Is THCA Addictive?

THCA is one of the new popular cannabinoids on the block that has shown a lot of promise as a substitute for delta 9 THC. And while the two are very closely related, each has its own way of interacting with our nervous system.

Because of this, producers and dispensaries have started to add THCA concentrates (named diamonds) to their products. But before trying some of them, you might have wondered what THCA is and whether it creates addiction.

In this article, we’ve gathered some of the basics so you can learn the difference between the two cannabinoids and if they could be considered addictive. We’ve also researched the possible benefits of this cannabinoid, the most popular ways to consume it, and our product recommendations in case you feel like trying this compound.

We’ve got a lot to unpack, so let’s start with THCA.

Looking to try THCA? Try our new THCA diamond infused pre rolls!

 

Key Takeaways

• THCA, formally known as Tetrahydrocannabinol Acid, is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in both hemp and cannabis.
• THCA is the precursor of delta 9 THC, the psychoactive compound responsible for the “high” associated with weed.
• This cannabinoid is not intoxicating in its natural form.
• Without any alteration, THCA is not psychoactive on its own, but when concentrated and heated, it can become a slightly more potent form of delta 9 THC when smoked or dabbed.
• The easiest way to consume THCA is through THCA diamonds, which are easy to handle and dab compared to other forms of delta 9 THC concentrates. Most producers add them to pre rolls or dab them directly with a dedicated vaporizer or e-rig.

 

What is THCA 

THCA (also called THCa or THC-A) is a cannabinoid that can be naturally found in both hemp and cannabis. While it might look like any other compound at first glance, this compound has a pretty important role in the plant’s function.

Before diving into this, we must have a quick recap about delta 9 THC. This compound is one of the six major cannabinoids found in the plant and is known for being psychoactive. Due to how it interacts with our nervous system, we associate weed with “getting high.”

Why is this relevant? Well, THCA is the precursor of delta 9 THC in the plant’s system. Heat and energy are applied to change this compound into THC through the plant’s natural process. Nowadays, producers have found a method to isolate this acid into crystals that can be consumed.

 

What are THCA Effects

Now, while this cannabinoid is inert or not heated, it is not intoxicating. Chemically speaking, this product has an additional carboxyl ring. When this cannabinoid enters our system, the different molecule prevents them from binding to the proteins in the receptors that make us feel high.

So, in general, THCA is not actually psychoactive. Some scientists debate whether THCA cannot cross the blood barrier to activate the CB1 receptors or if the molecule itself is too weak to produce substantial intoxicating effects.

Regardless of that, THCA on its own has beneficial effects on some receptors in our body. Let’s dive a little further into this.

 

Benefits of THCA 

So, what is the point of this cannabinoid? Well, research is inconclusive, but the general overview of this cannabinoid might suggest it could have several benefits besides turning into delta 9 THC.

A few of the anecdotal benefits from users are being anti-emetic, meaning it could reduce vomiting and nausea and even aid with appetite loss. Others have seen progress in neurodegenerative diseases, much like how CBD works.

While this cannabinoid does not interact with CB1 or CB2, researchers believe it can aid with inflammation and general pain relief, although not as strong as other cannabinoids available in hemp.

Without a doubt, the best benefit of THCA is giving that extra potency to hemp-based products. Since this cannabinoid converts into fresh delta 9 THC with heat, it is in a gray zone to have more potent effects like pre rolls or distillates in vaping pens.

 

Potential Side Effects of THCA 

Due to the lack of research on this cannabinoid, we don’t really know much about other side effects. That said, users have noted that due to this cannabinoid not being psychoactive, it has fewer side effects than other compounds like delta 8 THC or regular THC.

The only known side effect so far, there is reason to believe that cannabinoid acids such as THCA and CBDA could interfere with drug metabolism. This study explicitly mentions the possible inhibition of hepatic enzymes due to the pharmacology of these acids. Still, more research is needed to understand this.

 

Is THCA Addictive?

As far as research and users go, the answer would be no. THCA is not considered addictive, nor has it produced addiction in users that have tried it so far. 

In general, cannabinoids do not show a trend of addiction unless there’s a development of problem use, according to studies like this. The study suggests that about 30% of marijuana users might develop a disorder that could show dependence.

That said, there is no conclusive data if all cannabinoids or cannabis on its own are addictive. Furthermore, there’s not enough data to draw conclusions from major cannabinoids like CBD or delta 9 THC, so cannabinoid acids like THCA and CBDA have even fewer data than their “regular” counterparts.

