What is THCa or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid?

Question

Accepted Answer

THCa is the raw precursor to THC. Due to its extra carboxyl ring, ingesting THCa without heating will not produce any psychoactive effects. However, applying heat by smoking, baking homemade edibles, or vaping transforms THCa into THC. Thankfully, hemp-derived THCa is not a controlled substance due to the Farm Bill's cannabis legalization terms. So it's federally legal to produce, sell, and possess unlike marijuana!