Delta 9 Vs THCA: Overview, Differences, Similarities & Effects

Delta 9 Vs THCA: Overview, Differences, Similarities & Effects

Posted by Christian on 26th Apr 2023

Many cannabis users are still bewildered about the difference between Delta 9 vs THCA. Some interchange these two, while others see them as the same.

Hence, in this article, we will dive deeper into their differences and similarities. What’s the difference between Delta 9 vs THCA? Will THCA fail a drug test? Do they have the same THCA side effects? What’s the difference between THCA vs Delta 8? Read on to find out.

What Is Delta 9 THC?


Delta 9 THC, also known as Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9-THC) or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is a type of cannabinoid molecule that could be found in cannabis or marijuana. It is a psychoactive ingredient that causes a person to feel high.

THC is one of 400 substances that are active in the marijuana plant. There are different cannabinoid molecules present in the plant, but the most known molecule would be THC.

Delta 9 THC: How to Use It?


There are different ways to use the Delta 9 THC. Some of them include:

  • Inhalation

  • oral digestion

  • topical application

  • sublingual administration.


If the user wants a faster reaction, the most expeditious way that produces the quickest psychoactive effect would be inhalation, such as vaping or smoking.

Oral digestion is the most straightforward form of taking it through capsules, edibles, tinctures, and oil. This form of delivery takes longer to take effect but lasts longer.

The topical application, on the other hand, uses lotions, balms, salves, oils, and bath salts applied to the skin, while sublingual administration is through tablets, sprays, or dissolvable strips placed under the tongue.

Unlike Delta 9, THCA does not have a psychotropic cannabinoid, and the THCAdoes not adhere well with the CB1 or CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system.

Which in turn, THCA does not make a person feel high because for a person to feel high, the cannabinoid must match the CB1 receptor.

CB1 receptors can be found in the brain, central nervous system, lungs, liver, and kidneys; this is why Delta 9 has more dominant psychotropic effects on the body.

There are different ways of using cannabis. When heated at a shallow temperature, cannabinoid acids are converted, and THCA will be converted to THC at a certain point wherein Delta 9 will make the body feel more lifted.

Even though Delta 9 THC is illegal in most states, it is safe to be used in minimal doses and is still prohibited at the federal level.

Many places sell delta-nine products. There are federally legal stores and FDA-approved. As long as the person searches the internet and knows the consequences of using Delta 9, it is safe for use, and stores are willing to sell as long as the buyer is in their legal age.

There are many variations between Delta 9 vs THCA, and it depends on the person what works best for them.

What Is THCA?


What Is THCA?

THCA, also known in its scientific name tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is the antecedent of the more familiar cannabinoid THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol.

Chemically speaking, it is an unstable compound that can transform and change into THC, inducing psychoactive effects.

A prevalent cannabinoid found in the raw cannabis plant, its transformation to a form with psychoactive effects can happen in numerous ways.

It can happen (though slowly) through the drying of the plant in small amounts. Also, as it is first non-intoxicating, it can change to being toxic when Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid undergoes heating (and converting) process called decarboxylation.

Decarboxylation introduces heat, whether through vaporizing the raw plant flower, smoking a dried version of it, or baking edibles using its pulverized form.

If you are not particular with the scientific differences among THCA vs delta 8 or other THC forms but after their daily uses, you can check out more information here.

To further understand its nature, let's talk about molecules and compare delta 9 vs THCA. THCA's shape is different from THC, for it has a different carboxyl group attached to its molecule, which makes it an acid.

If you would like to compare their effects, natural THCA is not psychoactive like THC (unless acted upon by heat and transformed).

As mentioned above, it has an extra carboxyl group. Therefore, it does not cause activation of the brain's CB1 cannabinoid receptors, so it has no intoxicating effects.

The THCA is not intoxicating compared to delta 9 or delta 8 variants. It needs to be exposed to dryness or introduced to heat for a long time for conversion.

Compared to THC, you can't possibly get high from ingesting or drinking the raw form of this cannabis plant, for the THCA has not been converted to its THC form yet.

How Does Delta 9 And THCA Differ?


How Does Delta 9 And THCA Differ?

Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid or THCA is an inactive marijuana compound that can be found on most cannabis plants. It is related to THC, but THCA is now defined as a precursor to THC.

This means that THC and THCA are two different compounds, and they can be seen through their effects when consumed.

Delta 9 vs. THCA


To first differentiate Delta 9 vs. THCa, Delta 9 is an active cannabinoid that gives off psychoactive effects once consumed. THCA, on the other hand, is a non-psychotropic cannabinoid and can be found on live or raw cannabis plants.

Delta 9 makes us high, while THCA doesn’t. There lies the difference in the molecule composition of the THCA. The shape of the THCA molecule does not fit into cannabinoid receptors in our brain, particularly the CB1 receptor.

The CB1 receptor can be found in the brain, central nervous system, liver, lungs, and kidneys. To be able to experience an intoxicating effect, the cannabinoid must fit into the receptors.

As mentioned earlier, THCA is the precursor molecule. To convert it to a THC, the flower of the cannabis must undergo decarboxylation. Decarboxylation is a process where it uses heat to alter the THC chemical structure.

Decarboxylation can be done in many ways, which includes the following:

  • Exposure from sunlight;

  • Exposure from room temperature; or

  • Heat exposure by smoking, vaping, or oven decarboxylation.


When heat is added to THCA, the compound is activated and becomes a Delta 9 THC at a rate of 87.7%. This is why eating raw cannabis can’t make you high - you need to apply heat to it to experience the effects.

Potential Benefits of Delta 9 vs. THCA


The benefits of Delta 9 and THCA are not exclusive to each other. Delta 9 adds more benefits to the potential benefits of the THCA.

