If you have ever looked at a cannabis label and thought, “Wait… why does this say THCA is 24% but THC is only 0.7%?” you are not alone. This is one of the most common points of confusion in dispensaries, especially now that product packaging, lab reports, and even online listings often use acronyms, as if you are supposed to know the secret handshake already.
Here is the secret, in plain English.
THCA is the natural form that the cannabis plant makes. THC is what your body experiences after heat changes THCA into THC.
That one sentence explains why flower gets you high when you smoke it, why raw cannabis usually does not, and why you will see “THCA” everywhere, even when the product clearly feels like “THC.”
Let’s break it down in a way that actually helps you buy the right product, dose more confidently, and understand what is in your jar.
The simple difference: THCA is “unactivated,” THC is “activated”
Cannabis produces cannabinoids mostly in their acidic form. For THC, that acidic form is THCA, short for tetrahydrocannabinolic acid.
THCA has an additional chemical group attached: a carboxyl group. That extra piece changes how it fits into receptors in your brain and nervous system. In its raw state, THCA is generally non-intoxicating.
When you apply heat, that extra piece breaks off as carbon dioxide. This chemical change is called decarboxylation, usually shortened to decarb.
After decarb, THCA becomes delta-9 THC, the cannabinoid most people mean when they say “THC,” and the one responsible for the classic high.
In other words:
- THCA = what is in fresh cannabis flower before heat
- THC = what you get after heat converts THCA into THC
Why this matters in real life: your method changes the outcome
A lot of cannabis education sounds like chemistry class until you realize it answers practical questions like these:
“Why does smoking flower work so fast?”
Because combustion (lighting a joint, bowl, or blunt) instantly converts a large portion of THCA into THC. Inhaled THC hits quickly, often within minutes, because it moves from the lungs to the bloodstream fast.
“Why does vaping feel a little different than smoking?”
Vaping still decarbs THCA into THC, but it does so with controlled heat, not flame. Many people feel vaping can preserve more of the plant’s aroma and flavor compounds because you are not torching everything at once. The experience can feel “cleaner” or more terpene-forward, depending on the vape and temperature.
“Why do edibles feel stronger or last longer?”
Edibles start with decarb, too. The cannabis used for edibles is typically heated during production (or pre-heated by the maker) so THCA converts into THC. Then your liver processes THC differently than your lungs do, which is part of why edibles can feel more intense and last longer.
“Can raw cannabis get you high?”
Usually, no, not in the traditional way. Raw cannabis is mostly THCA, and without heat, you are not converting much into THC. That said, “raw” is not always truly raw. Drying, curing, storage conditions, and processing can convert some THCA over time.
Why your flower label looks weird: most “THC” on flower is actually THCA
Here is the part that surprises people:
Most cannabis flower contains very little delta-9 THC before you heat it.
It mostly contains THCA.
That is why a lab report might show something like:
- THCA: 23.5%
- THC: 0.6%
Yet you smoke it, and it absolutely works.
Because the THCA is the potential. The heat unlocks it.
What “Total THC” means, and why the math uses 0.877
Dispensary labels and lab reports often list Total THC, which is meant to estimate how much THC could be available after THCA converts.
There is a common calculation used across the industry:
Total THC = (THCA × 0.877) + THC
The 0.877 number exists because when THCA loses that extra piece during decarb, it loses some molecular weight. Not every milligram of THCA becomes a full milligram of THC.
A quick example
If a flower COA shows:
- THCA: 20%
- THC: 1%
Then:
- 20 × 0.877 = 17.54
- 17.54 + 1 = 18.54% Total THC (estimated)
So when you see “THCA 26%” on a label, it doesn’t mean the product is weak. It shows you the raw form that converts when heated.
THCA vs THC effects: what you actually feel
THC effects (after activation)
THC is the cannabinoid associated with:
- Euphoria
- Altered perception of time
- Stronger sensory experience
- Appetite changes
- Sleepiness or stimulation (depends on dose, terpenes, and your body)
- Impairment (important for driving and safety)
THCA effects (raw or unheated)
THCA is widely discussed for potential wellness interest, but it is best to keep expectations realistic. Most people do not experience a “high” from THCA in raw form. Some people report subtle effects, others report nothing noticeable.
The key point is simple:
- If you want intoxication, you are looking for THC or THCA that will be heated.
- If you do not want intoxication, you need to avoid heating, and you should pay attention to processing and storage that might convert THCA anyway.
THCA flower: why it exists, and why it confuses everyone
You might have seen “THCA flower” marketed online, sometimes framed as “not marijuana” or “legal hemp.” This is where confusion turns into a mess of marketing, loopholes, and changing rules.
Here is the plain explanation:
- Federal hemp rules historically focused on delta-9 THC percentage by dry weight.
