If you are looking to explore some different cannabinoids, then you have come to the right place. Today, we are here to take a look at one very specific cannabinoid, THCA. This is a very interesting cannabinoid, because, at this time, it is totally legal, yet is also very similar to Delta-9 THC.
The reason why THCA is so interesting is that it comes with many different medical benefits, yet is not psychoactive at all.
However, when heated up or decarboxylated, THCA actually turns into regular Delta-9 THC, therefore making it totally psychoactive. We will explain all of these aspects of THCA below and more. We will then also take a look at the top five best THCA strains out there.
Key Takeaways
- THCA by itself has a variety of potential medical benefits.
- THCA on its own is not psychoactive.
- It is the precursor of Delta-9 THC.
- When THCA is decarboxylated, it turns into Delta-9 THC.
- THCA is totally legal according to the 2018 Farm Bill.
A Quick Look at the Best THCA Flower
- Blood Diamond: Best THCA Flower – Editor’s Choice
- Greenhouse THCA: Best Tasting THCA Flower
- Mocha: Strongest THCA Flower
- Kush Glue: Best Indica THCA Flower
- Paradiso: Best THCA Flower Pre-Rolls
What is THCA?
THCA stands for tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. This is the acidic precursor to Delta-9 THC. On its own, THCA does not have any psychoactive or intoxicating properties. However, when it is heated up and undergoes the decarboxylation process, the chemical structure changes, and it turns into Delta-9 THC. This puts THCA in a very interesting position legally.
Technically speaking, only cannabinoids that are hemp-derived and contain less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC are considered legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. However, these THCA hemp strains do not contain THC, at least not until they are heated up and decarboxylated. Therefore, at this time, THCA is still considered legal.
What also makes this very interesting is that THCA has a variety of potential benefits in its raw state, before it gets decarboxylated. However, there are also benefits that you can reap once it turns into Delta-9 THC.
back to menu ↑Pros and Cons of the THCA Cannabinoid
Just like any other cannabinoid out there, THCA does have both its benefits and drawbacks, so let’s take a quick look.
Pros
- Even though Delta-9 THC is technically illegal in the grand scheme of things, THCA is perfectly legal despite its conversion to Delta-9 THC later on. Therefore, this effectively provides cannabis consumers with a way to consume high Delta-9 THC strains without suffering any legal consequences.
- Based on an experiment conducted on mice, it is thought that THCA may be able to help slow down the progression of various neurodegenerative diseases. It has been shown that THCA has the potential to protect brain cells from death, specifically related to the MPP neurotoxin.
- THCA may also be an anti-inflammatory agent that has the ability to cut down on inflammation in your body. It may, therefore, also be able to help reduce pain.
- If THCA is consumed raw without decarboxylation, you can reap all of the benefits listed above without actually getting high or being intoxicated. However, if you want to get high, you just have to smoke THCA flower or decarboxylate your THCA flower before ingesting it.
- If decarboxylated or smoked, THCA flower will produce more or less the same effects on you as regular Delta-9 THC. Simply put, it should produce quite an enjoyable cerebral and body high. It theoretically also comes with the same benefits as regular THC. This could include but is not limited to, inflammation and pain relief, mood regulation, appetite stimulation, nausea suppression, and more.
Cons
- One of the only real downsides with THCA flower is that when decarboxylated, it turns into regular THC, it may also produce some unwanted side effects. These side effects are generally very minor, and they can include things like red eyes, dry mouth, headaches, and related side effects.
- The only other downside of THCA flower is that you can’t smoke it without getting high.
How Does THCA Make You Feel?
So THCA, technically, on its own, doesn’t make you feel anything at all. It’s not psychoactive. Therefore, if you were to literally eat raw THCA flowers, you would not get high at all. This is also the case if you were to mix THCA flowers with your uncooked foods like milkshakes.
However, as soon as the THCA flower is heated up or decarboxylated, that THCA turns into regular Delta-9 THC, which will have intoxicating and psychoactive effects.
THCA, when it turns into Delta-9 THC, feels just like Delta-9 THC usually does. It can produce both a cerebral and a body high with a variety of effects, depending on the exact strain it comes from. It feels like a regular cannabis high.
back to menu ↑Best THCA Flower
Now that you know the basics about THCA, let’s take a closer look at the best THCA hemp flower on the market today.
1. Blood Diamond from Secret Nature CBD: Best THCA Flower – Editor’s Choice
Blood Diamond is a cross between the Secret Nature CBD Original Blood Diamond CBD strain and the THCA mother plant. This is an indica strain that has a very high THCA content and is, therefore, psychoactive once smoked. The effects that this strain produces are very similar to those of indica Delta-9 THC strains.
This strain should help relax you, make you feel heavy, help you get a good night’s sleep, and produce a sense of euphoria.
This is an extremely high-quality flower that makes for a good smoke before you go to bed. It has a very fruity and gassy flavor that many people enjoy. As with all products from this brand, Blood Diamond has undergone third-party testing to ensure that it is totally legal.
