THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), is a cannabis compound still in the beginning stages of research, but is already starting to show signs of therapeutic potential. Unlike THC, which comes as a result of decarboxylation, THCA is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in raw and live cannabis. 

What gets you higher: smoking or eating raw cannabis?  The answer is a complex one that considers a ton of defined variables, but generally speaking, the answer to this mystery lies in a process called decarboxylation, one that is necessary for us to enjoy the psychoactive effects of cannabinoids we consume.

For decades, during a time when the black market valued availability and potency over specific strain fits and education, the only differences advertised aside from strain naming, was their visual appearance and an Indica, Hybrid or Sativa classification. 

In this blog, we will dissect eight of the major compounds (known as cannabinoids) found in cannabis, explain the difference between cannabinoid acids and the more commonly recognized cannabinoids, how they are related to each other and what you should know about each one. 

Looking at cannabis through this lens, it would be hard to view its addictive qualities in the same light as quick-acting, life-killing hard drugs like heroin and opioids, and you only need to look at the popularity and mass adoption of AA groups and cigarette addiction treatment options to see that cannabis is likely nothing like cigarettes and alcohol — but that doesn’t mean there are no risks associated with consumption. 

In order to answer this question, you need only change the word emphasized in the title. While it’s most comfortable, and common, to emphasize the word ‘cannabis’ or ‘bad’ in the title of this blog, the emphasis should be on the word ‘you’. 

Some of the more common stigmas surrounding cannabis have been squashed by science and logic, but some still remain and are harder to disprove.  One of the most common stigmas about cannabis is that it acts as a gateway drug.