Does THCA Turn Into Delta-9 When Smoked?

Does THCA Turn Into Delta-9 When Smoked?

TCHA (or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) when heated does turn into THC and Delta-9 when smoked. However, it turns into delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol THC, which does not contain strong psychoactive properties that pure tetrahydrocannabinol products may cause a User to feel.

Key Takeaways

  • THCA undergoes a chemical compound change and turns into Delta-9 THC when the cannabis product is heated or decarboxylated (smoking, vaping, or cooking). This conversion happens when a carboxyl group (COOH) is removed from THCa, resulting in the formation of THC.

Does THCA Turn Into Delta-9 When Smoked?

Yes, when heated, usually with a vaporizer or cooking it, does turn into Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-9 THC). The effects for the User are that of a cannabidiol product.

THCA flower or oil, as an example, doesn't produce a "high" or strong euphoric body sensation since it lacks the psychoactive properties of THC to bind with cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Instead, it interacts with the endocannabinoid  (CB1 and CB2 receptors) system to offer milder therapeutic effects.

THCA flower, HHC, Delta-8, and Delta-9

The most common product on the market is THCa flower. This is is a product that bears a resemblance to both the hemp and THC flower buds. THCa flower is made by cultivating and harvesting hemp flower to maximize the THCa levels and minimize its conversion to THC.

Usually, the process begins by selecting genetics that naturally produce high THCa concentrations. At peak cannabinoid content, the plant is harvested and undergoes a slow drying and curing process to prevent any potential THCa degradation that may occur.

All of these alternative cannabidol products are growing in popularity. According to the Brightfield Group, THCA sales accounted for around 7.3% of overall sales – or roughly $200 million – of the nearly $2.8 billion in sales of hemp-derived cannabinoid products in 2023.

Users may be searching for these alternative products if they are experiencing issues with access to Delta-8, Delta-9, and HHC (hexahydrocannabinol) based on new state regulations.

Searching for Delta-9 Effects

If you're looking for the same effects as Delta-9 and searching whether TCHA flower or other TCHA products may have the same effects, then the answer is yes, they will. However, you may still experience problems when attempting to purchase this product in your state (due to the product still being federally illegal).

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