2. Greenhouse THCA by Secret Nature CBD: Best Tasting THCA Flower
Greenhouse THCA is another fantastic THCA hemp strain. Technically speaking, these are all phenotypes of other best sellers from Secret Nature CBD. There are both indica and sativa strains available here. Cherry Cough, Citron, Banana Whip, and Bourbon Sugar are just some of the options.
This means that you can choose the one that works best for you in terms of the overall effect. Some are indicas, some are sativas, and some are well-balanced. However, they all contain a good amount of THCA, and are, therefore, psychoactive once consumed.
3. Mocha by Secret Nature CBD: Strongest THCA Flower
Mocha is a bland new phenotype that tastes like haze, almonds, and dark chocolate. It is one of the tastiest high THCA strains on the list today, and yes, it has a very high THCA content. Therefore, once smoked, it will definitely produce a strong sense of intoxication. This is one of the stronger strains on the list today.
This is a relatively well-balanced strain, so you will feel effects from both the indica and the sativa side of things. It should make you feel very euphoric but also relaxed. This product has also been a third-party lab tested to ensure that it is completely legal.
4. Kush Glue by Secret Nature CBD: Best Indica THCA Flower
If you are looking for a strain that is going to relax your mind and body, have you feeling heavy and sedated, and ready for some sleep, then this Kush Glue strain is a fantastic option to consider. It’s a blend between Gorilla Glue and OG Kush. This is one of the most relaxing indica strains on the list today. It is also a very high THCA hemp flower.
In fact, this is the most potent strain on the list today. If you like flavors of cherries, glue, gasoline, and fresh spring rain, then this is a great strain for you to consider. This hemp flower is also 100% organic and third-party laboratory tested to ensure that it falls within all legal limits.
5. Paradiso by Secret Nature CBD – Best THCA Flower Pre-Rolls
In case you would rather just smoke some pre-rolls instead of having to roll your own joints, then these THCA Paradiso pre-rolls from Secret Nature CBD make for a great option.
They feature 1% CBD, 5% CBG, and 4% THCA. Therefore, they aren’t overly psychoactive, but will produce a bit of a buzz, and also have many potential benefits thanks to the combination of cannabinoids included.
back to menu ↑How We Made Our Top Choices for the Best THCA Flower
Here is exactly how we made our top choices for the best THCA flower on the market. These are criteria that we always follow to make sure that we only recommend the very best of products to you.
Brand
One of the most important considerations is the brand name. We want a transparent brand that has its information on display, such as who the owners are and where it is located. We also look at reviews of the brands to ensure that people are happy with them. We would never recommend a brand that does not have a reputation for producing high-quality and honest products.
Reviews
Not only do we take a look at the reviews of the brand names, but also of the products themselves. It is sometimes the case that good brand names release the occasional bad product, so we always keep an eye out for this. Generally speaking, we only recommend products that have very positive reviews in the grand scheme of things.
Potency
One of the most important things to consider when choosing any kind of THCA hemp flower is what the potency or amount of THCA present is like. After all, THCA, when decarboxylated, will turn into regular Delta-9 THC. Therefore, knowing the THC percentage determines how high you will get when you smoke it.
Cannabinoids
We also always pick strains that are THCA-specific. Furthermore, we also pick strains that are generally third-party tested to ensure that they fall within the legal limits in relation to Delta-9 THC as set out by the 2018 Farm Bill.
Flavor
Although it’s not our first consideration, we do always consider the flavor profile of the strain in question. Some people like some flavors more than others, so we did our best to include a good bit of variety here.
back to menu ↑THCA Flower: Frequently Asked Questions
Before we call it a day, let’s quickly answer your most frequently asked questions about THCA flowers.
What’s the Difference Between THC and THCA?
The difference is that THCA is the acidic precursor to THC. THCA turns into THC. However, before THCA turns into THC, the two have different chemical structures. Furthermore, THCA is not psychoactive, whereas regular Delta-9 THC is.
What is a Good THCA Percentage?
A good THCA percentage really depends on what you are aiming to achieve. If you are a beginner who just wants a light buzz, anywhere between 10 and 15% is fine. If you are looking to get significantly high, anywhere between 15% and 20% is fine. If you want something really strong that is going to seriously intoxicate you, over 20% is recommended.
Will THCA Get You High?
No, THCA on its own will not get you high. However, when THCA flower is smoked, it effectively goes through the decarboxylation process, therefore turning into Delta-9 THC, which will get you high. It will also get you high when you bake or cook it into products in an oven or over a flame.
Is THCA Legal?
THCA flower is generally hemp flower, and in its current state, does not contain any Delta-9 THC, and is therefore totally legal as set out by the 2018 Farm Bill.
How is THCA Flower Grown?
THCA flower is simply a regular hemp flower and is grown as such.
back to menu ↑Conclusions and Final Thoughts
You should now know all of the most important information about THCA flowers. If you are looking to buy the best THCA flower online, check out one of the five strains that we covered above from Secret Nature CBD. THCA is one of the most interesting cannabinoids out there, and it’s definitely something we recommend checking out on the Secret site.
[…] for more of the best strains reviewed online? Check out our reviews of the Best THCA Flower, or the Best Delta 8 Strain for […]