THCA, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is a cannabinoid you’ll find in raw cannabis, and it’s becoming increasingly popular. As more people explore its potential benefits, a common question arises: if you use THCA products, will it show up on a drug test?
That’s a valid concern. After all, nobody wants an unexpected positive result.
This article dives into the relationship between THCA and drug testing. We’ll explore factors that can influence whether or not THCA shows up, discuss the different types of drug tests used, and hopefully provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions.
Understanding THCA
To understand whether THCA will cause you to fail a drug test, it’s helpful to understand what THCA is and how it differs from THC.
What is THCA?
THCA, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in raw and live cannabis plants. Think of it as the precursor to THC.
Chemically speaking, THCA has an extra carboxyl group compared to THC. This extra group prevents THCA from binding effectively to the CB1 receptors in your brain.
THCA vs. THC: What’s the Difference?
The main difference between THCA and THC is whether it gets you high. THCA, in its raw form, is non-psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t produce the “high” associated with cannabis use. THC is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis.
So, how does THCA turn into THC? Through a process called decarboxylation, which involves heating it. This process removes the carboxyl group, allowing the THC to interact with those CB1 receptors and produce its psychoactive effects.
Potential Benefits of THCA
Although research is still in the early stages, some studies suggest that THCA may have neuroprotective and antioxidant effects. It’s currently being studied for a variety of potential health benefits.
Drug Tests and What They Detect
If you’re using THCA, you’re probably wondering whether it’ll show up on a drug test. Here’s what you need to know.
What are drug tests looking for?
Standard drug tests aren’t designed to detect THCA. What they’re really looking for are THC metabolites, such as THC-COOH. Your body produces THC-COOH after it processes THC.
Types of drug tests and their sensitivity
There are several kinds of drug tests, including:
- Urine tests
- Blood tests
- Saliva tests
- Hair tests
- Breath tests
Each of these has a slightly different window of time in which it can detect THC metabolites.
Understanding different types of drug tests
Most drug tests are immunoassays, which means they use antibodies to detect the presence of a drug or its metabolites in your system. Immunoassays are commonly used to screen urine and saliva.
If an immunoassay comes back positive, the results are typically confirmed by a more sensitive test, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). GC-MS can be used to test urine, blood, and hair, and it provides a more precise identification of substances.
Another highly sensitive confirmation method is liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). LC-MS/MS can be used to test urine, blood, saliva, and hair.
Can THCA Trigger a Positive Drug Test?
The short answer? It’s complicated. While THCA itself isn’t what drug tests typically screen for, there are a few ways it could lead to a positive result.
The Risk of Conversion
This is the big one. THCA, in its raw form, isn’t psychoactive. But when you heat it, a chemical process called decarboxylation happens, and THCA transforms into THC. Think of it like this: you’re starting with ingredient A (THCA), applying heat, and ending up with ingredient B (THC).
So, if you’re vaping or smoking THCA-rich products, you’re almost certainly going to be inhaling THC. The same goes for cooking with THCA. Even if you start with a product that’s primarily THCA, the heat will convert some of it to THC.
Indirect Detection via THC Conversion
Here’s where things get even trickier. Once THC is in your system, your body breaks it down into various metabolites, including THC-COOH. THC-COOH is what standard drug tests look for. It sticks around in your system much longer than THC itself, making it a reliable marker for past cannabis use.
Even if you’re only converting a small amount of THCA into THC, that THC will still be metabolized into THC-COOH. And even small amounts of THC-COOH can be enough to trigger a positive drug test.
The Importance of Dosage and Consumption Method
The amount of THCA you consume plays a significant role. The more THCA you take, the greater the potential for it to convert into detectable levels of THC. Think of it like baking a cake: the more ingredients you use, the bigger the cake you’ll end up with.
The way you consume THCA also matters. Eating it raw or in an unheated form is less likely to cause a positive test compared to smoking or vaping it. This is because less of the THCA is being converted into THC.
