THCVA.Tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid

Tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCVA) is the Δ9-THC-type acidic phytocannabinoid with a propyl (C3) side chain. Reported in 1973 in leaves of South African cannabis, it was characterised in 1977 by Shoyama et al. The plant forms it from CBGVA through THCA synthase, a pathway reconstituted in yeast by Luo et al. (2019); heated or exposed to light, it decarboxylates into THCV. No CB1 or CB2 affinity has been published for the acid form. In France it falls within the 2024 benzo[c]chromene generic class but is excluded as long as its content does not exceed 0.3%.

Source

Cannabis sativa L.: produced by the plant in its acid form, from CBGVA. THCV and its acid form are generally present in very small amounts in the flowers; breeders are developing varieties richer in varins (Walsh et al. 2021).

CBGVA, the precursor of the propyl cannabinoids, is formed from divarinolic acid by a geranyltransferase. THCA synthase then converts CBGVA into THCVA (Walsh et al. 2021); Luo et al. (2019) reconstituted this pathway in yeast, THCVA included. THCVA then decarboxylates without any enzyme, under heat or light, into THCV.

European Union

Not listed by name in the schedules of the 1961 and 1971 United Nations conventions, according to annexes I to III of the ANSM consolidated list (26/06/2026). Checked on 20/10/2026.

France

THCVA derives from the benzo[c]chromene nucleus and falls within the definition of the generic class created by the ANSM decisions of 22/05/2024 and 03/06/2024. The text nevertheless excludes THCV and THCVA "provided that their respective content is not above 0.3%". Above 0.3%, THCVA is therefore a controlled narcotic (ANSM consolidated list, updated 26/06/2026). How this applies to a given product is a matter of legal analysis. Checked on 20/10/2026.

Sources: EUR-Lex, UNODC, CND, ANSM, IUPHAR/BPS, ChEBI, EUDA. Our method.

Family

Phytocannabinoid › Minor

Presence in the plant

Enzymatic biosynthesis in the plant

Chemistry

Type Δ9-THC · C3 side chain · acid form

Verification

Every fact on this entry was checked against its primary sources on 20 October 2026.

Wikipedia (English)

No dedicated article.

1. 1Radwan M.M. et al. 2021, Molecules 26:2774: inventory of 125 cannabinoids (Paris et al. 1973; Shoyama et al. 1977) (new tab)PMID 34066753
2. 2Shoyama Y. et al. 1977, Chem Pharm Bull 25:2306-2311: isolation of four propyl-chain cannabinoid acids (new tab)DOI 10.1248/cpb.25.2306
3. 3Luo X. et al. 2019, Nature 567:123-126: complete biosynthesis of cannabinoids, including THCVA, in yeast (new tab)PMID 30814733
4. 4Walsh K.B. et al. 2021, Front Pharmacol 12:777804: THCA synthase converts CBGVA into THCVA (new tab)PMID 34916950
5. 5De Petrocellis L. et al. 2011, Br J Pharmacol 163:1479-1494: cannabinoids, TRP channels and endocannabinoid system enzymes (THCVA tested) (new tab)PMID 21175579
6. 6ANSM, consolidated list of substances classified as narcotics, updated 26/06/2026 (benzo[c]chromene class, THCV/THCVA ≤ 0.3% exclusion) (new tab)

SMILES

CCCC1=CC2=C([C@@H]3C=C(CC[C@H]3C(O2)(C)C)C)C(=C1C(=O)O)O

Machine-readable entry (JSON)

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