The Benefits of THCA
We talk a lot about converting cannabinoid acids into cannabinoids via a process known as decarboxylation, a big word that explains what happens when you smoke or vaporize flower.
THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), is a cannabis compound still in the beginning stages of research, but is already starting to show signs of therapeutic potential. Unlike THC, which comes as a result of decarboxylation, THCA is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in raw and live cannabis.
If you’ve purchased legal Canadian cannabis, you may notice that the most common and prominent cannabinoid is typically THC with an average percentage between 10-20%. While THCA is the more accurate label for flower that hasn’t yet had any heat applied to it, they essentially mean the same thing based on the assumption that it is being purchased to be consumed via some form of decarboxylation.
So then, for the sake of this blog, what exactly are the benefits of THCA that isn’t converted into THC?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a significant amount of research on THCA; certainly not enough to definitively state what it can treat effectively. However, preliminary research and a growing amount of evidence suggests that THCA could play a pivotal role in further defining cannabis as a natural plant medicine thanks to its potential benefits treating the following:
- Anti-inflammatory ailments like arthritis and lupus
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Nausea and appetite loss
- Prostate cancer
- Insomnia, muscle spasms and pain
Obviously, due to the infancy of the research surrounding THCA, this list is preliminary and scientifically unproven and should not be taken at face value as a substitute for current, doctor-recommended treatment.
For a deeper dive into specific cannabinoids and what they are capable of – check out these blogs: