THC vs THCA what's the real difference?

koalaprefersmarijuana · Jan 30, 2025

my bad i dont know how to reply to this but yes a quick google/youtube search essentially indicates that the buds are very moldy, the whole process makes hemp broz the middlemen where they can do whatever they want, and it is literally gabage because i tried every format of it. Nothing got me as high as mj as they are stripping "hemp" down and/or reconstituting it, and selling it for the same price as marijuana. The whole thing is practically a massive grift and it is impossible to get good bud (imho) from hemp. Even the crumble i got lasted for half the amount of cycles in my puffco, and tasted like crap. Full term thca flower is an equivalent to what marijuana has always been but as i have stated i would not personally trust hemp ever (i fell for it for a while though). The fact they were able to pull this scam and not legalize actual cannabis is beyond my current comprehension.

Zzzax · Jan 30, 2025

That is a great point.

The Benefit of regulated Cannabis is that it **Should** be safe to consume.
Hemp, by way of the Farm Bill, has absolutely no regulation for safety for Human Consumption.

I know all of us are on the same team when it comes to legalizing people to grow their own Cannabis but, if a person wants the convince of going to the "Weed-Store" then that product must be regulated for safety.
Personally? I will go without rather then go to our local "Pipe-Shop" and buy weed.

So, we all want legalization but cheap and potentially dangerous just to get high and for some to make money selling products that are not proven safe is wrong.

koalaprefersmarijuana · Feb 19, 2025

Yea that makes way more sense than i do. but oh well just ordered a qp of thca flower from discount pharms out in oregon. should be a good smoke/vape/edible. i realized i am very broke and cannot afford good mj for as much as i enjoy imbibing. I am gonna examine it closely though. I have had typically good experience with thca as it is supposedly the same as mj, just cut down 2 weeks early and a different industry. Again idk for sure but i have had truly bad experiences with the likes of thco. hhc is basically corn syrup weed. d8 is worthless imho. I guess it could get ppl off pharma and other shit but only stuff worth it to me is the stuff that is as close to weed as possible/seed to soil.

WhatWouldBobDo · Feb 19, 2025

koalaprefersmarijuana said:
Yea that makes way more sense than i do. but oh well just ordered a qp of thca flower from discount pharms out in oregon. should be a good smoke/vape/edible. i realized i am very broke and cannot afford good mj for as much as i enjoy imbibing. I am gonna examine it closely though. I have had typically good experience with thca as it is supposedly the same as mj, just cut down 2 weeks early and a different industry. Again idk for sure but i have had truly bad experiences with the likes of thco. hhc is basically corn syrup weed. d8 is worthless imho. I guess it could get ppl off pharma and other shit but only stuff worth it to me is the stuff that is as close to weed as possible/seed to soil.

My issue is less about "closeness" as it is about "what's in what you're buying."

It's pretty rare to find THCa that's tested for terpenes, which is a large part of what I'm looking for.

I can't tell you how many sites have COAs that are dated 2022 or 2021 on their site as the most active testing. Even more have "available up on request" instead of actually showing it.

And I've yet to see one that tests for molds, bacteria, infections, pesticides or chemical residues.

I've smoked some CBD and THCa that gave me a migraine. First one I've had in a decade, and only time that has ever happened with cannabis for me. What caused it, and what's in the flower? Who the hell knows. Seems pretty reckless to smoke, of it gives me a headache compost it, if it doesn't hope for the best.

Recreational states aren't perfect. But I can at least pick up flower from them and know (a) the THC levels, (b) the terpene levels, (c) that it's free from molds/contaminations/added chemicals, and (d) the test they share with me was done not only on that batch, but in the same year as what I'm getting.

mstrpkl · Feb 19, 2025

WhatWouldBobDo said:
My issue is less about "closeness" as it is about "what's in what you're buying."

It's pretty rare to find THCa that's tested for terpenes, which is a large part of what I'm looking for.

