If you use hemp or cannabis products, you may wonder how long THCA shows up on a drug test. Many people think THCA is harmless for testing since it is not the same as THC. The truth is a bit trickier. To understand it better, you need to know how THCA works and how it changes inside the body.
What is THCA?
THCA stands for tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. It is a natural compound found in raw cannabis plants. Unlike THC, it does not cause a high in its original form. That is why some users see it as non-psychoactive.
Difference between THCA and THC
The main difference between THCA and THC is simple. THCA is the raw, inactive version. THC is the active compound that gives you the high. When cannabis is fresh, it mostly has THCA. As the plant dries or gets heated, THCA slowly changes into THC.
Does THCA convert to THC (decarboxylation)?
Yes, THCA changes to THC when it is heated. This process is called decarboxylation. Smoking, vaping, or baking cannabis all cause this change. Once THCA becomes THC, it has psychoactive effects. This is important for drug tests because most tests look for THC, not THCA.
Why this matters for drug testing?
Most standard drug tests check for THC metabolites in the body. Even if you start with THCA, once it is heated or processed, it can turn into THC. That means using products with THCA may still lead to a positive result on a test.
Does THCA Show Up on a Drug Test?
Yes, THCA can show up on a drug test, but not always in the way you expect. Standard drug tests are not made to look for THCA itself. Instead, they check for THC and its byproducts, called metabolites. The confusion happens because THCA can turn into THC once it is heated or processed in the body.
If you use products with THCA and they are exposed to heat, they may leave traces of THC in your system. This is what a drug test will detect. So, while the test is not directly targeting THCA, it can still cause a positive result if THC is present.
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Lab Testing Methods
Urine Drug Tests
Does cannabis show up in a urine test?
Yes. Urine tests detect THC metabolites. The main one is THC-COOH. These tests do not look for THCA specifically.
Cannabinoid urine screen explained
A urine screen checks for cannabinoids or their byproducts. It often starts with a broad immunoassay. If that is positive, labs do a confirmation test like GC-MS or LC-MS/MS. These confirm whether THC-COOH is present and avoid false positives.
THCA urine test
There is no standard urine test that targets THCA itself. Urine tests target THC or its metabolites. But if THCA is converted to THC (for example by heat), that THC can be metabolized to THC-COOH and show up in urine.
Detection time for THC metabolites in urine.
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Occasional user: about 3-15 days after use.
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Chronic/heavy user: 30 days or more.
Hair Follicle Tests
How long does THCA stay in your hair?
Hair tests don’t detect THCA specifically. They detect THC metabolites embedded in hair. But because hair holds drug metabolites much longer, a pattern of use (THC derived from whatever source) can show up.
Reliability and detection time.
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Hair can show drug use for up to 90 days or more.
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It is good at showing long-term use. Not great at telling very recent use.
Saliva & Blood Tests
How long does THCA stay in saliva?
Saliva tests mostly detect recent use of THC (or converted THCA). Detection window is short. Maybe up to 24 hours, some reports say up to 72 hours for frequent users.
Blood detection windows.
Blood tests catch very recent THC use. Hours to maybe 1-2 days after use. They are not used to detect long-past use because THC clears from blood relatively quickly.
Also Read: Can You Fly With THCA?
Workplace vs DOT Testing Standards
THCA DOT drug test
DOT stands for Department of Transportation (in the US). DOT tests for controlled substances including marijuana (THC). It does not specifically test for THCA. If THCA has converted to THC (and metabolites present), DOT could flag it.
Federal vs State Laws
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Federally in the US, THC is still a controlled substance. Tests required under federal programs follow certain guidelines (cutoffs, testing windows).
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Some states have legalized cannabis or have differing rules. That may affect employment policy or what counts as “legal” at state level vs what employers test for. But drug tests often follow federal or industry rules, which may ignore state legalization.
Special Employer Testing Policies
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Employers may require stricter tests or lower cutoff levels.
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Some safety-sensitive jobs or industries (transportation, aviation, etc.) may enforce DOT rules or similar.
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Employers may also test more often or test saliva/blood in addition to urine depending on the risk.
Does THCA test for THC?
Drug tests do not look for THCA on its own. They focus on THC and the metabolites your body makes after using it. But the tricky part is that THCA can become THC when it is heated or processed. That means if you consume THCA in certain ways, the test may still read it as THC.
Will THCA convert to THC in your body and cause detection?
When you eat raw cannabis with THCA, most of it does not turn into THC inside your body. However, once THCA is heated through smoking, vaping, or cooking, it changes into THC before entering your system. At that point, your body breaks it down into metabolites that show up on drug tests.
Does smoking or vaping THCA make you fail a test?
Yes, it can. Smoking or vaping THCA converts it into THC right away. Once THC enters your bloodstream, it can be detected in urine, saliva, blood, or hair tests. So, even though you started with THCA, the process of heating makes it likely to cause a positive result.
Does THCA pop up on a drug test?
Standard drug tests do not directly look for THCA. They look for THC and its metabolites, especially THC-COOH. But if THCA is exposed to heat, it converts to THC, which can be detected.
Will THCA make you fail a drug test?
Yes, it can. If you smoke, vape, or cook products with THCA, it turns into THC before entering your body. Once THC is in your system, tests can pick up its metabolites. That can lead to a failed result on urine, saliva, blood, or hair tests.
