Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid and the acidic precursor to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Before cannabis goes through the process of decarboxylation, the cannabinoid THC exists in an acidic form called THCA.

After being heated and “decarbed,” cannabis is no longer in raw form. During this transition, THCA is no longer acidic. Rather, as carbon dioxide (CO2) is released, THCA becomes the chemically neutral cannabinoid THC. At the same time, when THCA becomes THC, the result is an intoxicating compound with the potential to get you high.

Cutting edge research has emerged to demonstrate the therapeutic potential of THCA in treating a number of conditions, including chronic pain and seizures.

Does THCa get you high?

THCA is the acidic precursor to THC that occurs in potent quantities in young and freshly harvested hemp and cannabis plants. It’s non-psychoactive in raw form. But when heated, THCA breaks down into THC, getting people high just like classic marijuana. 

How is THCa legal?

The legal status of THCA flower has everything to do with the Farm Bill that was passed into law in 2018.

According to the 2018 Farm Bill, all hemp-derived products that possess THC levels less than or equal to 0.3% on a dry weight basis are legal for sale and consumption at the federal level.

Hemp is defined in the bill as “the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof, as well as all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.”

Based on this, THCA qualifies as hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill and is lawful at the federal level in the United States due to its non-psychoactive and non-addictive qualities. This implies that you can purchase and use THCA in accordance with the federal ruling.

While the Food and Drug Administration does not explicitly prohibit THCA, making it legal on a federal level, THCA’s status as an analog of THC means that it may be illegal to possess depending on the laws of your state. In the image below, you will see which states we, at Flying High ship to!