If you smoke weed, you probably already know that THC is the main psychoactive compound responsible for intense euphoria and high. However, Delta-9 THC is not the only cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp plants. There are more minor cannabinoids that can also produce euphoric and therapeutic effects, such as Delta-10, Delta-8, and other minor cannabinoids.
But out of all the cannabinoids available in the legal weed market, where does THCA come in? If you have heard about THCA before and want to know its effects and if this compound can get you high – you’re definitely on the right page!
To start things off, we want to tell you that THCA alone cannot get you high. Although THCA sounds like something that could get you high, it isn’t a psychoactive substance – at least not initially.
Key Takeaways
- THCA is a non-psychoactive compound found in raw cannabis plants.
- THCA is known as the precursor for THC, and it is the inactive form of THC.
- THCA cannot get you high without going through a chemical process, which is called decarboxylation.
- Dabbing, vaping, cooking, and burning THCA are some of the most common ways to consume it and feel its effects and benefits.
- Since THCA is basically THC in its inactive form, the buzz you will get from it after decarboxylation is highly similar.
What Is THCA?
THCA stands for tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, a non-psychoactive compound found in raw cannabis and hemp plants. It is known as the precursor of THC, the main psychoactive compound in weed – and the cannabinoid associated with the effects and high you get from smoking weed.
THCA is only one of the many cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. However, it is also the most abundant cannabinoid found throughout the plant, including leaves and stems – usually trimmed off.
Although more research is needed, anecdotal evidence suggests that THCA is also associated with pain-relieving and mood-boosting effects.
What’s The Difference Between THC And THCA?
The difference between THCA and cannabis and hemp-derived Delta-9 THC is that THCA contains a carboxyl group. With this carboxyl group, THCA cannot bind to your CB1 and CB2 receptors, making it non-psychoactive.
However, if you burn THCA or consume it using methods of decarboxylation, the carboxyl group will be eliminated, and the THCA will turn into THC and will now have psychoactive effects.
Is THCA Psychoactive?
THCA is a non-psychoactive substance. However, when burned or exposed to heat before consumption, the THCA will convert into THC, which will get users high.
Does THCA Make You High?
Without decarboxylation, THCA cannot get you high. It’s a good thing you can use many decarb methods at home to convert THCA into THC and enjoy the high, such as vaping, dabbing, or cooking THCA.
THCA Edibles vs. Smoking: What Are The Effects?
THCA edibles are basically THC edibles since the THCA in these products is already converted into THC during the cooking process. When smoking THCA, the decarboxylation process happens as the flower is burned before inhalation.
When it comes to their effects, consuming THCA edibles has effects that can last up to 12 hours. On the other hand, smoking THCA will allow you to feel the effects almost instantly, but the high will not last as long as edibles.
Does Raw THCA Get You High If You Eat It?
Eating raw THCA will not make you feel the effects of eating Delta-9 THC gummies. Since the THCA is raw and will not be exposed to heat, the THCA will not convert into THC and, therefore, will not get you high.
What Does Smoking THCA Feel Like?
The high of smoking THCA is highly similar to smoking Delta-9 THC. Since THCA is the precursor to THC, you will basically feel the same effects depending on the strain.
Is The THCA High The Same As Smoking Delta-9 THC?
The THCA high is the same as smoking Delta-9 THC. However, the intensity and effects will depend on the method of consumption, THCA percentage, strain, and other underlying factors. But basically, THCA and THC have the same high when smoked, vaped, cooked, or dabbed.
How To Get High Using THCA
There are many methods to get high using THCA, and depending on what type of THCA product you want to consume, here is the right method to use:
Smoke THCA Flower
You can smoke THCA flower by rolling it into a joint or loading it into a bong or bowl. Because these flowers will be burned and exposed to heat, they will convert into THC before you inhale it and feel high.
Infuse A Joint With THCA Diamonds Or THCA Isolate Powder
You can also get a traditional joint with weed and make it more interesting and intense by sprinkling it with THCA diamonds or THCA isolate powder. If you decide to do this, you can expect to get really baked.
Decarb THCA And Make Edibles
If you have raw cannabis lying around, you can use the entire plant to cook and make edibles, such as gummies and other sweet edibles. Instead of throwing away the leaves and stems of your freshly harvested cannabis plants, you can learn how to turn them into cannabutter and add an extra kick to your recipes.
Smoke Some THCA Dabs
Dabbing THCA is one of the best ways to enjoy an intense and euphoric high. Because dabbing requires you to burn THCA at high temperatures, you will get the most out of the THCA and get really high, which also might not be the best idea for beginners.
What Are The Potential Side Effects Of THCA
Consuming THCA is relatively safe, but not knowing the percentage and consuming more THCA than your body can handle can lead to potential side effects, such as highly intoxicating effects, paranoia, fatigue, anxiety, and more.
Final Thoughts
THCA might not be psychoactive at first, but as a cannabis plant matures and gets cured, the THCA will naturally turn into THC. But knowing that you can speed up the process by decarboxylation, THCA just became more interesting. With that said, THCA might not get you high at first, but it will eventually get you high when it transforms into THC.
Where To Buy Delta-9 And THCA Products Online
Buying Delta-9 THC and THCA safely from brands you can trust is the best way to ensure that you are only getting the best. At Melee Dose, we do our part by researching, testing, and making sure that our products are safe before selling them to consumers.
If you’re looking for Delta-9, we have a wide selection of delectable gummies and lip-smacking live resin disposable vapes that contain the finest Delta-9 extracts and natural terpenes, sometimes combined with other canabinoids for an extra kick.
While we don’t have any THCA products yet, we’re working on releasing a new line of THCA pre rolls, so stay put; they’ll be available before you know it!
THCA: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can You Get High From THCA?
No, you cannot get high from consuming THCA alone without going through the decarboxylation process. When consuming THCA, you must decarb it before consumption, and some of the most popular ways to decarb THCA are by burning it, exposing it to heat, dabbing it using high temperatures, or cooking raw THCA.
What Happens If You Eat THCA?
Since THCA is a non-psychoactive compound in weed and the precursor of THC, nothing will happen when you eat raw THCA. However, when THCA is cooked and transformed into ingredients like cannabutter, you can use it for baking and cooking edibles that can get you high. However, it is best to see THCA percentages before cooking so you know how much THCA you need to get the perfect high for each serving.
Does Dabbing THCA Get You High?
Unlike consuming raw THCA without going through the decarboxylation process, dabbing THCA can get you high. Because dabbing uses high temperatures to burn the THCA, you will get the most out of your high when dabbing. However, not everyone has a dabbing rig handy, making vaping and other THCA consumption methods easier.
Does THCA Flower Get You High?
THCA flower can get you high by burning it or consuming it the way you would consume Delta-9 THC flower. You can load it onto a bowl or roll it into a joint to get high with it. As long as you burn the flowers before you inhale the smoke, it can get you high.