All the cannabis terminology out there got you feeling confused? We get it, and you’re not alone—it’s a lot to take in.

And let’s be real, some of the most knowledgeable people on this topic are also the ones who’ve been hitting the bong the hardest…a rough source when you just need a straight answer.

But no worries, man. In this article, we’re covering two of the “newest” terms in circulation. (Technically these aren’t “new,” just new-ish to the mainstream cannabis scene. They’ve existed in the plant the whole time.)

THCp (tetrahydrocannabiphorol) and THCa (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) are just two of the many cannabinoids found in cannabis. Cannabinoids are the natural compounds found in cannabis (hence the name…) that bind to receptors in your body and create different effects.

In this article, we’ll explore the key differences between these two compounds – from potency and availability to research and legality – so you can decide which one might be right for you. Whether you’re a cannabis connoisseur or just curious about these cannabinoids, we’ve got you covered.

THCa vs THCp: The Basics

Let’s break down THCa first. It’s the non-psychoactive compound found abundantly in raw cannabis plants, just hanging out until things heat up. When you apply heat to THCa – whether by smoking, vaping, or cooking – it goes through a process called decarboxylation, transforming it into our old friend, psychoactive THC, known as Delta-9.

But raw THCa isn’t just waiting around to become THC… By itself, it’s known for supporting healthy inflammatory response and digestion. And while those are some pretty nice perks, most folks love THCa flower because when smoked, it turns to THC and delivers that classic cannabis high – and yes, it’s federally legal. Want to check it out for yourself? Try our THCa flower and pre-rolls.

Then there’s THCp. This cannabinoid is the new kid on the block – we didn’t even know it existed until 2019, when scientists found tiny amounts of it in some Italian medical cannabis. Pretty wild that after thousands of years of humans using cannabis, we’re still discovering new compounds.

While THCp exists naturally in cannabis plants, you’ll barely find enough to fill a joint. That’s why most THCp products you see on the market today come from labs rather than straight from the plant.

THCp has a special structure (specifically, a longer alkyl side chain) that makes it bind to your brain’s cannabinoid receptors 33 times stronger than regular THC. Because of this, it takes way less THCp to get you high than it does THC. So when someone tells you a little goes a long way with THCp, they’re not kidding.

The legal status of both THCa and THCp gets a bit tricky. Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp-derived products with 0.3% or less Delta 9 THC are federally legal – which is why our THCa products can ship nationwide. THCp exists in more of a gray area since it’s not specifically mentioned in the Farm Bill, though technically it’s legal if hemp-derived and within those Delta 9 limits (but heads up – some states might have their own rules about this stuff).

The Differences Between THCp and THCa

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive into what makes these cannabinoids unique. While both can get you high (either directly or after being heated), THCp and THCa are actually quite different in terms of potency, how they’re made, and how well they’ve been studied. These differences might help you decide which one’s right for your next adventure.

THCp Is More Potent Due to Its Chemical Structure

The way cannabinoids make you feel comes down to how they connect with your endocannabinoid system – your body’s control center for mood, thinking, and other functions.

Most of the action happens at your CB1 receptors, which are scattered throughout your brain and body like tiny landing pads. When cannabinoids dock with these receptors, that’s when you start feeling those classic psychoactive effects – the euphoria, the mood lift, all the good stuff.

For any cannabinoid to link up with those CB1 receptors, it needs at least three carbon atoms in its chain. But the more carbons in the chain (up to eight), the better it binds.

Classic, original Delta 9 THC comes with five carbons in its chain, which works just great. But THCp? This overachiever shows up with seven carbons. That extra length lets THCp grip those receptors like a magnet to metal, making it MUCH more powerful than THC – even when you take less of it.

THCp Is Semi-Synthetic

Let’s talk about where these cannabinoids actually come from. THCa is naturally found in large amounts in the raw cannabis plant, and with a little heat it easily transforms into Delta-9 THC.

