{"id":2704,"date":"2024-09-01T08:00:41","date_gmt":"2024-09-01T12:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/?p=2704"},"modified":"2025-04-23T14:29:31","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T18:29:31","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-thca-and-its-medicinal-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-thca-and-its-medicinal-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is THCA and What Are the Benefits of This Cannabinoid?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Many are familiar with the cannabinoids THC and CBD. THC or <\/span>\u03949-tetrahydrocannabinol<\/span><\/a> is the notorious cannabinoid that\u2019s responsible for the euphoria you experience after consuming cannabis. <\/span>Cannabidiol (CBD)<\/span><\/a> is the other well-known cannabinoid that doesn\u2019t get you high but still comes with a variety of medicinal benefits. Through <\/span>cannabis research<\/span><\/a>, scientists have discovered that there are over 150 cannabinoids and phytocannabinoids, one of which is known as THCA.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

THCA, which is also known as \u03949-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is considered a cannabinoid acid. As the cannabis plant grows, it produces olivetolic acid and geranyl pyrophosphate. These acids break down in a condensation reaction and are responsible for forming cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) which is then converted into many cannabinoid acids including THCA, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), and cannabichromenic acid (CBCA). Read on to find out why this is an important chemical process that helps your medicine help you.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Cannabinoid Acids<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Cannabis plants aren\u2019t automatically equipped with pre-activated cannabinoids. Through the process stated above, cannabinoid acids are created and are ready to be converted for your body to use. When cannabinoid acids undergo the <\/span>decarboxylation process<\/span><\/a>, which occurs during heating cannabis, it removes the carboxylic acid ring from the molecular structure of the cannabinoid acids. This converts the cannabinoid acids into cannabinoids and produces the desired effects that most consumers enjoy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In addition to typical cannabinoid acids, there are also acids that are formed but contain three carbon atoms, instead of the five typically found in cannabinoid acids. These acids are called varinoids. You can tell which acids are varinoids because the names include \u201cvarin\u201d at the end of the word. Additionally, acids with the suffix \u201corcol\u201d only contain one carbon molecule. The differences in the number of carbon atoms mean that these are all very different chemical compounds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Take a look at eight known cannabinoid acids and varins in the image below to see what corresponding cannabinoids they are converted to: <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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\"8<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Raw cannabis is naturally dense with cannabinoid acids THCA and CBDA. In fact, up to <\/span>90% of the potential THC<\/span><\/a> stored in raw cannabis begins in the form of THCA. The other cannabinoid acids are present but just in substantially smaller amounts. While cannabinoid acids don\u2019t produce any known intoxicating effects, they do have antimicrobial and insecticide properties. This helps protect the cannabis plant as it grows and produces cannabinoids in its <\/span>trichomes<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Benefits of THCA<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

So…if not converted to THC and is non-psychoactive, <\/span>what benefits does THCA offer<\/span><\/a>? While research on cannabinoid acids, including THCA, is still in its beginning stages, there is evidence that it is beneficial for alleviating certain symptoms. THCA, also known as 2-carboxy-THC, is known for the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n