Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid

Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid
Clinical data
Other names	2-Carboxy-THC; THCA, 2-COOH-THC
ATC code	none;
Identifiers
	IUPAC name (6aR,10aR)-1-Hydroxy-6,6,9-trimethyl-3-pentyl-6a,7,8,10a-tetrahydro-6H-benzo[c]chromene-2-carboxylic acid;
CAS Number	23978-85-0;
PubChem CID	98523;
ChemSpider	88974;
UNII	EJ6CZV0K5Y;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID30178701 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.216.805
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C22H30O4
Molar mass	358.478 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
	SMILES CCCCCC1=CC2=C([C@@H]3C=C(CC[C@H]3C(O2)(C)C)C)C(=C1C(=O)O)O;

Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA, 2-COOH-THC; conjugate base tetrahydrocannabinolate) is a precursor of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active component of cannabis.

THCA is found in variable quantities in fresh, undried cannabis, but is progressively decarboxylated to THC with drying, and especially under intense heating such as when cannabis is smoked or cooked into cannabis edibles.