THCA Flower vs Dispensary Weed: How Do They Compare?
You’ve seen a lot of types of online weed appear only for some of them to disappear just as quickly. Does anyone buy delta 8 flower anymore, for instance?
Some forms of cannabis you can buy on the internet are thriving like never before, though. CBD flower is still huge, as an example, and THCA flower has now taken the online world by storm.
We all know that CBD flower isn’t the same thing as “real weed:” It doesn’t get you high. Is THCA flower the genuine article, though? Will it get you intoxicated to the desired extent? Discover the answers to these questions and more over the course of this comprehensive guide.
What is THCA flower?
THCA flower is Cannabis sativa flower that is high in THCA but low in THC. Both from a regulatory and a chemical perspective, THCA and THC are not the same thing, with THCA being the acidic form that THC takes on in cannabis flower before it goes through the process of transformation called “decarboxylation.”
So long as it contains less than 0.3% THC, THCA flower is considered just as much “hemp” as CBD flower or even a hemp T-shirt. It doesn’t matter that the THCA in the flower will most likely be converted to THC when used — all that matters is the THCA concentration in the cannabis flower prior to decarboxylation.
In contrast to dispensary weed, which is only sold in certain states and often at an absurd premium, THCA flower is sold online and for reasonable prices. There’s no need to stand in line or go through any other arduous and unnecessary steps. Simply buy THCA flower online just like you’d purchase any other item.
What is “dispensary weed?”
The term “dispensary weed” almost always refers to THC-rich cannabis flower, also known as “marijuana” under federal law. Since the THCA loophole didn’t exist at the time, certain states started the “medical marijuana” trend by making THC legal within their borders toward the end of the 1990s, eventually sparking a movement that has since engulfed the nation.
There are still a few holdout states, but for the most part, THC-rich cannabis is now in some way legal in most parts of the nation. When we say “in some way legal,” however, we’re contrasting the overall confusion and difficulty of buying THC flower (in any state) with the clarity and ease of buying THCA flower (in every state).
Is THCA flower the same thing as dispensary weed?
For most intents and purposes, THCA flower is the same thing as dispensary weed, but it’s usually better. While dispensary weed is of dubious quality and comes with very limited information, THCA flower is often artisan-crafted and equipped with robust product details.
You can look up the lab reports for THCA flower products you buy online, something you can’t do with dispensary weed. Plus, when you go to a dispensary, there are only a few different products to choose from. There are literally hundreds of competing THCA flower brands online, making it possible to fine-tune your selections to fit your exact needs.
How are THCA and THC different?
So, why can THCA flower be sold online but THC flower can’t? That’s because THCA and THC are separate compounds. THCA is what’s called a “carboxylic acid” because it has a carboxyl group attached to its tail. When exposed to heat, UV light, or a variety of other influences, THCA sheds its carboxyl tail and becomes THC, transforming into a highly intoxicating natural chemical.
Even though THCA flower transforms into THC quite easily, THCA is not the same thing as THC. Prior to conversion, THCA is perfectly non-intoxicating, frustrating efforts to have it banned as a mind-altering drug. From the perspective of federal law, it doesn’t matter that THCA becomes THC. What matters is that THCA products contain less than 0.3% THC when sold. So long as they do, they’re hemp no matter how much THCA they may contain.
Benefits of THCA flower vs. dispensary weed
Why might you choose THCA flower over the type of weed you can buy at a dispensary? We can think of quite a few good reasons:
Buy online
You can buy THCA weed online. Even in states where you can order THC products online for delivery, the process is often quite awkward, and you only have the choice of same-day delivery for a considerable fee. THCA flower is available online the same way as any other product — you buy it (often with free shipping at a certain dollar amount), and it arrives at your door a few days later.
No ID
You don’t need an ID to buy THCA flower online. Most sites ask that their customers be over 21, but there’s no nanny state watching over your shoulder, making sure you flash your ID for the cameras.
No lines
Buying THCA flower online involves exactly zero hours, minutes, or seconds of standing in lines. There’s no limit to the number of people who can make Secret Nature orders at once.
No drives
Unless you have to drive to the library or an internet cafe to get online, you won’t leave the comfort of your home or smartphone to buy THCA flower. In states where weed delivery is illegal, you have to get in the car every time you want to pick up some new dank.
Better product selection
It’s no exaggeration to say there are approximately 10-100 times the number of THCA products online versus the number of THC weed products you can find at even the biggest dispensaries in the nation. If you’re serious about choosing the perfect weed, going online is the only option.