I can't tell you how many sites have COAs that are dated 2022 or 2021 on their site as the most active testing. Even more have "available up on request" instead of actually showing it.

And I've yet to see one that tests for molds, bacteria, infections, pesticides or chemical residues.

I've smoked some CBD and THCa that gave me a migraine. First one I've had in a decade, and only time that has ever happened with cannabis for me. What caused it, and what's in the flower? Who the hell knows. Seems pretty reckless to smoke, of it gives me a headache compost it, if it doesn't hope for the best.

Recreational states aren't perfect. But I can at least pick up flower from them and know (a) the THC levels, (b) the terpene levels, (c) that it's free from molds/contaminations/added chemicals, and (d) the test they share with me was done not only on that batch, but in the same year as what I'm getting.

Im not sure what state youre in, but in AZ the testing requirements include bacteria and certain pesticides and chemicals. However, AZ does NOT require testing on mold in flower (fuckin stupid i know) and doesnt require testing on terpenes, although it seems like a lot of companies are starting to test for the terps regardless.

Not to say any of this testing is even accurate, because a fat stack of it is NOT accurate (102.5% total cannabinoids, eh?).

Also, testing (at least in AZ) can be renewed/redone. Iv seen a few products testing expire, just for the company to turn around and retest it so they can sell it...

I know someone who is an agricultural inspector for the state. They told me that their company recently audited a cannabis grow in AZ, and found that they were using pesticides that ARENT TESTED FOR............

Moral of the story, dont trust the cannabis industry right now. Verify and check your shit. Even the testing is probably wack....

I work at a dispensary in AZ and deal with this crap every day. In case anyone was wondering

WhatWouldBobDo · Feb 19, 2025

mstrpkl said:
Im not sure what state youre in, but in AZ the testing requirements include bacteria and certain pesticides and chemicals. However, AZ does NOT require testing on mold in flower (fuckin stupid i know) and doesnt require testing on terpenes, although it seems like a lot of companies are starting to test for the terps regardless.

Not to say any of this testing is even accurate, because a fat stack of it is NOT accurate (102.5% total cannabinoids, eh?).

Also, testing (at least in AZ) can be renewed/redone. Iv seen a few products testing expire, just for the company to turn around and retest it so they can sell it...

I know someone who is an agricultural inspector for the state. They told me that their company recently audited a cannabis grow in AZ, and found that they were using pesticides that ARENT TESTED FOR............

Moral of the story, dont trust the cannabis industry right now. Verify and check your shit. Even the testing is probably wack....

I work at a dispensary in AZ and deal with this crap every day. In case anyone was wondering

My state follows USDA requirements only. So, test for total THC within 30 days before harvest.

That's it.

And that's if you grow it in the state. If you buy it elsewhere and resell it in the state, the only thing that's required is to have a COA showing 0.3% or less THC.

mstrpkl · Feb 19, 2025

WhatWouldBobDo said:
My state follows USDA requirements only. So, test for total THC within 30 days before harvest.

That's it.

And that's if you grow it in the state. If you buy it elsewhere and resell it in the state, the only thing that's required is to have a COA showing 0.3% or less THC.

Ok just to clarify, because now i think wer talking about 2 slightly different things lol

I was talking about cannabis, and you were talking about hemp, is that correct?

If so, you can kinda disregard what i said because that pertains to cannabis lol hemp is a different ballgame. Im not sure what requirements there are for hemp in AZ, i dont deal with that stuff haha

WhatWouldBobDo · Feb 19, 2025

mstrpkl said:
Ok just to clarify, because now i think wer talking about 2 slightly different things lol

I was talking about cannabis, and you were talking about hemp, is that correct?

If so, you can kinda disregard what i said because that pertains to cannabis lol hemp is a different ballgame. Im not sure what requirements there are for hemp in AZ, i dont deal with that stuff haha

I was referring to what's sold in the state as THCa.

