THCA: The Next Big Thing in Cannabis Medicine?
May 2, 2023
Could THCA be the next big thing in medical cannabis treatment? Some people think so. The precursor to THC and a useful product in and of itself, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) could be a useful remedy for many conditions. Learn more about how people are using THCA medicine in their daily lives below.
What is THCA?
Understanding the validity of THCA medicine starts with an understanding of THCA as a whole. The precursor to THC, THCA is essentially THC before it gets decarboxylated THCA contains one extra carboxyl group that makes it non psychoactive. Once it gets decarboxylated, THCA loses its extra carboxyl group and transforms into THC, which can then be used for a variety of medicinal and non-medicinal purposes.
How Does THCA Differ from THC?
While THCA is the precursor to THC, that doesn’t mean it is not without its own features pre-decarboxylation. THCA in its raw, unaffected form does not have a psychoactive-inducing effect. This has caused some confusion within the cannabis community, as people may be under the impression that THCA won’t get them “high.” When ingested raw, THCA won’t get you high; subject the substance to smoking, vaping, cooking, or any other form of heating mixed with light, and a significant portion of it will transform into the Delta9 THC people everywhere use on a regular basis.
See it for yourself when you try some of our bestselling THCA flower:
- GUSHERS (INDOOR) THC-A Hemp Flower, a loud, semi-sweet, doughy-berry mixed aroma with strong undertones of gas.
- JEALOUSY (INDOOR) THC-A Hemp Flower, a dense, exotic flower with notes of pine, citrus, vanilla, and funky haze.
- ICE CREAM CAKE (GH) THC-A Hemp Flower, a cakey-doughy, sharp lemon aroma with hints of gas. It’s like eating vanilla ice cream cake with lemon zest.
The Concept Behind THCA Medicine
The idea behind THCA medicine is to take the potential benefits of THCA and use them to help people with certain ailments. The term “medicine” is tricky; Black Tie CBD never endorses a product or substance as a medicinal product. Furthermore, Black Tie CBD does not claim that any of our products will cure or treat any medical conditions.
Some people who use THCA have found relief for their conditions, which has instigated discussion throughout the cannabis community for THCA medicine as its own concept, beyond that of CBD and THC for medicinal purposes.
How to Use THCA for Medicinal Purposes
THCA medicine is still being researched, but studies that have been conducted thus far have been promising. The potential for THCA to be used for medicinal purposes lies in its properties.
Although limited, there is promising research to suggest that THCA may act as an effective neuroprotectant, giving it the potential to be beneficial in the treatment of certain neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.[1]
Additionally, THCA may help ease symptoms associated with chronic pain and inflammation. Research exists pointing to a connection between THCA and the acidic form of cannabinoids. The way THCA works may inhibit COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes to help reduce inflammation.[2] This may be useful as an occasional remedy for people with intermittent inflammation as well as for chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia.
Many people seek cannabis medicine as a means of reducing the symptoms they experience with other medical conditions. Chemotherapy and some medications, for example, may cause severe nausea and vomiting. For these instances, THCA medicine may be useful as an anti-nausea remedy to help settle the stomach and relieve nausea and vomiting. Similarly, it may act as an appetite stimulant, which could help restore a healthy weight to people struggling with unintentional weight loss.[3]
Is Using THCA as Medicine Legal?
THCA is positioned to be the next big thing in cannabis medicine, but that doesn’t mean its legality comes without question. While THCA flower in its raw form is considered to be legal under federal law, some states have their own interpretation of the 2018 Farm Bill that could prevent the sale and/or use of THCA medicine, regardless of its form.
It is therefore critical to understand where your state stands in the debate on legal cannabis prior to purchasing any product.
At Black Tie CBD, all of the THCA we sell is third-party tested and vetted for safety. We offer high-quality cannabis products, including THCA that may be used for therapeutic purposes. Explore what we have in store and find the THCA flower or THCA concentrate that works for you!
[1] https://www.crescolabs.com/cannabinoids/thca/