Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is a precursor to the more well-known THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. THCA itself does not produce intoxicating effects, but when heated, it converts to THC through a process called decarboxylation. This brings up an important question - does THCA show up on drug test?
It Depends On Whether THCA Has Been Decarboxylated
In its raw, unheated form, THCA generally does not trigger positive drug test results. Most standard tests look for THC and its metabolites rather than THCA itself. However, once THCA is decarboxylated into THC, either through smoking, vaping, or heating, it can then cause you to fail a drug test.
This is because THC breaks down into compounds called metabolites that drug tests screen for. In particular, they look for a metabolite called 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THC-COOH), which can be detected in urine for 1-30 days after cannabis use depending on frequency of use.
So while pure, unheated THCA is unlikely to make you fail a test, THCA that converts to THC through decarboxylation can and will be detected.
Urine Tests Have The Longest Detection Window
The most common type of drug screening is a urine test. Urine tests have a long detection window for THC metabolites, ranging from 3 days for infrequent users up to 30 days for chronic heavy users.
Other types of tests like saliva or blood tests can only detect THC or metabolites for a few hours up to a couple days. Meanwhile, hair follicle tests can detect metabolites for up to 90 days but are less commonly used.
So if you are subject to regular drug screening, be aware that urine tests offer the biggest challenge when it comes to THCA use, due to their long detection window for THC metabolites.
What About Pure, Unheated THCA?
Consuming THCA prior to decarboxylation generally should not make you fail a drug test. Most tests simply aren't designed to detect THCA itself.
However, THCA can slowly lose its carboxyl group and convert to THC over an extended period of time. So while small or infrequent THCA use alone often won't lead to a positive test, it still carries some risk of conversion, especially for chronic heavy users.
If you want to consume THCA from hemp or cannabis while avoiding drug testing risks, your best bet is to choose a pure, unheated or raw product that has undergone minimal processing. And of course, abstaining from use for a period of time prior to a test is safest.
What This Means For THCA Users
The key point to understand is that while THCA itself does not generally show up on a test, when it converts to THC, it can then cause you to fail. Any form of heating or drying cannabis to make concentrates, edibles, or smokable flower will decarboxylate THCA into THC.
So if you use THCA products and need to take a drug test, exercise caution. Seek out pure, unheated preparations or avoid use for a period of time if you are subject to screening. And remember that urine tests in particular have a long detection window for THC metabolites.
Conclusion - THCA Can Lead To Positive Drug Tests After Decarboxylation
In summary, THCA has the potential to trigger positive drug tests, but only once it converts into THC. Standard tests look for THC metabolites rather than THCA itself. So consuming raw, unheated THCA generally should not make you fail a test. However, smoking, vaping, or heating THCA to process it into other products will decarboxylate it into THC, which can then be detected.