TL;DR: THCA flower is hemp or cannabis that contains tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that becomes THC when heated or dried. This conversion makes it appealing to those seeking a THC-like experience while maintaining federal legality under certain conditions.
- Definition: THCA is a precursor to THC, found naturally in both hemp and cannabis plants.
- Activation: It only becomes psychoactive after decarboxylation (heating or drying).
- Legality: Hemp-derived THCA is federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, while cannabis-derived THCA is federally illegal but allowed in many states.
- Popularity: Offers THC effects for users in states with limited cannabis access.
- Safety & Quality: Reputable sellers provide lab-tested THCA flower that ensures potency and purity comparable to traditional cannabis.
What is THCA flower? The simple explanation is that TCHA flower is hemp or cannabis that contains significant amounts of THCA. THCA itself is a chemical closely related to THC and other cannabinoids.
However, THCA by itself won’t cause the effects commonly associated with cannabinoids, like an elevated mood or sense of relaxation – it needs to be heated or dried first.
Why is THCA flower increasing in popularity, and why are so many cannabinoid enthusiasts choosing it? Keep reading to learn more about THCA flower.
What is THC-A Flower? Basic and Important Info
THCA is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in both cannabis and hemp plants. Although most cannabinoids are psychoactive, causing feelings like an elevated mood and sense of relaxation, THCA is not.
In its raw form, THCA may have some properties similar to CBD. As WebMD explains, these are functional benefits such as pain relief and reducing nausea. However, THCA produces a high similar to most other cannabinoids when it’s decarboxylated – in simple terms, heated or dried.
This is how THCA converts into THC with psychoactive effects in cannabis plants. As part of harvesting and processing to create a usable product, growers dry the fresh, raw flower, transforming it into psychoactive THC.
Direct application of heat also completes this process. For example, hemp-derived THCA flower can be smoked or vaped, with the heat applied by the lighter or vape device completing the conversion of THCA to THC.
When THCA is used to make edibles, the same conversion occurs. The end result offers THC chemically identical to what’s found in various cannabis products.
Legality of THCA
THCA comes from both hemp and cannabis plants, which means it is subject to different laws depending on its source.
When THCA comes from cannabis, it is:
- Federally illegal.
- Legal in 40 out of 50 states for medicinal use, recreational use, or both.
- Sold through state-level cannabis stores or dispensaries where it is legal.
- Illegal to transport and sell across state lines.
When THCA comes from hemp flower, it is:
- Federally legal, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill.
- Legal in most states, although some states (often those with recreational and/or medicinal cannabis programs) restrict or prohibit it.
- Able to be sold through various retailers and not limited only to specialized stores or dispensaries.
- Legal to transport and sell across state lines.
Understanding What THCA Hemp Flower Is
The term THCA flower can refer to raw cannabis flower that hasn’t been dried and processed. This flower can be smoked or vaped, but its high moisture content and other factors make for a less-than-pleasant experience in the view of many users.
THCA flower is also more frequently used to refer to hemp flower that has been selectively grown to produce high levels of THCA and, less commonly, hemp with hemp-based THCA added to it, as Vaping 360 explains. Unlike raw cannabis flower, this hemp flower is processed and leads to the experience that users expect.
Popularity of THCA
THCA is popular for a simple reason, but it’s worth explaining briefly. When heated or dried, THCA turns into THC. For users who want a THC experience but can’t access cannabis products due to local laws or other reasons, THCA delivers exactly that.
As more people learn about THCA and try it out, the popularity of this cannabinoid will continue to grow.
THCA Flower: Questions and Answers
What is THCA and why is it legal?
THCA is a cannabinoid naturally found in both cannabis and hemp plants. It doesn’t have psychoactive effects like THC in its raw form. It does offer those effects after it’s been heated or tried, which turns THCA into THC.
THCA is legal on the federal level when sourced from hemp plants. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the commercial production and sale of hemp with no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. Because THCA is chemically distinct from THC, it is allowed to be grown and sold under this legal definition.
Is it safe to smoke THCA flower?
Yes, it is safe to smoke THCA flower from reputable brands and retailers. THCA flower grown and sold by industry leaders and brands with reputations for high quality, especially those that share the results of third-party lab testing for their offerings, provide consistently high-quality and safe products.
Is THCA flower any good?
THCA flower offers an experience that’s functionally identical to traditional cannabis, meaning many cannabis enthusiasts view THCA flower as quite good. Of course, everyone’s experience and preferences are different when it comes to cannabinoids. That said, THCA’s ability to convert into THC when dried or heated makes it especially popular among a wide range of users.
How powerful is THCA?
When heated or dried, THCA converts into THC. That means it delivers effects that are stronger than many, although not all, hemp-derived cannabinoids. THC is generally thought to be more powerful than Delta-8, Delta-10, and several other cannabinoids that are made from hemp.
THCA is not powerful at all in terms of psychoactive effects when in its raw form. Although it appears to have some functional benefits similar to those of CBD, raw THCA is not psychoactive.
Why can smoke shops sell THCA?
Smoke shops and other businesses besides state-licensed cannabis stores and dispensaries can sell THCA because it comes from hemp. Hemp cultivation and sale was made legal through the 2018 Farm Bill, with the restriction that such hemp cannot contain more than 0.3% THC by dry weight.
Because THCA is a precursor to THC and chemically distinct from it, it is not covered by the THC restriction placed on hemp by the 2018 Farm Bill. The specific wording of that Farm Bill is the reason why THCA is federally legal and able to be sold by a variety of retailers in many, although not all, states.
Bringing You the Very Best in THCA
Delta 8 Resellers offers high-quality THCA from the very best brands in the hemp industry. Whenever available, we share the results of third-party lab testing for our inventory. That means you can check out the quality, potency, and purity of our products for yourself.