THC is technically illegal in my state. But as long as THC is below 0.3%, they can sell it. What they're selling is THCa though. Which is the same thing that's sold as cannabis in AZ. They don't call it hemp, but if pressed they quote the farm bill as the authority to sell it. Which is the only stuff you can buy "through the mail." Genetically, it's indistinguishable from cannabis.

So . . . call it hemp, call it cannabis, call it THCa . . . who knows.

YesterdaysHero73 · Feb 19, 2025

weed420420420420420 said:
My dispensary here in PA lists everything as THCA numbers on the flowers and concentrates.
But when I look at a Colorado dispensary they all list THC numbers for their weed.
My weed doesn't seem to get me high.

Nobody seems to want to explain this flat out. But THCA flower is a ripoff yes? Not the real thing...

As far as my little research states, it is the same flower just has not been decarbed (heated as in a lighter. Pa is not legal, however there is a loophole sk thca is legal. You may want to do a guerilla grow or even goto the plug. Or try a shady looking vape store. I'm in va and every other vape store--- so every 3rd street corner has decent "thca"

Ninjadogma · Feb 19, 2025

Just contributing my experience with the synthesized Delta 8 that's on store shelves. It had a much lighter hit overall than regular THC and didn't matter if it was gummies or a vape, both always gave me a dull headache kind of how some of that old seedy weed back in the day used to hit.

mstrpkl · Feb 19, 2025

YesterdaysHero73 said:
As far as my little research states, it is the same flower just has not been decarbed (heated as in a lighter. Pa is not legal, however there is a loophole sk thca is legal. You may want to do a guerilla grow or even goto the plug. Or try a shady looking vape store. I'm in va and every other vape store--- so every 3rd street corner has decent "thca"

THCa is just the way that the cannabis plant grows THC. I think i misunderstood @WhatWouldBobDo. He was talking about cannabis with essentially no delta-9 THC (which is basically just cannabis, but i see lots of strains come in from different growers with at least 1% delta-9) and i was thinking he was talking about straight hemp, the kind grown for the fibers and nothin else lol

But yea youre right, add a certain amount of heat to THCa and youl end up with delta-9, which is gon gitchu high lol

Ninjadogma said:
Just contributing my experience with the synthesized Delta 8 that's on store shelves. It had a much lighter hit overall than regular THC and didn't matter if it was gummies or a vape, both always gave me a dull headache kind of how some of that old seedy weed back in the day used to hit.

Just so youre aware, too much delta-8 THC has killed a couple people. Dont eat the whole bag lol

One of the people killed was a child, i think the other was elderly. Or had breathing problems. I cant remember exactly, but delta-8 actually slows your brains signals to your respiratory system and can literally shut it down. Fuckin crazy lol but again, only of you take WAY too much. Cant remember the amounts they took off the top of my head

YesterdaysHero73 · Feb 19, 2025

mstrpkl said:
THCa is just the way that the cannabis plant grows THC. I think i misunderstood @WhatWouldBobDo. He was talking about cannabis with essentially no delta-9 THC (which is basically just cannabis, but i see lots of strains come in from different growers with at least 1% delta-9) and i was thinking he was talking about straight hemp, the kind grown for the fibers and nothin else lol

But yea youre right, add a certain amount of heat to THCa and youl end up with delta-9, which is gon gitchu high lol

Just so youre aware, too much delta-8 THC has killed a couple people. Dont eat the whole bag lol

One of the people killed was a child, i think the other was elderly. Or had breathing problems. I cant remember exactly, but delta-8 actually slows your brains signals to your respiratory system and can literally shut it down. Fuckin crazy lol but again, only of you take WAY too much. Cant remember the amounts they took off the top of my head

Just to add, be careful. The industry is now a money grab so synthetic trash is everywhere.

mstrpkl · Feb 19, 2025

YesterdaysHero73 said:
Just to add, be careful. The industry is now a money grab so synthetic trash is everywhere.

