How is THCA Flower Made?

THCA flower is becoming increasingly popular in the legal cannabis market, but  how is it different from regular THC flower derived from marijuana? 

Get this. THCA flower is essentially weed that tests at less than 0.3% THC to ensure its federally legal. 

Once THCA is exposed to heat, it converts to THC through a process known as decarboxylation. 

This means THCA flower is “made” just like cannabis flower that contains high levels of THC, grown either indoors or outside. 

And once you light a bowl or joint packed with federally legal THCA flower, it’s basically the same thing as regular weed…meaning it will get you high just like regular bud. 

Keep reading to learn more. 

Key Takeaways: Growing THCA Bud 

• THCA flower is basically weed that tests with less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC, making it federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill.
• THCA undergoes a transformation via decarboxylation when heated, which activates it to become psychoactive THC.
• THCA flower is grown like regular hemp or marijuana, often indoors with hydroponics systems and sustainable practices.
• Pruning, training and harvesting at the right time are important aspects of growing high-quality THCA flower.

What Is THCA Bud?

THCA bud is essentially weed that tests with less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC.

It’s not like regular hemp that usually has low THCA levels too. In fact, THCA bud is very similar to marijuana that tests at higher concentrations of 0.3% Delta 9 THC. 

Marijuana plants are naturally abundant in THCA, which converts to psychoactive THC when THCA is exposed to heat. 

While the 2018 Farm Bill legalized products with less than 0.3% D9, there was no stipulation on THCA levels in the end product. 

For instance, if you buy THCA flower and look at the package it may say 18%THCA but with 0.23%-▲9-THC, which makes it technically legal. 

On its own, THCA flower won’t produce any euphoric or psychoactive effects. 

But when you apply heat, either by smoking, vaping, or baking it, the chemical compound THCA undergoes a transformation via decarboxylation. 

This activates THCA, which then becomes THC. So yes, THCA will get you stoned!

How Is THCA Flower Made?

THCA flower is grown like regular hemp or marijuana. 

It can be grown indoors or outdoors, in soil or hydroponically. It’s typically grown indoors with a hydroponics system.

By selecting the highest quality strains and growing them in a controlled environment, plants are able to reach their full potential and produce flowers rich in THCA. 

These flowers are then harvested at the ideal time, when trichomes contain peak concentrations of THCA (and other cannabinoids), terpenes and other beneficial cannabis compounds.  

Growing operations often use in-house testing to ensure that the Delta 9 THC levels in the cannabis contain less than 0.3% D9 THC, making the plants legal under federal law.  

If the bud has more than 0.3% D9, it would be considered marijuana and a controlled substance. This is why THCA flower is cultivated to have maximum THCA and the least amount of D9 possible. 

How Does THCA Flower Work?

THCA flower works exactly like your standard weed. There are a variety of ways in which you can use it. 

THCA flower buds are astonishingly versatile and can be consumed in various ways. Each method of consumption brings a different feeling of effect, on-set time and duration. 

Here are some of the most popular methods:

Joint

Grinding up some THCA flower and rolling it into a joint provides a classic cannabis experience. Once you light THCA flower, it turns into THC, and you’re basically smoking a regular joint.

To make things really easy, you can purchase THCA prerolls, which are federally legal as long as they contain less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC on a dry weight basis. 

Pipe/Bong

Packing a pipe with THCA flower is basically like packing your pipe with regular bud. Simply spark it, and your THCA magically converts to THC offering the same effects as a bowl packed with weed.  

Vaping

Vaping is a popular modern method of consumption that’s known for producing a clean, smooth vapor that delivers immediate effects. You can vape bud or grab a THCA cart.

Edibles

For those who prefer a smokeless option, decarbing THCA flower and using it to make cannabutter to put into edibles is another option. Once it’s decarbed, the flower has the same effects as THC and makes the perfect ganja butter. 

Is It Possible To Grow THCA Flower?

Yes, you can grow THCA flower just like you would grow regular weed. 

It’s important to select strains known for their high THCA content, and use ideal cultivation practices adhered to throughout the lifecycle of the plant. 

Quality soil, proper nutrients, air and temperature control and lighting are all vital for producing high-quality THCA flower.

Overall, growing THCA flower requires careful attention to detail and a lot of patience, but the end result is well worth it. 

For those new to cannabis cultivation, a weed grow kit can make the process a lot easier. 

With the right techniques and a little bit of knowledge, you can produce high-quality THCA flower that will get you high just like regular high-quality weed.

Does THCA Come In Flower?

Yes. All cannabis is abundant in THCA. 

THCA is the most prominent cannabinoid acid found in cannabis and hemp. 

THCA flower that contains less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC has become a popular way to legally experience the effects of weed where marijuana isn’t legal.