What is THCa?
THCa, also known as tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is the acidic precursor to the well-known cannabinoid THC. This means that THCa can convert to THC through a process called decarboxylation (or "decarbing"). Decarboxylation can occur in a number of ways through exposure to heat or light. When this process occurs, THCa converts to THC almost instantly.
When taken on its own, THCa is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, giving it medicinal applications as well. But, when THCa is decarbed, the psychoactive properties of THC become active. When heat (such as a lighter or torch) is applied, the carboxyl group attached to the THCa molecule is removed, leaving behind THC. Think of it like this: the decarboxylation process removed the "a" from THCa, leaving you with plain THC!
How is THCa legal?
Now is the point where most people ask, "so how is this legal?" And the answer can be found in the 2018 Farm Bill. Under this bill, hemp products are defined as having less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC on a dry weight basis, making them legal to sell on a federal level. THCa flower, such as ours, can be tested and certified by a third-party lab to prove it contains less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC. If a THCa product does not have an associated lab test, there is no way to be certain that it falls under the legality of the Farm Bill.
Like almost anything pertaining to the hemp industry, THCa does not come without controversy. There are varying opinions on whether or not THCa should be legal due to the fact it converts to THC. And since the Farm Bill has not been updated since THCa came on the scene, it is a grey area. Some states have even outright banned the sale of THCa products, such as: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington. Because of this we do not ship any THCa products to these states.
Where Can I Find THCa?
THCa comes in a variety of forms from gummies to flower. If you are looking to use THCa for its medicinal applications, we recommend searching for a THCa gummy or tincture. If you are looking for THCa for its decarboxylation properties, look no further! Hive & Mind carries premium THCa flower and THCa prerolls, with flower grown in the ground- not in a lab.