No joke. It really sucks. Iv met multiple owners of cannabis companies and most of them havent even smoked weed........ just have lots of money

koalaprefersmarijuana · Feb 20, 2025

Yea i hate how most hemp says it is not synthetic in the traditional sense, blaming mj industry for spice, and then cooking up whatever they feel like from vats of cbd - while saying it is safer than mj. Truly absurd. I think some companies really may be listening and trying to phase out the synthetic noids but idk.

Zzzax · Feb 20, 2025

koalaprefersmarijuana said:
it isn't much different but hemp dudes basically grabbed a bunch cannabis seeds and cut it down 2 weeks early so that it abides by the 0.3% d9 thc rule. Marijuana has 1-3%

For those who are interested in a "History" this is a decent video.
Basically Hemp is a term for the physical products like Hemp Fiber.
It was used by Henry Ford in an early effort to have a renewable source of plastics for building cars.

Zzzax · Feb 20, 2025

Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Russia over Hemp? Then he got all his troops killed and his Empire fell. Really?

And did anyone catch the strain they grew for fiber in that video? 12 foot tall stalk and very little leaf.

Zzzax · Feb 20, 2025

I am enjoying this video. Although dated I think this URL moment is where we get the 0.30% rule.
It looks like the crop was intended to have no more then 0.30% "THC" at the time of having to qualify for a certified crop.

We now know that such a rating is complete BS when it comes to chemical extracts and in some cases for USA Cannabis Flower which passes the test but gets people high anyway.
Reference in Video

WhatWouldBobDo · Feb 20, 2025

Zzzax said:
I am enjoying this video. Although dated I think this URL moment is where we get the 0.30% rule.
It looks like the crop was intended to have no more then 0.30% "THC" at the time of having to qualify for a certified crop.

We now know that such a rating is complete BS when it comes to chemical extracts and in some cases for USA Cannabis Flower which passes the test but gets people high anyway.
Reference in Video

So, what’s really weird, is the 0.30% “THC" rule both passes the USDA test, and also doesn’t.

The Farm Bill declares anything 0.30% ∆9-THC and under as “hemp.”
That’s what allows people to sell “THCa” product that has a COA with ∆9-THC under 0.30% in prohibition states.
But the USDA implements growing of hemp under the Farm Bill (if a state doesn’t have their own program). In order to pass as hemp under the USDA “Total THC” needs to test (at the time of grow, not of harvest) below 0.30%, which includes THCa and ∆9-THC.

Which means, it’s illegal to grow “THCa” flower in prohibition states, but not illegal to own/possess/sell “THCa” flower in prohibition states.

koalaprefersmarijuana · Feb 20, 2025

Yea also some companies seem to be defying both my expectations and perhaps the law by offering full term thca hemp flower which ignores the 0.3 and has about 1 to 3, i forget. It is all very nuanced, confusing, and rather painful to me (with seeing the synthetic stuff sold - no health effects personally from having used it) but i cannot complain too much about it. I am in jersey and murphy is awesome for passsing the mj gifting law but who knows with that even, alotta people say it is bootleg black market crap. i never had a bad experience though. Everyone is probably just sketched and bewildered trying to figure the new avenues out so they will talk shit one way or another idk. I never grew but always wanna one day.

koalaprefersmarijuana · Feb 20, 2025

my local liqour store actually sells thca slices for 25 bucks, diamond infused nugs too! Better than the gas station dime bags that are also infused lol. They have bunch synthetic crap too though and i always wanna buy alcohol or more shit so i tend to avoid it.

THC vs THCA what's the real difference?

THC vs THCA what's the real difference?

koalaprefersmarijuana

Zzzax

koalaprefersmarijuana

WhatWouldBobDo

mstrpkl

WhatWouldBobDo

mstrpkl

WhatWouldBobDo

YesterdaysHero73

Ninjadogma

mstrpkl

YesterdaysHero73

mstrpkl

koalaprefersmarijuana

Zzzax

Zzzax

Zzzax

WhatWouldBobDo

koalaprefersmarijuana

koalaprefersmarijuana

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