- Some products can test below the delta-9 limit before heating, yet still have high THCA.
- After heating, that THCA becomes THC and can feel essentially the same as dispensary flower.
People see “THCA flower” and assume it is a different substance. In many cases, it is simply cannabis flower being described through a legal and testing lens.
Important note: laws and enforcement around intoxicating hemp-derived products have been changing fast, and state rules vary a lot. If you are shopping in Washington at a licensed dispensary, you are already in a regulated system with testing, labeling, and age requirements. That is a different world than mystery flower shipped from who-knows-where, with a lab report you have to squint at like a treasure map.
Heat, time, and storage: THCA does not stay THCA forever
Even if you never light your flower, THCA slowly changes over time, especially when exposed to:
- Heat
- Light (especially UV)
- Oxygen
- Long storage
This is part of why old flower can feel different. It can also be part of why “raw THCA” products are tricky. If a product is not stored well, or if it sits around long enough, the cannabinoid profile can shift.
If you care about preserving freshness:
- Store flower in a cool, dark place
- Keep it airtight
- Avoid repeated opening and closing
- Avoid leaving it in a hot car, on a sunny windowsill, or near a heater
Concentrates: where THCA shows up the most
THCA is not only a flower thing.
Many concentrates are rich in cannabinoids that started as THCA and were processed in ways that preserve or isolate it.
THCA diamonds and crystalline
THCA “diamonds” are concentrated THCA in crystal form. On their own, they are not the classic “active THC” until heated, but nobody is eating diamonds raw like a health supplement. They are typically dabbed, which means high heat, which means conversion into THC quickly.
Live resin and rosin
These often contain high THCA content as well, especially when the concentrate is produced to preserve the plant’s original profile. Again, when you dab or vape it, you are activating it.
The takeaway:
If it is being heated, THCA is basically the “before,” and THC is the “after.”
“So which is stronger, THC or THCA?”
This is the wrong question, but it is a normal question.
A better question is:
“How am I consuming this, and what does that method turn it into?”
If you are smoking, vaping, or dabbing, the THCA content is a major part of what becomes THC. So a high-THCA flower can be very potent.
If you are trying to avoid intoxication, THCA products only make sense if they are truly unheated and you understand that storage and processing can still create some THC.
How to shop smarter using a COA
If you want to feel like you know what you are doing, you do not need to memorize chemistry. You just need to know what to look for.
1) Look at THCA and delta-9 THC
- If THCA is high and delta-9 THC is low, it is normal for flower.
- If both are high, it may be older flower, different processing, or a product designed to already contain active THC.
2) Look for Total THC
Total THC is a better “potency expectation” number than delta-9 THC alone, especially for flower.
3) Look beyond cannabinoids
Terpenes and minor cannabinoids can influence how a product feels. Two strains with the same Total THC can feel very different.
If you want help interpreting a label, that is literally what budtenders are for. Bring the package, ask the question, and save yourself from buying something that does not match your goals.
Dosing and safety: why this difference matters for your body
THC can be enjoyable, but it is also the compound most likely to produce unwanted effects when dosing is off. Understanding the differences between THCA and THC helps you avoid surprises.
If you are inhaling
Effects typically come on quickly. Start small. Wait a few minutes before you take more.
If you are using edibles
Go slow. Effects may take 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on your metabolism and whether you have eaten recently. Many people overdo edibles because they think nothing is happening, then it all arrives at once.
Do not drive or operate machinery
THC can impair reaction time and judgment. Plan your ride, plan your night.
If you are subject to drug testing
Do not assume “THCA” means “safe.” If you smoke, vape, or dab THCA-rich products, you are converting it into THC, and your body will metabolize it accordingly. Even with non-heated products, it is not smart to gamble your job or legal situation on a technicality.
Why it matters for your cannabis experience at Commencement Bay Cannabis
When you shop at a licensed dispensary, you are buying products that are tested, labeled, and regulated. Understanding THC vs THCA helps you:
- Read labels with confidence
- Compare flower strains more accurately
- Understand why “THCA percent” is not a scam; it is chemistry
- Choose the right product for your desired experience
- Avoid accidental overconsumption, especially with edibles and concentrates
If you want the classic effects cannabis is known for, you are looking for products that deliver activated THC through heat or through a process that already activated it.
If you are specifically interested in THCA, the key is to be honest about your goal. Most people do not want THCA because it is trendy. They want it because they saw a label, got confused, and just want to know what they are putting in their body.
That is a good instinct.
Next time you are looking at a jar that says “THCA 25%” and “THC 0.8%,” you can smile and think: “Right. This is the before picture. Heat makes it the after.”
And if you want help picking the right “after,” stop by Commencement Bay Cannabis and ask.
