The chemical formula for THCa seen in front of a background of hemp plants.

THCa vs. THC: Is There Really a Difference?

THCa has emerged as the latest, and perhaps greatest, of the hemp-derived cannabinoids.  

Federally legal when sourced from hemp, THCa is increasingly popular because it turns into Delta 9 THC when heated or dried. This means that, for most methods of consumption, THCa and THC – the most common cannabinoid found in cannabis plants – are functionally identical.

So, when comparing THCa vs THC, is there a difference? In some ways, yes, and in others, not really. Let’s take a closer look. 

THCa vs THC: The Info You Need 

What is THCa? 

THCa is a chemical found in cannabis and hemp plants that interacts with the endocannabinoid receptors in the human body. These chemicals, including but not limited to THCa, are called cannabinoids. 

Unlike many other cannabinoids, THCa in its raw form doesn’t appear to have significant effects on the human body. WebMD notes that raw THCa may help with issues like pain or nausea, although this hasn’t been conclusively proven. 

However, a major change happens when THCa is heated or dried (the technical term is decarboxylation, as Leafly explains) – a chemical reaction occurs that makes THCa convert into THC. Yes, THCa turns into the same Delta 9 THC that’s found in cannabis plants. 

THCa products, like flower and vapes, took the market by storm because they let people buy federally legal cannabinoids that are identical, at least in terms of their effects, to Delta 9. As long as THCa is sourced from hemp plants, it’s legal on the federal level in the United States and in most states. 

What is THC? 

Delta 9 THC, often simply called THC, is the main cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. It also occurs in small amounts in hemp plants. THC has a long history of use across the globe. So, it’s often the comparison point for other cannabinoids that haven’t been available for nearly as long, like Delta 8, THC-P, and THCa. 

THC is illegal on the federal level but is legal in many states for medicinal use, recreational use, or both. 

How are THC and THCa similar? 

THC and THCa have the same effects, as long as the THCa is heated or dried first. So, these two cannabinoids aren’t not just similar, they’re identical. 

Both lead to the same high, with effects including: 

  • Euphoria and elevated mood
  • Relaxation
  • Changes in sensory perception
  • Changes in perception of time
  • Muscle relaxation 

THCa vs THC: Which is stronger? 

As long as THCa is heated or dried before it’s ingested, THCa and THC offer roughly the same potency for an equivalent dose. In other words, a 5 mg THCa edible and a 5 mg THC edible will lead to the same high for a user. 

THCa flower vs THC flower: Is there a difference? 

There are legal differences and process differences between THCa flower and THC flower, but not differences in effects. 

THC flower is cannabis, which is illegal federally but legal in many states for recreational, medical, or both types of use. It is dried and cured at specific temperatures to convert the THCa present on the flower into THC. 

THCa flower is normally (although not always) a specific type of hemp grown to have high THCa content. It is legal on the federal level and in many states, even those where cannabis isn’t. THCa flower is also dried and cured. However, great care is taken to control the temperature during this process, preventing the THCa from turning into THC and keeping the flower compliant with federal law. 

THCa vs THC percentage: Is there a difference in flower? 

Yes, there is a wide variation in the amount of THC and THCa present in the many different types of flower sold to cannabinoid enjoyers. Factors ranging from the strain of the plant to the growing conditions and post-harvest processing can all affect the final THC or THCa content of flower. However, THC and THCa, when heated or dried, provide identical effects. 

Smoke Kind: Your Source for the Best THCa 

Smoke Kind is proud to offer federally legal, third-party lab-tested THCa, from flower and vapes to edibles, concentrates, and more. We stand behind the quality of our products by making the certificates of analysis (COAs) for them available on our product pages.  

With Smoke Kind, you can count on incredible THCa with every purchase! 

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