Factors Influencing Drug Test Results
Whether or not THCA shows up on a drug test can depend on a number of factors, including how you consume it, how often you consume it, and your individual physiology.
Consumption Methods
The way you ingest THCA can affect how it’s metabolized. For example, if you eat it, the THCA will be processed differently than if you inhale it. Inhalation leads to faster absorption and potentially higher levels of THC in your system.
It’s also important to remember that heating THCA converts it to THC. So, if you’re vaping THCA, for example, the amount of heat and the length of time you apply it will affect how much THC is produced.
Frequency of Use
If you use THCA products frequently, especially if you’re heating them, THC metabolites can build up in your body over time. The more often you use these products, the longer those metabolites will be detectable.
Detection times for THC metabolites vary based on how often you use THCA (or THC). Occasional users will clear the metabolites faster than moderate, regular, or heavy users.
Individual Body Metabolism and Chemistry
Everyone’s body processes and eliminates THC at a different rate. Your individual metabolism affects how quickly your body processes and eliminates THC, and therefore how long THC-COOH, the metabolite tested for in most drug tests, stays in your system.
THC is stored in fat cells, so people with higher body fat percentages may retain THC metabolites for a longer period of time. In addition, factors like your age, your diet, and how much you exercise can also influence your metabolic rate and how quickly your body gets rid of THC.
How long can THCA/THC be detected in bodily fluids?
If you’re concerned about whether THCA or THC will show up on a drug test, here’s a quick guide to how long these substances can be detected in your system.
Urine tests
Urine tests are probably the most common type of drug screening. They don’t detect THC or THCA themselves, but rather the THC-COOH metabolites that remain after your body processes those substances.
Here’s how long THC-COOH can be detected in urine, depending on how often you use cannabis products:
- One-time use: 3 to 5 days
- Four times per week: About 7 days
- Daily use: Around 15 days
- Daily or heavy use: From 30 to 45 days
Blood tests
Blood tests are generally used to detect recent cannabis use, so they’re more likely to pick up actual THC in the bloodstream.
THC can generally be detected in blood for the following periods:
- Occasional users: 1 to 2 days
- Frequent users: Up to 7 days
Saliva tests
Like blood tests, saliva tests tend to detect recent use of cannabis. Because of this, they test for the presence of THC rather than its metabolites.
Depending on your frequency of use, here’s how long THC can be detected in saliva:
- Occasional users: 24 to 72 hours after use
- Frequent users: Up to 1 week
Saliva tests are generally less sensitive than urine or blood tests.
Hair tests
Hair tests are used to detect long-term use of various substances, including cannabis.
The general detection window for cannabis in hair is up to 90 days. However, hair tests may not pick up very recent use, since it takes time for the substance to reach the hair follicle.
Breath tests
Breath tests are designed to detect very recent THC use, especially within the window of impairment.
THC can generally be detected on the breath for up to 1 to 3 hours after smoking or vaping.
Avoiding false positives and other considerations
So, you’re trying to figure out whether using THCA products will cause a positive result on a drug test. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Potential for false positives
It’s important to consider the possibility of a false positive result. Certain hemp products or medications could trigger a positive result. And be aware that some CBD products may contain trace amounts of THC, which could register on a drug test.
The myth of detox methods
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about ways to quickly detox THC from your body. The truth is, there’s no reliable way to do it. The only sure way to avoid a positive drug test is to abstain from using any products that contain THC or THCA.
Transparency and disclosure
It’s always a good idea to be transparent about any supplements you’re taking if you’re required to undergo a drug test. You may also want to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice, especially if you have concerns about how THCA or other substances might affect your health or test results.
Final Thoughts
The main thing to remember is that standard drug tests don’t screen for THCA directly. However, because THCA can convert to THC, using it carries a risk of testing positive for cannabis.
How long THCA stays in your system is highly variable, but it could be anywhere from a week to 45 days. Your consumption methods, how often you use THCA, and your metabolism all play a part in how risky it is for you.
Because drug-testing policies and regulations can vary so widely, it’s essential to understand what’s at stake if you test positive before you choose to use THCA.