November 3, 2021
Ashley Laderer, writing about THCA for INSIDER, extensively cited Eloise Theisen, a faculty member at Pacific College of Health and Science’s medical cannabis program and president of the American Cannabis Nurses Association. THCA is simply unheated THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the primary component of the cannabis plant that causes the “high” feeling when smoked or vaped. THCA, which comes from unprocessed cannabis plants, does not interact with the human body in the same and so will not make you feel high, but may confer health benefits.
Raw cannabis can be added to salads, juiced, or blended, and in this form, says Theisen, it may have anti-inflammatory properties. More research needs to be done, but THCA could also be useful in treating or preventing neurological conditions such as Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s. As with other cannabis products and components, however, caution is merited until further research is conducted. According to Theisen, however, the main risks of THCA are related to the conversion to THC when the user is not expecting to get high. “The risks are always dose-related, so the more someone consumes, the more likely they are to have side effects or adverse effects,” says Theisen.