If you’re even somewhat immersed in the 420 community, you’ve probably noticed the growing popularity of alternative cannabinoids (legal THC) such as Delta 8, Delta 10, HHC, THCO, THCA, and others. What are these “new” substances? Why are they sold online and not at a dispensary? And do THCA products have similar effects to the regular dry herb and dabs that we all know and love? We’re guessing you have questions like these and we’ve got the answers. Today, we’re covering THCA and by the end of this article, you’ll know all about this cannabis compound.

What is THCA?

Let’s start with answering, what does THCA mean. THC is short for tetrahydrocannabinol and the added “A” in THCA means the acidic version of THC, so the full name for THCA is tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. By itself, THCA is not psychoactive, meaning it will not get you high. This is because at the molecular level, it has an extra carboxyl ring, preventing the compound from adhering to the brain’s CB1 receptors that are responsible for making you feel high. But don’t worry, THCA is easily converted into THC through heat exposure (decarboxylation), which removes the extra carboxyl ring and is exactly what happens when lighting up a joint or bong bowl, vaporizing a dab, or pre-heating a vape pen. It is also decarboxylated when heating it in preparation for an edible recipe.

What is THCA flower?

THCA flower comes from the hemp plant, which naturally produces high levels of THCA and low levels of “normal” THC (Delta 9). THCA flower is not chemically altered, synthetic, or dipped in concentrate like some other lesser cannabinoids. It is 100% natural hemp flower. You’re probably wondering, so if this is true and THCA produces psychoactive effects, how can THCA flower be legal to purchase online? The 2018 Farm Bill that authorized the legal production of hemp in the U.S. stipulates that hemp products must have less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC to be legal under federal law. It does not mention THCA or other alternative cannabinoids. Since this is an obvious loophole, several states have created their own regulations on lesser cannabinoids, so be sure to check your local laws prior to purchasing THCA flower or other legal THC products. To be compliant with state laws, we are not able ship Delta THC products to several states (AZ, AR, CO, HI, IA, KS, MI, MT, NV, ND, OR, RI, UT, VA, WV).

What is THCA diamonds?

No, we’re not talking about an expensive gemstone. THCA diamonds are solid, crystalized THCA isolate. Because of this, it’s very potent with up to 99.99% THC once heated. THC diamonds and THCA diamonds are one and the same and the names are used interchangeably within the cannabis world. The concentrate is used by 420 enthusiasts to increase the potency of cannabis products by sprinkling some in a joint, covering the outside of a pre-roll, or dabbing. Products that contain THCA diamonds should be used by experienced smokers only due to their extremely high potency. Start out with a single puff to assess its potency and effects and always wait a while between hits.

What is a high THCA percentage?

Since THCA is THC that just needs to be decarbed, you can evaluate the potency of THCA products the same way you would with usual THC since the percentages are the same. This means that if you see a product label that reads: 20% THCA and 0.19% THC, you can assume the potency will be similar to a 20% THC product once heated. Always start out slow, even if you’re a seasoned cannabis user, since various Delta THC’s may have slightly different effects that can vary from person to person.

Best THCA products to try

Now that you understand that THCA flower is 100% natural and essentially the same exact thing as true dry herb, it’s time to try it out for yourself. Just like other cannabis products, you can find THCA flower, pre-rolled joints, THCA dabs, edibles, THCA vape carts, and disposable vape pens. The options are endless, so we’ve narrowed down our top picks so you don’t have to.

THCA Flower and Pre-Rolls

• Extrax THC-A Flower – This premium hemp dry herb is infused with THCA, CBD, and Delta 8 THC for high potency. The responsibly farmed THCA flower is available in sativa, indica, and hybrid strains. Choose from LA Kush Cake, minty and sweet; Lilac Diesel, a floral and pungent blend; Thor’s Hammer, a flavorful blend of menthol, sage, and honey; or Zaberry, sweet fruit and berry notes.
• Venera THC-A Pre-Roll – Just pop the tube and light up with these slow-burning THCA pre-rolls that are praised for their long-lasting effects. These 1-gram pre-rolls come in six strains, Airheads, Cherry Zkittlez, Garlotti, Ice Cream Cookies, Lemon Balm, and Runtz.

THCA Edibles

• Numb THC-A Nerdz Clusters – If you’re ready to try THCA in all its full glory, these infused Nerdz Clusters are about to rock your world. Each tangy candy cluster contains 275 mg of THCA with a total of 5,500 mg per container. These Delta THC edibles are potent, so start out slow!

THCA Vapes and Cartridges

• Super Smoker THC-A + THC-P Vaporizer – If you hate constantly having an empty vape at the worst time possible, Numb’s Super Smoker Vape is built to last a very long time. Each THCA Vaporizer has a massive 5.5-gram cartridge with two times the power of other disposable vapes. The high-quality THCA and THCP live resin is third-party lab-tested for purity and available in tons of popular strains including Blue Dream, Northern Lights, Pineapple Express, Wedding Cake, Sour Diesel, and Gelato.

• Extrax Adios Delta-9P THC + THC-A Cartridge – Because you get two different strains in this combo pack, the Extrax THCA Carts are one of our favorites. Each box comes with two large, 2-gram cartridges that contain one hybrid strain (Tangie Banana or Apple Fritter) and either an indica (Grape Kush) or sativa (Berry Pie) vape cart so you’ve always got options. Each live resin Delta-9P THC and THCA cartridge is lab-tested and made with high-grade ceramic for an enhanced vaping experience. The universal 510 thread allows these vape carts to be used with nearly every vaporizer. Two of our favorites are the Vessel Compass and the Vessel Cartridge Battery Craftsman Edition.

We’ve answered the biggest question, “What is THCA?” But you might be curious about other types of hemp THC as well. Visit the Everything 420 blog to learn more or check out our legal THC shop for Delta 8, Delta 9, Delta 10, HHC, and THC-P products like vape cartridges, edibles, dry herb, concentrates, and more that you can ship straight to your door!