 

How Potent is THC-A?

Without any alteration, THCA is not potent at all. Due to the process in which THCA is created, most of the acids are crystallized and concentrated, but the potency of the product without heat itself is minimal.

When heat is applied, THCA diamonds can be a slightly more potent version of your regular delta 9 THC. And since it has a super concentrated form, it might be one of the best ways to try delta 9 concentrates without having to dab onto things like shatter or crumble, but we’ll delve into that further down in the article.

 

Best Ways to Consume THCA

One of the benefits of using THCA diamonds over juice, resin, or shatter is how easy they are to handle. And unlike shatter or crumble that sometimes need direct heat to melt, diamonds can be easier to manage, even when dabbing.

Diamonds are not as sticky as other extracts, which makes them perfect for adding to a bowl full of flowers or adding a few to your dedicated vaping device. Just don’t try to add them to disposable carts or pens, as they are not designed to handle extracts this way.

If you want to skip cleaning up or maintenance, you can also try THCA diamonds inside pre rolls. Let’s go into this further.

 

THCA Pre Rolls

So, what are THCA pre rolls? Let’s break this into two parts; first, the pre rolls. These products are premade joints you can enjoy by just lighting up. For these, you don’t need extra paper, grinding, or even knowing how to roll: you just have to get a lighter nearby to start the fun.

Now, for the second part. Pre rolls can have added concentrates or extracts to make them more potent. Depending on the concentration and consistency, some dispensaries add them to the paper or to the actual flower.

THCA diamonds can be added to the milled flower inside a joint to make them hit harder. This works well if the diamonds have a smaller size so they can melt and activate into delta 9 THC, along each puff, stronger than your regular flower. And this helps hemp (CBD) flower to hit stronger, as they can sometimes feel mild to experienced cannaseurs.

 

Tips for THCA Beginners

Now, THCA on itself is not psychoactive, so you don’t really have to worry about getting too high when consuming it without heating it up. Remember that when it transforms into delta 9 THC, it turns roughly 80 percent of the THCA content into delta 9 THC.

We’ll go further into detail about this in the following section, but for now, we’ll focus on some tips for delta 9 THC beginners. We always recommend going for small tokes when beginning any cannabinoid, and that includes pre rolls infused with THCA.

Since infused flower or dabbing, in general, can be more potent than just a few tokes, go for a small dose at first and start building up as you feel the desired high. If the pre rolls get too intense, you can always gently put it out and save some for later; just make sure the flower is completely cold out when you store it back in the plastic or glass container.

Lastly, if it’s your first time trying concentrates, establish the mood in a safe space. Avoid doing activities that require high dexterity or your reflexes, live driving, or playing sports. And most importantly, enjoy the ride! 

More potency usually means fewer puffs, so get some friends to enjoy the pre rolls or get yourself a series or videogame to binge while riding the high that THCA can offer.

 

What is a Good THCA Percentage?

This might be the most math you’ll ever see when trying to buy weed. Remember what we mentioned above about THCA converting into delta 9 THC? Well, when this happens, about 80 percent of the THCA content turns into the new cannabinoid: 87.7 percent, to be precise.

You can calculate the total THC of a product with the following formula:

Total THC = [(THCA percentage x 0.877)] + (THC content)

So, for a pre roll that has 15% THCA and 2% THC, it would go something like this:

Total THC = [(15 x 0.877)] + (2) = 15.555%

In general, good THC content would go around 12 and up to 19% per product, so anywhere between 14 and 20% of THCA should be good for casual consumers. Cannaseurs might want to go a little higher or look for products that also use other cannabinoids, and newbies can go for less than 12% of THCA.

 

Where to Buy THCA Pre Rolls Online

THCA diamonds might seem like an incredible option to spice up your smoking session; whether you are smoking from a bong or getting a jay, you’ll find it easier to manage and use than sticky resin or juice.

Well, things can get even more straightforward. Right now, we have the best THCA Diamond Infused Pre Rolls cooking in the Delta Munchies labs, and they’ll be available to buy from our online store and delivered right to your doorstep.

While our crew has the pre rolls cooking in the oven, you can check some high-potency vaping pens with delicious HHC extract here. Or, if you want some extra potent delta 8 THC gummies for the weekend, you can also check them out here.