By the end of 2021, the legal marijuana industry may have a total net worth of up to $8.7 billion! That’s great news for marijuana enthusiasts or researchers interested in its medicinal properties.
And while you’ll continue hearing about THC and CBD, you might want to know that one of the most promising components of marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol acid or THCA.
When it’s time to cook, what’s your better option? Keep reading as we settle the debate between THC vs THCA.
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THC vs THCA: What’s the Difference?
To understand the pros and cons of using thc vs thca in an edible, it’s important to first understand the difference between the two compounds. And make no mistake, the difference is substantial.
THC is the component of marijuana responsible for that “high” feeling you get when you smoke pot or eat an edible, and is therefore psychoactive.
THCA, meanwhile, is a bit more complicated. THCA is an acidic cannabinoid that only turns to THC when dried and heated. While it contains many of the same molecules as THC, it’s non-psychoactive so you won’t get that euphoric feeling from using it.
Instead, THCA has more in common with CBD than THC. As such, its primary purpose is medical use instead of recreational.
Is THCA Legal?
States continue to wrestle with legislation regarding the legalization of marijuana, as well as CBD. So can you expect to find THCA at your local pharmacy?
That depends. Like most hemp-related products it’s somewhat of a gray area.
For the most part, you shouldn’t expect to find THCA on store shelves.
Technically speaking, THCA isn’t a scheduled drug on a federal level. Therefore, it isn’t illegal to own or use. However, since it’s so easy to turn THCA into THC, some states may prosecute users based on the argument that THCA is so close to THC that they’re the same.
This distinction is already showing to be a major issue in the UK.
Which Works Best for Edibles?
Using THCA in edibles presents a unique problem. Remember, as soon as THCA gets exposed to any form of heat, it turns into THC and becomes psychoactive.
So while you can use THCA in edibles, you’ll have to make sure that your edibles are cooked and consumed at room temperature or lower.
THC, meanwhile, is easy to work into edibles, especially baked goods (as cliché as it may seem).
Our Final Thoughts
In the edible encounter pitting THC vs THCA, who comes out on top? For our money, THC is the way to go. It’s easy to use and allows for versatility since you don’t have to worry about heating it.
While you can cook with both, unless you’re fond of room temp granola bars, THC is your best bet.
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