THCp is a different story. While it does exist naturally in cannabis plants, you’d need a microscope to find it – we’re talking tiny, trace amounts. That’s why most THCp products you see on the market come from labs, where scientists create it through various chemical processes and then purify it to remove contaminants.

Unlike natural cannabis products, there aren’t many rules about how semi-synthetic cannabinoids like THCp need to be tested or regulated. Because of this, it’s hard to know much about the quality and safety of THCp products on the market.

THCa Is More Widely Available and Affordable

When it comes to actually getting your hands on these cannabinoids, THCa is the clear winner. Since it’s naturally abundant in cannabis plants and doesn’t require an advanced chemistry degree to extract it, THCa products are easier to find and won’t break the bank.

Plus, while THCa is pretty much welcome anywhere hemp products are legal, THCp faces more restrictions. A lot of states have specific rules about synthetic cannabinoids that make THCp harder to find – or straight-up illegal in some places.

THCa Has Been Studied More

When it comes to research, THCa’s got quite the head start. Scientists have been studying this cannabinoid for years, learning all about its effects and how it converts to THC when heated. There are stacks of research papers explaining exactly what THCa does in your body.

But since THCp is so new (well, new to us. It’s technically existed for a very long time), research is still pretty limited. And because it’s usually made in a lab rather than extracted straight from the plant, there are some question marks about potential contaminants and long-term effects.

That’s why if you’re thinking about trying THCp, it’s super important to know how the products are tested and what they’re tested for. You want to make sure what you’re getting is the real deal, not some sketchy lab experiment gone wrong.

The Similarities Between THCp and THCa

Despite their differences, THCp and THCa aren’t total strangers – they’ve got more in common than you might think.

Whether you’re talking about how you can use them, their effects, or even their legal status, these cannabinoids share some interesting similarities.

They Have Similar Consumption Methods

When it comes to how you can enjoy these cannabinoids, THCp and THCa play by the same rules. You’ll find both of them in all your favorite forms – from vapes and gummies to tinctures, flower, and pre-rolls.

Sometimes you’ll even find them in the same product, along with other cannabinoids like CBD. This combo creates what’s called an entourage effect – basically, all these compounds work together to create stronger, more well-rounded effects than they would on their own.

While they can be consumed in similar ways, remember that THCp has much higher potency and really should be left to the seasoned pros.

Both Can Get You High

At the end of the day, both of these cannabinoids can produce the euphoric effects you’re looking for – they just take different routes to get there.

While THCa starts off totally sober in its raw form, give it some heat (like when you smoke it), and it transforms into THC, ready to deliver that classic cannabis high.

THCp, on the other hand, comes ready to party right out the gate with its seven-carbon chain. That chain grips to your CB1 receptors like glue and creates a super strong high, no conversion needed.

Both Can Show Up on a Drug Test

Got a drug test coming up? You’ll want to steer clear of both these compounds.

Most drug tests are looking for something called 9-carboxy-THC – that’s just the long way of saying the stuff that THC breaks down into in your body.

And since THCp and THCa are both cousins of THC with similar chemical structures, they’ll both likely wave a red flag on that test.(Especially if you’re smoking or vaping THCa, which converts it directly into THC anyway…) No fancy chemical structure or legal status is going to help you pass – if you’re getting tested, best to skip both.

Hemp-Derived THCa and THCp Are Federally Legal

Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp-derived products are living their best legal life (as long as they keep their Delta 9 THC levels at 0.3% or less by dry weight).

Since the Bill only mentions Delta 9 specifically, both THCa and THCp found a sweet little loophole to slide through. That means as long as these products stay within that Delta 9 limit, they’re technically federally legal. Pretty sweet, right?

That’s why we’re able to ship our premium THCa flower straight to your door in most states – though we can’t send it to Alaska, California, Idaho, Indiana, or South Carolina (sorry, folks).

Just remember to check your local laws before placing an order. While these compounds might be cool with Uncle Sam, some states have their own ideas about what should and shouldn’t be legal.