So, what's the difference between delta 9 vs THCA in the subject of body effects?

Research says that THCA exhibits therapeutic potential for anti-inflammatory purposes and antiemetic treatments. Moreover, it is also beneficial for the immune system.

Further medical studies and advice have shown that THCA is promising in the medicinal field, especially in treating epileptic patients.

In addition, another notable feature of THCA is it can work at low doses, which can rule out dangers of addiction and overdose.

The potential therapeutic debate between delta 9 vs THCA favors the latter. It is more exceptional as it is more prevalent and readily available than THC or even CBD because of its ubiquity.

THCA has anti-inflammatory properties that can provide comfort for arthritis or lupus. It can also assist in sleep, relieve pain, prevent muscle spasms, and stimulate appetite.

Since THCA is raw cannabis, some eat it as a superfood. It is considered a dietary and nutritional supplement for the problems mentioned above.

Delta 9 THC, on the other hand, provides additional benefits that THCA doesn’t have. Delta 9 alleviates anxiety, helps decrease the risk of diabetes and obesity, reduces pain and eye pressure related to glaucoma, etc.

What Does Delta 9 And THCA Do To The Body?


What Does Delta 9 And THCA Do To The Body?

Are you on the lookout for the possible health effects of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (also known as Δ-9-THC) and tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCA)?

If you are curious to know how long Delta 9 and THCA remain on your body, the information below will help.

THC strains are present until 20 hours after ingesting, but intakers only observe its psychoactive effects for just a few hours.

Here's another thing you should be aware of: your body stores THC in your organs and body fat for up to four weeks.

If you undergo hair follicle testing, THC may be present for around 90 days; meanwhile, urine tests are unreliable in detecting THC.

Wondering how long does Delta 9 compare to Delta 8 stays on your body? Check this out!

Health effects of delta 9 vs THCA


Aside from the duration, they will stay on your body. You must be curious about what effects they induce.

In comparison to THCA, Delta 9 THC can cause undesirable body reactions.

These examples include disconnected thought processing, panic attacks, hallucinations, and delusions that usually alter perception and concept of time.

In addition, it can significantly impact spatial and psychomotor abilities, affect levels of vigilance and depth of memory for mental tasks.

However, it can cause euphoria due to dopamine, inducing heightened sensory experience and increased appetite.

Body effects of THCA compared to Delta 9


THCA, aside from sharing some similarities to THC, also offers numerous medicinal applications.

For example, it has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antiemetic properties that can regulate the immune system.

Studies regarding delta 9 vs THCA also showed that the latter helps avoid prostate cancer growth among males, and in some cases, prevents severe migraines.

Combined, a higher dose of THCA with THC is sometimes effective for seizures, pain, and arthritis.

You will be glad to know that there are no serious THCA side effects. However, there is no need to compare delta 9 vs THCA in terms of prolonged effects, as there are no reports regarding long-term use of delta 9 available.

Is Delta 9 & THCA Legal And Safe For Me?


THCA is legal and considered medical cannabis, unlike Delta 9 that's illegal in most states.

Both Delta 9 and THCA are good for the body, but at a certain point, the conversion of THCA to THC at a specific period wherein Delta 9 will make the body feel more lifted.

Most people would ask if THCA will fail a drug test. THCA can be found in both urine and blood samples, but when using a hair test, it does not detect the presence of the THCA.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the usage of synthetic THC medications like dronabinol. Brands like Marinol and Syndros are examples of THC-medicated dronabinol.

Some substances are similar to TCH, like nabilone which is sold under the brand name Cesamet. These tablets are used to treat nausea and vomiting that are caused by chemotherapy.

A study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse said that about 30% of people who use cannabis become addicted. People who use the drug earlier than the age of 18 have an increase in cannabis use disorder.

The Best Place to Buy Delta 9 Products


The Best Place to Buy Delta 9 Products

Now that you know the difference between Delta 9 vs THCA, you might be wondering where you can purchase them. Don’t worry - there are a lot of options for you.

One of the best places to buy Delta 9 products is online stores. Just a quick Google search will give you all the possible online suppliers that ship their products to your place. However, you should practice caution when purchasing from websites due to quality and legality issues.

Some online stores offer sub-standard Delta 9 and THCA products that may be dangerous to your body. Other shops also operate without necessary permits, making their products illegal, and buying them can get you implicated in disputes.

As such, you have to make sure that the online stores you intend to buy from are legitimate and with good customer reviews. Explore the interface of their website and browse their products. If you see familiar brands or manufacturers, then that is a sign of quality.

Another sure way to determine good places to get Delta 9 products is to ask your doctor. While some people take Delta 9 vs THCA for recreational purposes, these products are also widely used as medications. Healthcare professionals are, therefore, knowledgeable about these.

If online shopping is not your thing, there are also physical stores that offer Delta 9-related products. You can look them up online then visit the store that is nearest to you.

The main advantage of buying from an actual store is that you get to talk to the shop owners about your questions. Not sure which dosage to buy? Are you looking for a cheaper but effective alternative? Ask your questions away.

Just like in online shopping, you still have to check for the legality and authenticity of physical stores. Ask them for their business permits. Check the products they offer. By confirming these aspects, you are confident that you are getting the delta 9 product you are paying for.

Final Thoughts


As you know more about Delta 9 vs THCA and explore their usage, it is essential to always keep yourself in touch with reliable resources. Websites and online stores are sprouting left and right, claiming that they know what’s “best” for you. Some of them don’t, so be careful.

Only trust suppliers with a proven track record of providing the best products and customer service. Visit CBD Vape Juice for more information about Delta 9 and other related products.