THCa is one of the many cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. It’s the precursor to THC — the cannabinoid responsible for the high associated with weed. THCa hemp looks, smells, tastes, and gets you high like marijuana.

In this post, we'll dive into everything you need to know about THCa, including its chemistry, psychoactive effects, legal status, and potential benefits.

In addition, we’ll give you some helpful recommendations for getting started with THCa flower and other cannabis products.

Visit the Mood Shop to browse our selection of high-quality flower, concentrates, edibles, and more. Subscribe for recurring orders to save 15%.

How Is THCa Hemp Different From THC?

THCa, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is part of the chemical structure of the raw form of the cannabis plant.

THCa is not psychoactive in its raw state. However, once cannabis buds are smoked or heated, THCa converts directly to THC through a process called decarboxylation. You can’t get THC without first having the THCa found in raw cannabis.

Learn more about cannabinoids from the Mood Blog.

What Are the Effects of THCa?

As we mentioned above, THCa doesn’t have the intoxicating effects associated with THC until it’s heated or smoked. However, once they’re heated, THCa products like diamonds provide a classic high.

Heat turns the cannabinoid into Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-9 THC), which interacts with your body’s cannabinoid receptors to produce a high. You can expect the same experience that you’d get from the best fresh cannabis flower at your local dispensary.

At Mood, we seek out American-grown strains with specific cannabinoid ratios and terpene profiles so we can confidently predict the type of high you’ll feel, whether that’s chatty and social, relaxed and chill, creatively inspired, or just happy.

Get 1g of Dante’s Inferno THCa flower for just $17. Subscribe to save 15%.

How Do You Get Started With THCa?

Finding the right amount of THCa for you depends on factors like your individual tolerance, weight, experience, and the effects that you want from smoking or vaping THCa.

If you’re a beginner, start with a small amount to gauge your sensitivity and gradually increase as needed.

If you’re a seasoned vet, you may have a higher tolerance, which means you might want a product that includes a higher concentration of THCa. Regardless of your experience level, always be mindful of the psychoactive effects of THCa and start off slow.

Try a 10-count of Micro-Dose Delta-9 THC Gummies for just $29. Subscribe to save 15%.

What Are the Benefits of THCa?

Research on THCa and how it interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system is still in its early stages.

Some users report that THCa makes them feel calm, focused, and even inspired. However, more research is needed to fully understand and validate these potential benefits.

In addition, the effects and potential benefits of THCa can vary based on the strain of cannabis that you choose. For example, Sativa cannabis has a reputation for being more invigorating and energizing, while Indica strains are typically more calming.

Get a classic happy high from 1g of Gushers THCa flower for just $17. Subscribe to save 15%.

Is THCa Legal?

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 — commonly known as the Farm Bill — authorized hemp production and removed hemp and hemp seeds from the DEA list of Controlled Substances.

As a result, hemp-derived THCa, containing less than 0.3% THC, is available online in the Mood Shop and at dispensaries in many states.

All Mood Products comply with the Farm Bill, which defines hemp as cannabis containing “no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis.” Although THCa is related to THC, it is not the same compound. For this reason, the amount of it that a harvested bud contains does not affect its legal status.

However, state laws vary regarding cannabinoids like THCa, Delta-8, and even CBD, so make sure you check state-level regulations regarding the cultivation, sale, and use of THCa-rich hemp products before you order.

Will THCa Show Up on a Drug Test?

THCa and other cannabinoids can cause people to fail a drug test. Take this into consideration before using any of Mood’s products. Generally, you can expect cannabinoids to linger in your saliva for up to 24 hours, one to two days in your bloodstream, three to 30 days in urine, and up to 90 days in hair. These are just estimates, though, and individual cases can vary.

If you have a urinalysis drug test — the standard for most employers — coming up, make sure to skip all THCa products, including gummies, tinctures, and flower, for at least 90 days.

How Does Mood Select Its THCa Flower?

We work with small, USA-based farms that are licensed with the USDA or their state departments of agriculture to selectively breed cannabis that produces each of our signature moods through high THCa content and precise blends of terpenes and cannabinoids.

By understanding the plant and working with it, not against it, we grow cannabis that helps you get the mood you want, whether it’s a classic high, a body-soothing chill, or pure happiness.

Read more about our quality standards on the Mood Blog.

THCa FAQs

Q: What is the best THCa Product for beginners?

A: If you’re just getting started with cannabis, we recommend beginning your journey with gummies from the Mood Shop. Made with decarboxylated THCa, our gummies come in a variety of delicious flavors and potency levels.

Gummies provide a powerful, consistent high that can last for several hours, but they’re also easy to split into smaller servings for milder effects.

Q: What Is THCa dabbing?

A: A dab is a highly concentrated cannabis product that you vaporize and smoke using a pipe called a dab rig. THCa dabs come in multiple forms, including hash, badders, moonrocks, and more.

These are all powerful products that are best for seasoned vets who are comfortable with vaporizing cannabis.

Q: What are the main side effects of THCa?

A: When you use THCa products, you can expect to feel pleasant and intense psychoactive effects.

Depending on the strain of cannabis that you choose, the cannabinoid can alter your mood in unique ways, from making you feel inspired to getting you ready for intimacy.

Q: Is THCa safe to eat?

A: While THCa turns into a psychoactive compound when heated, it doesn’t get you high when consumed in its raw form.

Eating or drinking THCa is a completely safe way to get some potential health benefits from cannabis.

Juicing THCa is the most popular way to ingest it in its raw form. However, the jury is still out on using THCa as an ingredient in juices — more research is needed on the effects.

Visit the Mood Shop to browse a wide selection of premium THCa products.

Prices subject to change.