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THC and CBD are just the tip of the iceberg. There are countless other cannabinoids you should know about if you’re looking to tap into the therapeutic benefits cannabis has to offer – or even just catch a buzz. We’ll compare and contrast two of the more obscure today: THCO vs THCA.
There are quite a few differences between these cannabinoids. THCA is naturally derived, THCO is lab-made. THCA converts to delta 9 THC through decarboxylation for an authentic cannabis experience, while THCO can be up to 3x as potent as traditional THC.
We’ll unpack every subtle difference between THCA and THCO in this guide, from consumption methods to legal status. But if you just want to keep things natural and enjoy a true-to-strain cannabis experience legally, buy THCA products online at MUNCHIES!
What is THCA?
First things first, what is THCA? Short for tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, this naturally occuring compound found in raw cannabis is actually the acidic precursor to delta 9 THC. That’s the real THC most people think of when associating a high with cannabis.
Here’s where things get interesting in comparing THCA vs delta 9, though. THCA has zero psychoactive potential on its own. It won’t do anything. That all changes when you heat it though decarboxylation, though.
Whether you smoke it, vape it, or bake it into edibles, THCA converts to delta 9 THC and at that point offers the exact same experience of traditional cannabis products. This is a legal loophole left in the 2018 Farm Bill that allows you to legally buy THCA products online.
In this sense, there are potential therapeutic benefits of THCA as well since it basically acts like THC. those include anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea, and neuroprotective properties, along with simple relaxation, creative support, and a whole lot more. Let’s look at the other half of the THCO vs THCA debate before we go any further.
What is THCO?
THCO, or THC-O-acetate, is a lab-made cannabinoid that does not exist in nature. It’s created through a multi-step chemical process that starts from hemp-derived CBD. That cannabinoid is converted into delta 8 THC (the milder cousin to delta 9 THC). Then, manufacturers add acetic anhydride in a controlled lab environment to create THCO.
Why, though? What’s the appeal of smoking or vaping something synthetic? Potency. Many users report that THCO feels significantly stronger than regular THC – sometimes up to three times more intense!
It’s also known for having a slower onset, with effects kicking in 20 to 45 minutes after use. People feel like THCO produces that notorious “edible high” even when it’s vaped.
However, the manmade nature of THCO does raise red flags for many people. There’s limited research on how the body metabolizes THCO, and some of the compounds used during its synthesis can be hazardous if not fully removed from the final product.
While this can be minimzed to some extent with smart sourcing, there’s always going to be a level of uncertainty in dealing with synethic cannabis products. Why not avoid these altogether and stick with THCA? We’ll take a closer look at the nuances between THCA vs THCO below.
THCO vs THCA: Understanding the Difference Between THCA and THCO
Ultimately the difference between THCA and THCO is simple – do you want to enjoy something from nature or a lab? THCA is just like traditional delta 9 THC (the good stuff) when you smoke or vape it.
The best part is you can buy a THCA vape pen or THCA dabs right here, right now at MUNCHIES! We’ll ship potent, pure, lab-tested hemp-based cannabis prodcuts straight to your doorstep. That said, here’s what you need to know about THCO vs THCA.
Natural or Synthetic?
Remember, THCA is the raw form of THC found naturally in fresh cannabis flower. You’ll find it concentrated in trichomes – the sticky, resinous part of the plant. It’s actually one of the most prominent cannabinoids as far as concentration goes!
On the other hand, THCO is 100% synthetic. You won’t find it in raw hemp or marijuana, regardless of strain or genetics. This alone shows why THCA is better than THCO. We prefer to keep things all natural here at MUNCHIES!
While THCA is harvested directly from the cannabis plant with no chemical alteration necessary, THCO is synthesized in a lab. The process is fairly simple: after converting CBD to Delta 8, an acetylation step is used to create THCO.
Now, this can be perfectly safe in the right setting. But the process can also leave behind residual solvents or byproducts if not done properly, and you definitely don’t want to smoke or vape those.
That being said, is THCA safe? As long as you can confirm its potency and purity through lab tests, you have little to nothing to worry about with this natural cannabinoid!
Chemical Structure
There’s a dramatic difference between THCA vs THCO from a structural standpoint. THCA has a carboxylic acid group, which is what keeps it from getting you high until it’s heated. The moment you expose it to heat, that extra carboxyl acid group disappears and you’re left with delta 9.
THCO contains an acetate group, which makes it more bioavailable once consumed and responsible for the heightened strength. This leads to all the differences between THCO vs THCA in terms of potency and effects, which we’ll explore below.
Potency and Effects
THCA won’t do a thing to you on its own. But thanks to decarboxylation the potency of THCA is more or less the same as delta 9 THC. Some say the conversion rate is essentially 1:1. In other words, an 85% THCA vape pen will basically act like an 85% delta 9 THC vape pen.
You’ll feel all the familiar effects of traditional cannabis: euphoria, relaxation, appetite stimulation, and more. But THCO takes things up a notch. It hits harder and lingers longer since it can sometimes take up to 45 minutes to really peak.
For the right user, though, it’s worth the wait. Expect a heavier body feel, mental fog, and in some cases, mild psychedelic effects. This is to say you probably don’t want to use THCO if you’ve got stuff to do!
Legality
Now, is THCA legal? It sounds too good to be true, after all. You can have legal THCA products shipped straight to your doorstep here at MUNCHIES! We touched on this a bit earlier, but it’s all thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill.
As long as THCA products are hemp-derived and contain under 0.3% delta 9 by dry weight, they’re all good. It’s technically a legal loophole since you’re essentially buying real weed.
THCO’s legal status is more complicated, though. The DEA announced that THCO is a controlled substance due to how it’s made back in 2023. Since then it’s basically been banned at the federal level even though it’s derived from hemp too.
This is to say your choice between THCO vs THCA may be as simple as staying on the right side of the law. Stick with THCA.
Types of Products
There are so many great ways to enjoy cannabis these days. THCA flower, pre-rolls, tinctures, vapes, dabs – the list goes on and on. You can also choose to consume it raw through juicing to tap into its therapeutic potential without getting high! Most people decarb it for the true cannabis experience, though.
In contrast, THCO is found mostly in vapes, edibles, tinctures, and concentrates. You won’t find any flower since it doesn’t exist in flower, like THCA does. Remember the concerns with product quality and only choose lab-tested THCO products – that is, if you’re going to roll the dice from a legal standpoint.
We think the choice between THCA vs THCO is fairly simple. One is natural, legal, and delivers a genuine cannabis experience through decarboxylation. So why bother with the uncertainty of THCO? Spoil yourself with THCA products online at MUNCHIES!
Closing Thoughts on THCA vs THCO
The truth is, THCO vs THCA couldn’t be more different. Even though their origins can both be traced back to the cannabis plant, only one is found in nature. That’s enough for us!
There are other subtle differences as well, like potency, product availability, legality, and more. We hope this comparison of THCA vs THCO has left you with clarity on the matter.
Our blog has similar comparisons of THCA vs delta 8, THCP vs delta 9, and delta 11 vs delta 8 if you want to learn more about the wide world of cannabinoids.
But why not take this opportunity to treat yourself to legal, lab-tested hemp-based cannabis products at MUNCHIES! instead? Discover the THCA difference firsthand with our vapes and dabs today!
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