THCA vs THC: What’s the Difference Between Raw and Activated Cannabis?
In freshly harvested cannabis, cannabinoids are produced mainly in their acidic forms, including THCA, CBDA, and CBGA. When cannabis is smoked, vaped, or baked, heat triggers a reaction called decarboxylation, which converts THCA into THC. That conversion is one of the central chemical changes that separates raw cannabis from activated cannabis.