Wondering if that THCA you just bought will get you high if you smoke it? As cannabis products become increasingly popular and legal across the U.S., more cannabinoids besides the well-known THC and CBD are entering the spotlight. One of those lesser-known compounds gaining attention lately is tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or THC-A.
But what exactly is THC-A, and what happens when you smoke it? Does it turn into the psychoactive Delta 9 THC associated with feeling “high”? Keep reading to find out.
Contents
What is THCA?
THCA stands for tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. It’s a cannabinoid acid found in raw, live cannabis plants that has not been dried, cured, or heated.
- It is the precursor to THC, meaning THC-A converts into Delta 9 THC when exposed to heat in a process called decarboxylation
- On its own, THC-A is non-psychoactive and does not produce a high
- Early research suggests THCA may offer certain therapeutic benefits, like reducing inflammation, pain, nausea, and seizures
- Legally, THC-A falls into a gray area. Since it comes from cannabis plants, its legal status depends on your state’s laws.
So in summary, THCA starts out as the acidic, non-intoxicating version of THC in cannabis plants. It has potential medical benefits but does not cause a high in its raw form.
How THCA Becomes Delta 9 THC
In order for THCA to transition into the psychoactive THC that produces a high, it must first go through a process called decarboxylation.
Decarboxylation is when THC-A loses its carboxyl group (-COOH) through exposure to heat over time. This converts THC-A into Delta 9 THC, the compound that makes you feel high.
- Temperature – Ideal range is 220°F to 250°F (104°C to 121°C)
- Time – Usually takes 30 to 60 minutes
- Humidity – Drier material decarbs faster
- Strain genetics – Some strains have more THC-A than others
Without decarboxylation, THC-A remains non-intoxicating and therapeutic rather than recreational. But once heated, those effects transform into the classic cannabis high.
Does Smoking THCA Turn It Into Delta 9?
Yes, smoking THCA does decarboxylate it into Delta 9 THC. When you apply flame or heat to cannabis through smoking or vaping, it generates enough heat to decarb THCA stored in the plant’s trichomes.
However, smoking may not convert 100% of THC-A due to:
- The burning tip reaches 700°F to 1000°F, degrading some THC
- Short duration of exposure
- Partial combustion of material
Research shows the decarboxylation process alone converts up to 88% of available THC-A into Delta 9 THC. But real-world loss from smoking may reduce that number to somewhere between 60-80%.
So in short, smoking remains one of the most efficient methods of turning THC-A into Delta 9 THC. While not all of the THC-A may get converted, smoking still produces majority decarboxylation.
Other Ways to Decarb THCA
Aside from traditional smoking and vaping, there are other methods to decarboxylate THC-A as well:
Baking/Cooking
First, cannabis gets heated at a set temperature in the oven to activate THC-A into THC. Then the decarbed cannabis gets infused into oils, butter, etc to use in baking edibles.
Benefits:
- Precise control over temperature/time
- Activates without combustion
- Infuses cannabinoids into fats for cooking
Downsides:
- Slower onset than inhaling
- Easy to accidentally over-consume
Commercial Decarboxylation
Cannabis processors use specialized industrial equipment to decarb large batches of cannabis evenly and efficiently before extraction.
Benefits:
- Very consistent, precision decarboxylation
- Preserves more terpenes than combustion
- Can decarb large quantities
Downsides:
- Requires expensive commercial equipment
- Not feasible for personal home use
So in summary, while smoking weed may be the classic way to decarb THC-A into Delta 9 THC, methods like vaping, baking edibles, and commercial-scale decarboxylation work too.
Final Takeaways on THCA
Ultimately, the process behind feeling “high” when you smoke weed all comes down to chemistry. THC-A from raw cannabis must get converted into Delta 9 THC through decarboxylation before you can experience psychoactive effects. While smoking remains a classic route for this transformation, methods like vaporizing, cooking edibles, and commercial processing also effectively turn non-intoxicating THC-A into recreational Delta 9 THC by applying heat over time.
Hopefully this breakdown gave you a better handle on how THCA transitions into Delta 9 THC through various heating methods. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any other questions on the fascinating chemistry of cannabis compounds.
FAQS
Does burning THCA turn into Delta 9?
Yes, burning or heating THC-A causes it to lose a carboxyl group through a process called decarboxylation, turning it into delta 9 THC. Temperatures above 220°F (104°C) provide enough heat to facilitate this conversion. The high temperatures produced when smoking or burning cannabis (over 700°F) effectively decarboxylates THC-A.
How does THCA convert to delta 9?
THC-A converts to Delta 9 THC through decarboxylation – removing a carboxyl group from the molecule by applying heat over time. This process usually takes 30-60 minutes when baking or heating cannabis to a temperature of 220-290°F (104-143°C). Smoking also decarbs THCA by rapidly heating it to over 700°F.
What does THCA do when smoked?
When THCA is smoked, the high temperatures caused by combustion decarboxylate the THCA, converting it into Delta 9 THC. This makes smoking an extremely rapid and efficient method of activating the psychoactive effects of cannabis. However, some THC-A may remain unconverted if portions of plant material are not evenly exposed to heat.
Can you smoke THCA isolate?
Yes, THCA isolate or concentrate can be smoked, allowing it to decarboxylate into Delta 9 THC and cause psychoactive effects. However, vaporization is generally considered a better choice as it heats the THCA more evenly without burning. Whichever method you choose, proper decarboxylation requires careful temperature control to avoid degrading too much Delta 9 THC after it forms.
