How is THCA Flower Made?

From their meticulously curated growth conditions to their unique harvesting process, the journey of THCA flower manufacturing holds the key to unlocking the full potential of this non-intoxicating cannabinoid.

Not surprisingly, many cannabis enthusiasts are also curious about THCA flowers. Why are they special? How are they made? Are they similar to other cannabinoid flowers, and are they safe for consumption?

In this article, we share valuable insight into THCA flowers, including how they are made, their potential effects, and more. So, let’s get into it.

Key Takeaways

• THCA occurs naturally in hemp and cannabis plants and is the acidic precursor to THC.
• THCA flowers are non-psychoactive in their natural state but can be converted to THC in the presence of heat and light through decarboxylation.
• Harvesting THCA flowers at the optimal time is crucial for ensuring the highest potency and preserving the integrity of the cannabinoid content.

What is THCA?

THCA, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in raw and live cannabis plants. THCA is the precursor to THC, the well-known psychoactive compound in cannabis. Unlike THC, THCA does not produce a euphoric high when consumed in its raw form.

Interestingly, THCA is typically found in higher concentrations in freshly harvested, undried cannabis. When exposed to heat, such as through smoking, vaping, or cooking, THCA undergoes decarboxylation, converting it into THC and releasing carbon dioxide. This process activates its psychoactive properties, resulting in the well-known intoxicating effects of THC.

However, THCA itself is known for its potential therapeutic properties and is often sought after for its various potential health benefits.

What is THCA Flower?

THCA flower refers to cannabis buds that are rich in THCA. The peculiar thing about these flowers is that, on their own, they will not get you high; in fact, consuming them normally will not cause any psychoactive effects. Therefore, to get high from THCA flowers, you must apply heat to them via smoking or any other method.

In case you are wondering how cannabis plants come to be with THCA, the short answer is that as cannabis plants mature and cannabinoids and terpenes are formed, the first cannabinoid formed is CBGA (which is referred to as the mother of all cannabinoids).

With time, CBGA breaks down into primary cannabinoids like CBDA and THCA, which are precursors to CBD and THC.

 

How is THCA Flower Made?

Broadly speaking, there are two primary methods for “making THCA” flowers, and we discuss them in detail below.

Carefully Growing Cannabis Plants Rich in THCA

Here, the idea is to grow your THCA flower indoors or outdoors in a carefully controlled environment that ensures your plants reach their full THCA potential.

One of the important things to note about growing these plants yourself is that some manufacturers suggest growing them under a cold temperature that prevents THCA from easily converting to THC. In the same vein, other manufacturers suggest that you use a hydroponics system in cultivating your plants.

Overall, the important thing is carefully growing your flowers in the best environment and harvesting them when they are mature. Note also that it is crucial that you get the best strains to grow.

Infusing Hemp Flower with THCA Distillate

The first step of this process is to source high-quality hemp plants that are free of contaminants and are rich in THCA.

After this, you harvest these plants and extract THCA from them via a distillation process. Next, you infuse this distillate into hemp flowers to improve their THCA content. Lastly, pack these infused flowers and do a quality test to ensure they are safe.

Apart from the methods above, some manufacturers also speak of converting CBDA to THCA and then spraying the converted THCA on hemp flowers to make THCA flowers.

Is it Similar to How HHC Flower is Made?

There are a lot of differences in how THCA flower are made compared to HHC flower.

The first and most fundamental one is that the primary ingredient used to manufacture HHC is THC (either delta 8 or delta 9), while for THCA, it is sufficiently naturally occurring to be extracted directly.

Another significant difference is that THCA can be made from natural cannabis plants because there are cannabis strains that are rich in THCA.

HHC is made by hydrogenating delta 8 or delta 9 THC. As a result, you may say that THCA flowers are more naturally made, while HHC may be synthetically made.

It is important to note that most manufacturers make HHC from delta 8 rather than delta 9 because of the stronger legal restrictions on delta 9.

How Strong is THCA Flower?

The truth? THCA flower is just as strong as your typical marijuana flower when you smoke it. Now, on its own, THCA flower is not strong at all and won’t get you high, but the moment you apply heat, it converts into THC, and it is as potent as THC. This means that the higher the THCA content in the flower, the stronger it will be when you smoke it.

As a result, we can say that you should exercise the same caution and restraint you would exercise with taking THC with THCA; start off with the lower doses and then progress towards higher doses as your body gets more familiar with it.

Finally, you should note that smoking THCA flowers is one of the fastest ways to begin to feel the “high” effects of THC.

Can You Grow THCA Flower?

The simple answer to this is yes, you can. Many manufacturers do this, and here are some tips that may help you do the same.

