Let’s get to know more about the cannabis product THCa flower that’s taking the hempland by storm.
Disclaimer: Elevated Trading is not a law firm so do not take this as legal advice. There are several interpretations of the law regarding THCa legalities that are readily available from more credible sources.
From our interpretation of the 2018 Farm Bill in reference to Delta 9 THC, if the THCa flower has low concentrations of Delta-9 THC (below 0.3%), the flower falls well within the scope of the definition of legal hemp under the Farm Bill of 2018. The Farm Bill makes no mention of THCa or other alternate cannabinoids, similar to the Delta 8 THC legality.
Again, this is our interpretation based on our legal advice we have received, but we caution each of our customers to understand their state and local laws if they conflict with the 2018 Farm Bill.
What is THCa flower?
THCa (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) flower is the latest in a long line of alternative cannabinoids to gain popularity in the hemp industry. Although everyone familiar with the cannabis industry should already be aware of THCa flower (especially if they have visited a rec dispensary), a lot of the CBD retailers are just now learning about THCa flower.
THCa flower contains high amounts of THCa which is basically the acidic precursor to Delta-9 THC. THCa becomes THC when heated through a process called ‘decarboxylation’ so it is important that this distinction is noted.
This is one of the hottest commodities in the hemp industry right now, and everyone is on the hunt for top quality product to meet customer demand.
What are the benefits of THCa flower?
As previously mentioned, THCa is the acidic form of THC so it is important to understand that THCa and THC interact with the body differently. THCa, prior to decarboxylation (or heating) is NOT psychoactive. Many consumers ingest raw cannabis, not to get high, but in search of the therapeutic effects of the cannabis plant.
Early reports suggest that THCa may have anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anti-seizure properties but data regarding this is still very limited and further studies are needed to scientifically prove this.
High THCa flower is still being researched and explored by scientific entities and consumers alike to uncover all of the potential benefits. We’re still very early in the research process, and it will be exciting to see how this research evolves over time.
What is the difference between THCa and CBD?
THCa and CBD are both cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. We’ve discussed how THCa is the acidic precursor to THC, and it is important to make the distinction that CBD also has an acidic precursor, CBDa. Both THCa and CBDa, the acidic compound found in CBD, is abundant in raw hemp and cannabis. CBDa is as much a precursor to CBD as THCa is to THC.
CBD is non-intoxicating or psychoactive and has been an increasingly popular option for consumers that do not want to be intoxicated. Even post-decarboxylation, CBD remains non-psychoactive while smoking high THCa flower can produce very psychoactive effects according to user reports.
Although the effects of each compound on our body are distinct, early research suggests that the THCa flower and the CBD offer similar therapeutic benefits.
Is THCa Flower legal?
This is a tricky question. We will reiterate that Elevated Trading is not a law firm and this article should not be taken as legal advice. There are several resources on the topic available for independent review, and we always recommend that customers check with their local cannabis attorneys.
That said, according to the Farm Bill of 2018, THCa flower with less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC is federally legal as long as its Delta 9 THC level stays under 0.3% by dry weight. The 2018 Farm Bill does not draw a distinction to “Total THC”. On the contrary, the bill specifically calls out Delta 9 THC as the determining factor and provides the legal definition of hemp.
Note that the keyword here is “Delta 9 THC” So even if a THCa flower contains +/- 20% of THCa (which is the precursor of Delta 9 THC), it should still be legal if its Delta 9 THC level is below 0.3% by dry weight.
For long, consumers have been deprived access to the natural plant that has been restricted in the past. Thanks to the current legal framework, hemp lovers can now freely get the most out of the benefits that the compound offers.
Elevated Trading urges our customers and consumers to check their local and state regulations to be familiar with the specific legal issues prior to selling or consuming THCa Hemp Flower.
Why should you have THCa flowers on your shelves?
THCa flower is a quickly growing product in the industry and its reported higher psychoactivity, in addition to the buzz surrounding it, draws more consumers into it.
In fact, THCa flower is regarded as “the next big thing” in the hemp industry and this is no exaggeration with the evident rising demand for it. At Elevated Trading, this has quickly become the most requested flower product and is reminiscent of the early Delta 8 THC craze that swept the nation many months ago.
So while it is still on its first steps into the top of the hemp chain, we advise you to research this product for your specific store to see if it makes sense to bring it into the fold for your customers.
Compliant THCa flower (grown by a licensed hemp producer) is proving difficult to find for many CBD retailers. Good thing, Elevated Trading has the supply you need for your customers who are thrilled to try out this hot commodity.
Where can you buy THCa flower wholesale?
You can buy THCa flower wholesale, online or through one of our sales pros at Elevated Trading.
We specialize in providing brands and merchants around the nation with bulk cannabinoid products like Delta 8 THC products, hemp-derived Delta 9 THC products and THCa products. If you want to package your own brand of flower, have a look at our bulk THCa flower.
We carry a lot of different options, both bulk and retail-ready in packaging, to make sure that our wholesale products are the right fit for your smoke shop, vape shop, or retail location.
Contact us today for a free consultation to see if we’re a fit for your store.