elsa olofsson / unsplash
The cannabis industry isn’t slowing down. Even though it’s faced with an ever-changing slew of legal hurdles and restrictions, companies are finding unique ways to help anyone nationwide catch a buzz.
One way to do that? Enter THCA products—one of the most discussed topics among consumers nowadays. This naturally occurring cannabinoid exists in hemp and cannabis plants before converting to psychoactive THC through heat (like from the spark of a lighter).
Ready to learn more about it? Here are the 11 most frequently asked questions about THCA flower, answered.
crystalweed / unsplash
You might be familiar with regular delta-9 THC flower, but what is THCA flower? These are cannabis buds containing high levels of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), a non-psychoactive compound found in raw cannabis plants.
THCA is actually the precursor to delta-9 THC. So, THCA stays non-psychoactive until heat converts THCA into THC through a process called decarboxylation.
In its raw form, THCA doesn’t produce psychoactive effects. Raw cannabis buds naturally contain THCA as the precursor to THC, with some THCA flower strains containing up to 40% THCA by dry weight. So, as you can tell, THCA flower is pretty similar to traditional marijuana.
elsa olofsson / unsplash
Yes, THCA flower is real weed—it’s raw cannabis or hemp flower in its natural state before it’s been activated by heat. The main difference is how it’s advertised. Since THCA flower falls in a legal gray area, it’s currently legal to ship and use in most states nationwide, although local laws vary.
Instead of companies advertising how much delta-9 THC is in a certain strain, they’ll focus on THCA. When you see a strain in a recreational dispensary labeled as 25% THC, this number is actually an estimate of the total THC that will be present after the cannabis is heated (smoked, vaped, or baked).
With THCA flower, companies will label exactly how much THCA is in a certain strain before decarboxylation. Just remember that only about 87.7% of the THCA by weight becomes THC, so some potency will be lost in conversion.
Raw THCA doesn’t produce the “high” associated with marijuana until it is exposed to heat.
Many consumers wonder if THCA flower is synthetic, but it’s entirely natural. High-quality THCA flower comes directly from cannabis or hemp plants, just harvested and processed to preserve the THCA content.
herb
The cannabis plant naturally grows and produces buds that contain the THCA cannabinoid. In order to have a high THCA content, whether in whole or ground flower, cultivators use several techniques:
Crystalweed / Unsplash
If you’re familiar with growing cannabis or hemp plants, then you’re one step ahead.
Growing THCA flower follows the same process as cultivating any cannabis plant. But the challenge isn’t so much in the growing process itself—it’s in maintaining the THCA content through harvesting, drying, and storage. Which also isn’t too hard if you’re familiar with cultivation.
Successfully growing THCA flower calls for:
Elsa Olofsson / Unsplash
No, THCA flower is not synthetic. As mentioned earlier, all cannabis and hemp plants contain THCA, which doesn’t have any psychoactive properties in its raw form. But when exposed to heat, like smoking THCA flower, it naturally converts to delta-9 THC.
THCA is a naturally occurring cannabinoid that exists in raw cannabis plants and isn’t whipped up in a lab as a legal alternative to delta-9 THC.
Some consumers confuse THCA with synthetic alternatives and other THC analogs, but authentic THCA flower comes directly from cannabis plants without any artificial processes. The confusion often stems from THCA’s legal status and gray area.
Herb
Legitimate THCA flower won’t be sprayed with synthetic compounds. But that’s where brand research comes into play.
Some low-quality products in the market may involve spraying hemp flower with synthetic cannabinoids to mimic THCA effects. These products can pose serious health risks and should be avoided at all costs.
Here’s what to look for when buying THCA products:
Always buy from trusted brands that can confirm that their products aren’t enhanced through spraying or synthetic additives.
Elsa Olofsson / Unsplash
In the same sense that cannabis is generally safe to smoke, then yes, THCA flower is safe to smoke. But it’s crucial you’re buying it from reputable brands and suppliers.
As mentioned, some low-quality options introduce unwanted additives that can pose respiratory issues and potential lung health concerns, including chronic bronchitis and other respiratory symptoms.
Some people prefer to vape THCA or use THCA tinctures to avoid respiratory concerns that come with smoking.
Elsa Olofsson / Unsplash
When you consume THCA flower by smoking, vaping, or with some form of decarboxylation, THCA converts to THC and produces similar psychoactive effects to classic weed.
But some THCA is lost in conversion. Only about 87.7% of the THCA by weight becomes THC. So a strain that’s 28% THCA will be roughly 24.56% THC.
The psychoactive effects depend on:
It’s generally accurate to say that smoking high-THCA flower produces the same results as traditional cannabis, especially in higher THCA contents.
Elsa Olofsson / Unsplash
Yes, THCA flower can be excellent if grown under controlled conditions and harvested, dried, and cured properly. It can offer the same overall experience as cannabis, but without the legal worries of purchasing something illegal.
It might even have more benefits, based on preliminary research:
Just remember that the quality of the flower makes a huge difference. And this varies significantly between suppliers. As with most cannabis products, it comes down to cultivation methods, lab testing, processing techniques, and individual preferences for effects and flavor profiles.
Herb
THCA flower exists in a legal loophole under federal hemp laws. Since THCA is non-psychoactive in its raw form and contains less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight, it’s considered legal under current hemp products regulations, meaning it’s also federally legal.
But is THCA legal everywhere in the U.S.? Not really:
Always research state laws and local laws before buying and trying THCA products. The legal gray area means criminal charges could potentially apply in some jurisdictions. This is especially important if you have an upcoming drug test, as smoking or vaporizing THCA will result in a positive flag for THC.
With exceptional cultivation practices and a variety of unique genetics across Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid strains, Bloomz THCA Flower takes the cake for its massive variety and all-around quality.
This premium THCA flower is available in 3.5g, 7g, and 28g options and across a long list of classic and unique strains to suit every preference. Just be sure you can handle potency, as some of these strains can reach 30% THCA or more.
Grab yours from Bloomz today and see how quality THCA flower actually feels.
Bloomz’s sister company Binoid has a lineup of THCA vapes made from THCA flower:
THCA Disposable 2 Gram – Gourmet Desserts
7 Gram THCA Disposable Vape – Slush Series – Blazed x Binoid
Want to try THCA in gummy form? These treats from Binoid let you explore the wonders of not just THCA but six other cannabinoids naturally found in cannabis and hemp plants.
The Super 7 Gummies contain a generous dose of 7000mg of the brand’s Super 7 Blend: Premium Live Resin THC-H, THC-B, delta-9p, delta-8 THC, THCA, HHC, and THCV. That means each piece contains a whopping 350mg of this powerful blend.
If it isn’t obvious, be super careful when dosing these gummies. Even half of one is a good start. Grab yours in the delicious Grape Cotton Candy flavor and see why these gummies are all flying off Binoid’s shelves.
Herb Recommended Products:
READ MORE