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Does THCA Get You High When Burned?
Posted on February 7, 2024 by UBC Researchers
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Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is a cannabinoid found in raw cannabis plants. On its own, THCA does not produce psychoactive effects. However, when burned or heated, THCA goes through a process called decarboxylation whereby the THCA converts into delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis.
What Happens When You Burn THCA?
When THCA is burned, such as when smoking or vaporizing raw cannabis flower, the heat causes the THCA molecule to lose its carboxyl group (COOH). This decarboxylation process transforms THCA into THC.
Once decarboxylated into THC, the molecule can then bind to the CB1 and CB2 endocannabinoid receptors in the brain and throughout the body, producing the classic psychoactive marijuana “high” effects recreational users seek.
Key Differences Between THCA and THC
Psychoactivity – THCA is non-psychoactive, THC is psychoactive
Heating/burning – Heating/burning converts THCA into psychoactive THC through decarboxylation
Effects – THCA does not produce a marijuana high, while THC induces euphoric and intoxicating effects
What About Smoking THCA Flower?
Smoking THCA-rich raw cannabis flower will cause decarboxylation to occur, converting THCA into THC. However, because some decarboxylation happens naturally over time through drying and curing, even “raw” cannabis flower contains some THC.
Therefore, smoking THCA flower will produce psychoactive effects. However, the effects may be less intense compared to traditionally cured and dried cannabis flower with higher levels of already-decarboxylated THC.
Does Cooking with THCA Get You High?
Yes, cooking with THCA-containing plant material will induce decarboxylation and produce psychoactive effects.
Methods like baking cannabis edibles require heating the plant matter over 220°F for 30-60 minutes to fully decarboxylate THCA and activate all the available THC. If consumed, these edibles can cause the user to feel the effects of being high.
The Bottom Line
In summary, THCA itself does not produce a high when consumed raw and unheated. However, through decarboxylation from applying heat when smoking, vaping, or cooking cannabis products, THCA transforms into THC which then causes psychoactive, intoxicating effects. So while plain THCA does not get you stoned, what happens as a result of burning THCA certainly can!
FAQs
What happens when THCa is heated?
When THCA is heated, a chemical reaction called decarboxylation occurs which removes the “A” carboxyl group from the THCA molecule. This transforms THCA into delta-9 THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis responsible for the “high” effects. Typically heating THCA to temperatures over 220°F (like when smoking or vaporizing flower) causes decarboxylation.
What percent of THCa is high?
For THCA flower, a percentage over 15% is considered high and likely to produce significant psychoactive effects when smoked or vaped. For THCA concentrates like isolates or diamonds used in dabbing, a percentage over 80% is very high purity. A good rule of thumb is that flower potency doubles when concentrated into extracts.
What is the best way to use THCa?
The most efficient ways to leverage THCA’s full potential to get you high are smoking/vaping THCA-rich flower, doing THCA isolate dabs, or using THCA diamonds to augment traditional THC dabs. This allows the decarboxylation from heating to rapidly convert the THCA into THC and maximize absorption.
What activates THCa?
Applying heat is what activates THCA and triggers the chemical decarboxylation process to convert it from its non-psychoactive acidic form into psychoactive THC. This happens automatically when smoking, vaping or dabbing THCA products. Additional activation methods include baking into edibles, exposing to UV light, and natural decarboxylation over prolonged periods of curing.
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