Accurate Education – Marijuana (Cannabis): THCA (Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid)

Botanical Cannabis and the Cannabinoid Acids

Botanical cannabis is highly variable in its chemical composition and content of the cannabinoids THC and CBD. Fresh cannabis plants in actuality contain little to no THC and CBD but instead contain tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and cannabadiolic acid (CBDA), the precursors or pro-drugs to THC and CBD respectively. These acid cannabinoids have had much less research, but are known to possess pharmacological properties in their own right. 

Cannabinoid acids  in raw and live cannabis have no psychotropic qualities. They are decarboxylated by heat, UV exposure, and prolonged storage to form the active cannabinoids, although heat such as from smoking or vaporizing is the primary conversion factor.  Cannabinoid acids are gaining attention as more is learned about their therapeutic benefits, especially their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCA)

Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA or 2-COOH-THC) is a precursor of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major active component of cannabis. THCA is found in variable quantities in fresh, undried cannabis, but is progressively decarboxylated and converted to THC with drying or with exposure to intense heat, although slow decarboxylation of ∆9-THC occurs at room temperature.

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For THCA to become activated and converted to THC for therapeutic use, it generally must be exposed to intense heat such as when cannabis is smoked or cooked into cannabis edibles. THCA is often the main constituent in cannabis resin concentrates, such as hashish and hash oil comprising 50% – 90% by weight.

THCA ‘s potential benefits include reducing inflammation associated with arthritis and autoimmune diseases. It may also help reduce symptoms of neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

THCA is not psychoactive like THC but does have some immuno-modulating effects but they are not mediated by the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor pathways. THCA is a TRPA1 partial agonist, and a TRPM8 antagonist which may underlie a potential role in the analgesia, and anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea properties.Tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCA) is similar to THC, but it doesn’t cause any psychoactive effects.

Neurobiology of THCA

As peer a 2020 study, ∆9-THCA is a partially agonist of CB1 receptor (CB1R) and CB2 receptor (CB2R), with greater affinity for CB2 receptor.  ∆9-THCA produces analgesic and hypolocomotive effects and anxiolytic-like effects.   ∆9-THCA binding to CB1R and CB2R, with potential orthosteric and allosteric activity at CB1R. The anti-inflammatory activity of ∆9-THCA in a rodent model of arthritis is CB1R- and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ)-dependent.

The analgesic effect of ∆9-THCA is likely in part due to CB1R agonism. Studies, indicate ∆9-THCA may mediate neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory actions via CB1R, CB2R, and PPARγ when administered at sufficiently high concentrations and in the absence of other cannabinoids.