Studies on the Effects of THCp and THCa

We know both these cannabinoids can get you feeling good, but there’s more to them than just the high. Scientists have been digging into their potential therapeutic benefits, and while research is still ongoing, they’ve found some pretty interesting stuff.

THCp Effects

While THCp is still new to the scene with limited research under its belt, the early studies we do have are pretty promising. Here’s what scientists have found so far:

• Support pain management: When researchers tested THCp on mice, they found it had some serious pain-fighting potential, as they were able to observe it actively block pain signals in the nervous system.
• Produces calming effects: In studies, the compound also slowed down movement and lowered body temperature, suggesting it’s got some powerful calming effects too.

THCa Effects

Unlike its newer cousin THCp, THCa has been under the microscope for years, giving researchers time to uncover its therapeutic potential.

Studies suggest this non-psychoactive compound might pack some serious anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective benefits, even before it converts to THC.

• Supports healthy inflammatory response: Research shows THCa has anti-inflammatory properties, which is why you’ll find it in topicals and tinctures. Early studies suggest it might help pain relief and support a healthy level of inflammation in the body.
• Produces neuroprotective effects: Scientists have found that THCa might help protect brain cells from damage. Early research points to THCa having properties that could help keep your neurons healthy and functioning well.
• Has anticonvulsant effects: Studies show that THCa, especially when combined with THC, demonstrates anticonvulsant properties. One study specifically found this combo showed promise in certain seizure models.

How Do THCp and THCa Compare to Other Cannabinoids?

The cannabinoid market is expanding faster than ever before, and it feels like a new compound with a new acronym drops every month.

While semi-synthetic options like Delta 8 and HHC are getting plenty of buzz, there’s something to be said for sticking with what nature intended.

That’s why we’re big fans of THCa and the Delta 9 it creates – they’re the original cannabinoids that have been getting people high for thousands of years, no lab engineering required. Sometimes the classics are classics for a reason.

• Delta 8 THC: Think of this one as Delta 9’s less potent cousin. While it exists naturally in cannabis, it’s only found in teeny, tiny amounts- that’s why most Delta 8 products are cooked up in labs using hemp-derived CBD.
• Delta 10 THC: Another lab-created cannabinoid, Delta 10 is even less potent than Delta 8. If Delta 9 is a strong cup of coffee and Delta 8 is a mild brew, Delta 10 is like a cup of half caf.
• HHC: This semi-synthetic compound (full name- hexahydrocannabinol) sits somewhere between Delta 8 and Delta 9 in terms of effects. It’s stronger than Delta 8 but doesn’t quite pack the punch of natural Delta 9.

Is THCp or THCa Better for Your Needs?

THCp might sound tempting with its high potency, but because it’s so new, and because it’s lab-made, we don’t really know what it does in your body. That’s a lot of unknowns for something that’s 33 times as potent as the stuff you know and love.

THCa, on the other hand, is a naturally occurring cannabinoid that’s straight from the plant. When you heat it up (like when smoking our premium flower), it transforms into good old Delta 9 THC, giving you that classic, well-known high that we’ve been enjoying for centuries.

If you’re looking for a reliable high from a compound that’s stood the test of time, THCa is your best bet.

Buy Federally Legal THC Online Today!

It’s pretty wild how we keep discovering new things about cannabis – from THCp’s super-strong binding abilities to THCa’s potential health benefits.

And while each cannabinoid brings something different to the table, we’ve got a special soft spot for THCa. The plant makes plenty of it naturally, science says it’s solid, and when you heat it up you get a classic Delta 9 THC high. What’s not to love?

Ready to try it yourself? Our high-quality THCa flower and pre-rolls ship right to your door in most states (sorry again, Alaska, California, Idaho, Indiana, and South Carolina). Just remember to check your local laws before ordering – while these products are federally legal, some states have their own rules about what’s allowed.