Smoking vs. raw consumption
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Smoking or vaping THCA: Almost all of it converts to THC. This is the highest risk for failing a test.
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Raw consumption (like juicing cannabis leaves): THCA in raw form does not easily change into THC inside your body. This lowers the risk. Still, some decarboxylation can happen with time, light, or body heat, so it is not fully risk-free.
How to Pass a Drug Test if You’ve Used THCA
Getting THCA out of your system works the same way as THC, since once it is heated it turns into THC. Your body needs time to process and flush out the metabolites. There is no quick fix that clears everything overnight. Drinking water, exercising, and eating healthy may support your body’s natural process, but they do not guarantee a clean test. Some people ask,
Can you pass a drug test smoking THCA? The short answer is no, because smoking converts it into THC, and that is what drug tests catch. There are plenty of detox myths, like using special drinks or home remedies right before a test. These may change urine color or dilute it, but labs often check for that too. The only proven advice is giving your body enough time without use so that THC metabolites can leave naturally.
Also Read: Is THCA Natural or Synthetic?
THCA Legality by State & Effects
Legality of THCA by State
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At the federal level in the US, THCA derived from hemp is generally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill so long as it has no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight.
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Still, state laws vary a lot. Some states have “total THC” laws that treat THCA plus THC together when determining legality. If THCA converts to THC (especially by heating), that can push the total over the legal limit and make it illegal in those states.
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States like Idaho and Nebraska are stricter, they may ban or heavily restrict THCA even if hemp-derived, especially if the THCA-to-THC conversion is possible.
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Some states explicitly allow THCA flower or smokable hemp under certain conditions (THC threshold, licensing) while others ban smokable hemp entirely or define “finished hemp products” so that THCA converts count.
So, whether THCA is legal in a given state depends on:
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If it is hemp-derived.
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If it follows THC limits (especially total THC including converted THCA).
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Whether smokable or heatable products are allowed.
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Specific local cannabis regulation (medical / recreational).
Does THCA Get You High?
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Raw THCA (not heated) does not get you high. It has no psychoactive effect until it converts to THC.
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Once you smoke, vape, or otherwise apply heat to THCa, it decarboxylates and becomes Delta-9 THC. That gives the same psychoactive effects as THC from cannabis.
How Strong & How Long Is the THCA-High?
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Smoking or vaping converted THCA → THC tends to produce a fast onset of effects. Peak effects happen quickly, often within minutes.
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The high from smoking/vaping might last around 1 to 3 hours depending on dose, tolerance, and how strong the product is.
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If THCA is consumed via edibles or other oral methods (which require decarboxylation before or during digestion), the onset is slower but effects last longer (maybe 4-6 hours or more) depending on dose and metabolism.
Is THCA Addictive / Withdrawal Potential?
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There is limited evidence specific to THCA itself, since most studies focus on THC. Since THCA becomes THC when heated, its risk of addiction or dependence probably mirrors THC when used in that form.
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Regular use of THC (via converted THCA) can lead to tolerance, dependence, and mild withdrawal symptoms when use stops. These may include irritability, sleep issues, mood changes.
Final Thoughts
THCA itself may not be the main target of drug tests, but once it changes into THC, it can lead to a positive result. Urine, saliva, blood, and hair tests all focus on THC and its byproducts, not raw THCA. That is why smoking, vaping, or heating THCA carries the same testing risks as regular cannabis. Laws also vary by state, and what is legal in one place may not be in another. The safest way to avoid problems with drug testing is to know how THCA works, how long THC metabolites stay in your system, and what rules apply to your workplace or state.
For trusted products and guidance, you can always check out Green Herbal Care!
Also Read: How is THCA Flower Made?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is THCA considered CBD?
No, THCA is not the same as CBD. While both are cannabinoids found in cannabis, THCA is the acidic precursor to THC, whereas CBD is a distinct cannabinoid with different effects.
Does THCA test positive?
Yes, THCA can test positive in drug tests. When THCA is converted to THC through heating, it can be detected in standard drug screenings.
Is THCA safe to smoke?
When smoked, THCA converts to THC, which is generally considered safe for consumption, but individual reactions may vary. Always start with a low dose to gauge your tolerance.
Will THCA test positive on a drug test?
Yes, THCA can test positive because it converts to THC, which is detected on drug tests.
Is THCA detectable in urine?
Yes, THCA metabolites can be detected in urine due to the conversion of THCA to THC.
Does THCA fail a drug test?
Using THCA products can cause you to fail a drug test, as it turns into THC when heated.
Can you fail a drug test from smoking THCA?
Yes, smoking THCA can lead to a positive drug test due to the conversion of THCA into THC.
How can you get THCA out of your system quickly?
Hydration, regular exercise, and a balanced diet can help speed up the process of clearing THCA from your system.
Can THCA fail a drug test?
Yes, THCA can lead to a failed drug test because it can be converted into THC, which is tested for.
Does smoking THCA show up on a drug test?
Yes. When heated, THCA converts into THC, which is detectable on standard cannabis drug tests.
Will you fail a drug test for THCA?
Most likely yes, because drug tests screen for THC metabolites, which your body produces after consuming THCA.
