You go to the dispensary, or visit your favorite cannabis online retailer and order all of your favorite THC products. You get cozy on the couch and take a couple hits. Your creative brain is now pumping out, in your mind, the most ground-breaking questions and theories. What happens if an asteroid took out the human race but all cats survived? My cat Georgie would rule the world.
Okay, maybe not that question, but we do tend to think about things a bit deeper and really think about how they work or where the heck they came from. How did this cannabinoid start as a seed, become a plant, and now is a dry product I’m literally smoking? How is THCA flower made?
Here at Moonwlkr we love transparency. We are not gatekeepers and want to share our knowledge with everyone including YOU. So let’s get down to the nitty gritty, how is THCA made?
What is THCA? Is THCA Synthetic or Natural?
THCA is a newly utilized cannabinoid that is naturally occurring in live cannabis plants. It is the precursor to THC. That’s right, THCA has existed this entire time. It’s not synthetic and did not come from someone’s sketchy basement lab. It’s been thriving within the trichomes of cannabis plants since the first potent smelling plant was discovered.
However, there are methods of cultivation that include synthetic options. These allow for more precise control over nutrient profiles and produce the same effects after extraction. Moonwlkr chooses to source our cannabinoids from naturally occurring cannabis plants that offer a more prosperous cannabinoid profile. Especially because the goal here is to harvest the most THCA from the trichomes.
Learn more about the uses and effects of THCA here!
Trichomes
Trichomes are the appendages or outgrowth on the cannabis plant. These are the beautiful sticky crystal-like structures that pack all the potency. This is where all of the yummy smelling cannabinoids such as THCA and terpenes are stored. The production of trichomes may differ based on the strain of the cannabis plant as well as other factors such as nutrient content, light-source, and more. Certain strains produce more trichomes than others and offer a higher concentration of THCA.
Harvest
Once a cannabis plant reaches peak maturity, it is time to harvest. The handling of trichomes during this stage is extremely important in keeping the integrity of the appendage intact. After harvesting all of the healthy and mature trichomes, they undergo a drying process. When drying, the temperature and humidity levels are crucial to maintain the perfect environment for higher concentrations of THCA.
Extraction
There are many different extraction methods used within the cannabis industry. Solvent extraction is amongst the most common practices, however the others can be beneficial in other ways.
Sources for extraction variations: Gas: Ethanol, Butane, Hexane, Methanol, or Acetone, Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Ice-Water, and Dry Sieve
We Have THCA! Now Time for Decarboxylation
After the cannabis plants have been grown to maturity, harvested, and the trichomes extracted. THCA is live and prevalent within the yielded trichomes of your natural cannabis plant!
When navigating the intricate process of THCA cultivation, decarboxylation is an additional necessary step to unlocking the effects associated with THC. As THCA is the precursor to THC, it is not psychoactive in its raw, unaltered form. Thus, before decarboxylation – it will not induce the euphoric effects.
Decarboxylation transforms THCA into THC with the presence of heat. This can include sparking a pre-roll or flower with a lighter, vaporizing THCA with a built in heating element, or baking/cooking THCA into your favorite snacks at appropriate temperatures.
When THCA undergoes decarboxylation a carboxyl group is dropped releasing carbon dioxide and transforming it into THC and powering your high!
Curious about how THCA compares to THC? Check out this blog post!
How is THCA Flower Made?
Well folks, you have your answer. THCA undergoes the exact same process as THC with the additional necessity of decarboxylation to unlock its psycho-active effects. Always make sure to check any company for their transparency. Moonwlkr provides all third-party lab tests for any of your favorite cannabinoid products including THCA! Try it for yourself.