Better product information
It’s very difficult to learn anything important about weed you’re considering buying at a dispensary. With THCA weed online, however, there’s a wealth of information at your fingertips whether you want to read customer reviews or check lab reports.
Same or better effects
THCA turns into THC when you use it the usual way. So, it will have the same general effects as dispensary weed, but it might even be better if you find a good supplier and a strain you like.
Same or better quality
By going online, you can often secure better quality no matter what you’re shopping for. The same goes for THCA flower, which is usually higher-quality than the THC dispensary equivalent.
The bottom line: THCA flower is dispensary weed you can buy online
Just like black-market dealers have mostly died out, the days of having to go to a dispensary to get high are now over. You can now buy genuine weed online — the same kind of weed you can buy at the dispensary, but often better. Bask in the glory days of the online weed renaissance by buying some THCA flower today.
THCA flower vs. THC flower FAQ
Brush up on additional THCA vs. THC facts below:
Will THCA flower get me high?
Yes, THCA flower will get you high if you vape or smoke it. THCA converts into THC when heated.
Is THCA flower as strong as regular weed?
Yes, THCA flower is as strong as regular weed because THCA converts into THC when heated. In some cases, THCA flower may even be stronger than THC weed.
Is THCA flower as high-quality as normal weed?
Yes, THCA flower can be just as high-quality as normal weed. This makes THCA flower quite a bit different from delta 8 flower, which is undeniably lower-quality than normal weed since it consists of CBD or CBG buds that have been sprayed with delta 8 distillate. Since THCA flower is essentially the same thing as normal weed, it’s also the same quality.
What is the difference between THCA and dispensary weed?
There isn’t any relevant difference between THCA cannabis and dispensary weed where the user is concerned. Both types of cannabis products render the cannabinoid THC when smoked.
The differences between the two, rather, are semantic and regulatory. The letter of the law relates to THC, not THCA, making THCA weed “industrial hemp” while dispensary weed remains “marijuana.”
What is the strongest THCA flower?
The strongest THCA flower contains around 35% THCA. Some strains have been bred to contain higher concentrations of THCA, but they are entirely rare and may be nothing more than mere rumors in the end. An average THCA strain contains around 15-25% THCA, but even as little as 15% is enough to get you comfortably high.
Which THCA strain gets you high the longest?
There shouldn’t be much of a duration difference in the highs provided by separate THCA strains, but some users perceive the effects of indicas as lasting longer than those of sativas. We’d recommend, therefore, that you choose indica THCA strains if a long-lasting high is what you’re after.
Is THCA flower safe to smoke?
THCA flower is generally as safe to smoke as THC flower. Considerable variations in quality exist between producers of THCA flower, however, making it important to read reviews and check for lab reports before trying any THCA product.
How much is a pound of THCA flower?
The price of a pound of THCA-rich cannabis flower can vary considerably based on the grade of the flower and the company you purchase it from. In any case, this size of transaction generally falls under the wholesale category. Contact Secret Nature customer service for more information on potential wholesale arrangements.
Is THCA the same as delta 9?
Yes, THCA is almost exactly the same thing as delta 9 THC. It becomes delta 9 when you heat it above 232° F. THCA is the inactivated form of THC — heating the cannabinoid activates it, transforming it into full-blown delta 9 THC. The only way THCA isn’t the same as delta 9 is for legal and regulatory purposes.
Is THCA the same as delta 8?
No, THCA is not the same thing as delta 8. The two cannabinoids are quite different from each other starting with their origins. THCA is a carboxylic acid precursor to delta 9 THC, but delta 8 has already decarboxylated. It has its own form of THCA. Also, THCA is considerably stronger than delta 8 — but that’s only if it's activated using a method of ingestion involving heat.
Is THCA better than CBD?
Some users might consider THCA to be better than CBD since it gets you high. Avoiding a high is the main reason a lot of people chose CBD in the first place, however, so THCA isn’t necessarily for everyone. If you’re not sure which cannabinoid to use, try both CBD and THCA, and then determine which one is best for your particular purposes.
Is THCA flower legal in all 50 states?
Yes, THCA flower is legal in all 50 states. According to the 2018 Farm Bill, any cannabis products with less than delta 9 THC are industrial hemp. This law does not say anything about THCA.
Certain states have taken it into their own hands to regulate THCA sales further. It’s very important to recognize, though, that the laws these states pass stay within their borders.
Even for individuals located within those states, online transactions take place in the state where the selling company does business. That’s thanks to the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, the most foundational legal document in our nation.
So, even if you can’t buy THCA in your state, you can still buy it online. Buy THCA online today, and join the American hemp revolution.
