THCA, or Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is the main compound produced by type I THC dominant cannabis plants. THCA is non-psychoactive. Once decarboxylated, aka heated, it turns to Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, or what is commonly known as THC. 

Cannabis plants naturally produce only the acid forms of cannabinoids in their flowers. THCA, CBDA, CBGA, CBDVA, THCVA, etc. Their is no mechanism in the plant for producing Delta 9 THC, or CBD, or CBG, once again just the acid forms. Only when the flower is harvested and heated/stored/exposed to UV light will the cannabinoids begin to convert from the acid form to Delta 9 THC, CBD, CBG, THCV, etc. The amount that converts post harvest is generally small unless flowers are heated in dry rooms.

THCA Flower vs THC Flower

THC flower rushed from off the plant and sent to a laboratory may show virtually no Delta 9 THC with high amounts of THCA. You can see an example below THCA "Hemp". It boasts almost 24% THCA and 0.21% Delta 9 THC.

The minor amounts of THCA is converted into Delta 9 THC during harvesting, drying, trimming, curing, transport, and aging of THC flower are once again relatively small. 


Generally speaking a well cared for flower dried in temperatures below 70 degrees and handled gently will generally end up with between 0.5-1% testable Delta 9 THC. I have attached an example below from a recreationally licensed farm in Oregon. This flower was solid in adult use cannabis dispensaries. It boasts around 38% THCA and 0.6% Delta 9 THC.




Laboratories, when testing flower for THC levels use what is called total THC. This is what dispensary post on the packaging of flower and other products. Total THC is essentially total potential Delta 9 THC a flower is likely to contain after its decarboxylated/heated.


The calculation for total THC is (THCA * 0.877) + Delta 9 THC.  Almost the entire sum of the THC in THC flower is composed of THCA as can be seen in the COA's above.


Total THC is also what the USDA requires hemp growers test their plants for 30 days before harvest. Because hemp farmers must test their plants for total THC, they cannot grow THCA/THC genetics because they will have too much THC even at a young age. If you are curious about why you can't grow THCA as hemp - read more here.


In summary, THC flower and seeds are the same as THCA flower and seeds. The THCA the masses have come to fall in love with is the same cannabinoid they already loved - just more available because of a legal loophole. 

If you would like to learn more about the legal loophole, visit our blog here.