa or THC is the better choice for you will depend on the underlying reason for use, as well as your preferred consumption methods.

For example, some cannabis users may use cannabis products for their psychoactive effects, while others may use it solely for its medical benefits. Some patients undergoing chemotherapy may experiment with raw THCa or other delta 9 THC products to find relief from nausea and stimulate appetite while undergoing treatment.

Clean Remedies is one retailer offering a wide range of THC and CBD products to help address various health concerns, from stress and anxiety to pain relief. 

Different THCa and THC consumption methods

There are various ways to consume cannabis to reap the benefits of THCa and THC.

Different smoking methods can affect how quickly THC’s effects kick in, their intensity, and how long these effects can last. 

Some of today's most popular consumption methods for smoking THC and THCa products include:

Smoking, vaping, and dabbing

Factors like concentration, temperature, and the rate of absorption can all impact how strong THC is and its psychoactive effects on the body. 

Inhaling the smoke of the cannabis flower remains one of the most popular ways to consume cannabis. Many users choose to vape cannabis or even use a special device to "dab" cannabis. Each of these methods can impact the psychoactive effects of THC.

Vaping cannabis flower or concentrates is another popular method of consuming THC. This method can be smoother on the lungs than traditional smoking, as well as allow for more controlled dosing. 

Dabbing entails heating concentrated cannabis extracts such as wax, oil, or “shatter” and inhaling the vapor. 

By smoking cannabis flower, effects occur almost immediately, often within minutes. The duration of these effects can last anywhere from 2 to 4 hours. Vaping cannabis can have similar effects, while dabbing THC extracts can produce effects in seconds. 

Edibles and beverages

Popular edibles include THC or CBD gummies, brownies, chocolates with THC, or beverages. When consumed, THC’s effects can occur in as little as 30 minutes to two hours.

The reason for the longer onset is that THC must be digested and metabolized by the liver in order to take effect. Because of this, the effects can last even longer than other methods of consumption — from 4 to 8 hours or sometimes longer. 

Due to its longer duration and onset, ingesting edibles carries a risk of overconsumption if not properly controlled.

Sublingual tinctures

Many cannabis users consume THC in tincture form. When taken sublingually (under the tongue), THC is absorbed directly into the bloodstream. This means effects can come in as little as 15-45 minutes, making onset quicker than THC edibles. 

When taking THC in tincture form, effects can last anywhere between 4-6 hours. When swallowed or mixed with food, effects can last for as long as 8 hours. During this time, users may experience a sense of calm and relaxation. Another benefit of THC tinctures is improved sleep quality. 

THCa, on the other hand, can be made by juicing raw cannabis leaves or flower or making capsules that preserve the raw cannabinoid. 

Raw cannabis

One of the most common ways to enjoy the benefits of THCa is through consuming fresh cannabis in smoothies or juices. This allows the body to absorb it without converting it into THC, as would happen through other methods like smoking.

Another way to consume THCa is through specially made products such as capsules, crystalline “diamonds”, or other tinctures. All of these are specially manufactured to isolate THCa.

Are THC and THCa legal?

If you find the laws surrounding marijuana use to be confusing, you're not alone.

The truth is, the legalities surrounding THCa products like THCA flower and delta-9 THC depend largely on where you live and whether recreational marijuana is legal in that particular state.

THCA's legal status will depend on where you live. It may be legal in some states, while in others, users take advantage of certain legal loopholes regarding cannabis consumption.

THCa in its raw, unheated form is legal under certain conditions, although the laws are murky and constantly evolving. This gray area can cause confusion among users. 

Current cannabis legislation

Currently, due to legislation under the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp and its hemp gummies are legal so long as they don’t contain more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. There are, however, loopholes. 

Marijuana and other substances are still classified as illegal under federal law. You should always refer to your state's cannabis laws to ensure your rights are protected.

Do THCa and THC show up on a drug test?

Both THC and THCa can cause a positive drug test. Although most drug tests are focused on THC and its metabolites, THCA can be converted into THC and then broken down into THC metabolites, which can trigger a positive result on today’s standard THC drug tests. 

This is why it is important to familiarize yourself with the legalities surrounding both THC and THCa in your state.

Conclusion

Finding the right type of THCa and THC products for your unique needs is important if you are hoping to reap the full benefits the cannabis plant has to offer.

THCa and THC products continue to provide much-needed relief for users dealing with a broad spectrum of physical and psychological symptoms. Whether for medical or recreational use, there is no disputing the popularity of THC, THCa, and other delta-9 THC products.

Whether consumed orally or topically, the benefits of these compounds can have a profound impact on quality of life. 

Keep Reading: Does CBD Help With Nausea? What the Science Says

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