• The first key to growing THCA flowers is to get strains that are rich in THCA. An example of such strains will be strains that have above 15% in THC because such strains are usually also quite rich in THCA.
• Note, however, that as THC grows, THCA content may reduce; therefore, you have to grow your THCA flower in an environment that is engineered in a way that preserves THCA and reduces the chances of it converting into THC. Manufacturers suggest that you do this by growing THCA flowers in a cool environment or employing methods such as flash-freezing when harvesting your cannabis plants.
• Lastly, note that certain hybrid strains are typically rich in THCA. Examples of such hybrid strains include Death Star, Gorilla Blue, Silver Haze, and Lemon Kush.

What is Considered a High THCA Flower Percentage?

Generally speaking, a THCA flower that contains a percentage of THC that is higher than 15% is deemed to have a high THCA percentage. However, you should note that THC is not THCA. As a result, THC content does not translate to THCA content and vice versa. In fact, many times, as THC content rises, THCA content reduces.

Interestingly, manufacturers have found a formula to determine the total THC in a cannabis flower by knowing the total THCA content.

The formula is: (%THCA) x 0.877 + (%THC) = THC total.

Note, however, that the formula merely gives a general estimate of the THC content and not an exact estimate since several factors can contribute to the exact THC content in a plant.

Can You Make THCA Diamonds Out of THCA Flower?

Yes, you can form THCA diamonds out of THCA flowers. In fact, THCA flowers are some of the foundational ingredients necessary to produce THCA diamonds.

Here’s a quick walkthrough of the general production process for THCA flowers:

• Extracting THCA from harvested and flash-frozen cannabis plants or THCA flowers.
• Application of pressure to the extracted THCA via a chromatography device until crystals begin to form.
• The next step is to decide which of the two popular methods of creating diamonds would be used to form the diamonds.
  • The first method is the closed-loop extraction method, where a liquid solvent is added to the extract to isolate THCA and terpenes from the extract. The THCA extract is purged via multiple processes to erase the solvent and leave pure THCA. Some manufacturers may then reintroduce the terpenes to create an entourage effect with their diamonds.
  • On the other hand, the second method, the crystalline method, involves mixing the THC extract with a solvent to form a supersaturated solution. After which, the solution is heated under intense pressure to allow diamonds to form. Also, during the heating process, the solvent evaporates from the solution, leaving behind only pure THCA diamonds.

Is THCA Legal?

As is usually the case with most cannabinoids, the legality of THCA and THCA flower depends on different jurisdictions. At the federal level, THCA, being a naturally occurring cannabinoid, is legal, thanks to the Farm Bill.

However, that isn’t the case for every state in the United States. This means that you must know your state’s position before you purchase and consume THCA or THCA flowers.

If you’re wondering what your state’s position is on THCA, here’s a list of some states where THCA flowers are allowed for recreational use, at the time of writing:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Connecticut
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Illinois
• Maine
• Michigan

On the other hand, some states at the time of writing that may frown on the possession or use of THCA and THCA flowers include:

• Minnesota
• Oregano
• Rhode Island
• Idaho
• Arkansas

Some other states have their laws in gray areas, and we advise some caution if you are a resident of such states.

Is THCA Flower Safe?

As we explore the safety and benefits of THCA and THC flowers, one thing is certain: more definitive research is needed. However, from what we know so far, THCA is quite safe.

On its own, THCA is not psychoactive, which means that it cannot make users high. You could take it like any other food and not experience any particular side effects. On the other hand, when it is heated up, THCA converts into THC, thereby possessing the same benefits and side effects as THC.

It is not uncommon, therefore, for individuals who smoke THCA flowers to experience classic side effects like:

• Dry mouth
• Red eyes
• Anxiety attacks
• Paranoia
• Headaches

However, some suggest that these effects are milder in THCA than in THC. But there is still no conclusive, research-backed proof.

Final Thoughts: How is THCA Flower Made?

THCA flower is an exciting product that is certain to grow in popularity in the cannabis market and ecosystem, especially because it is not so difficult to make. All you typically need is a great hydroponics system or a carefully engineered environment with a cool temperature.

Don’t forget, however, that despite the seeming ease in making the flower, you have to be cautious with dosage when you smoke THCA flower, and you have to ensure that you are not contravening the law of your state.

Where to Get THCA Diamond-Infused Pre Rolls Products Online

If you are on the lookout for THCA diamond-infused pre-rolls, consider making a stop on the Imperial website. We boost an exciting collection of hemp-derived products that have been produced to the highest manufacturing standards and lab-tested for quality assurance.