THC-A, the non-psychoactive sibling of THC, has been gaining attention in the cannabis world for its potential therapeutic benefits. And guess what? If you are interested in trying some, we’ve got a few LOOPER products you want to check out! But first, let’s explore how THC-A is made, its legal status, and its potential uses and benefits.

What is THC-A?

Have you ever wondered how THC gets you high? Well, THC as a molecule is psychoactive, but THC didn’t start out that way. Let’s take it back to its origin story. Have you ever tried chewing on a bud of weed, hoping to get stoned? It didn’t work, did it? That’s because there isn’t any THC in weed. 

Did we lose you yet? Okay, let’s take it back a notch. The ‘A’ at the end of THC-A stands for ‘acid,’ which is the precursor to THC. So, instead of THC in the weed plant, it’s actually THC-A. Once heated (called decarboxylation), the THC-A turns into THC, and bam! You’ve got a psychoactive cannabinoid. That’s why you can’t eat raw weed and get stoned, but you can light it up and smoke it for those feel-good effects.

How is THC-A Made?

If THC-A is naturally occurring, why make it? Well, in order to use in products like vape carts, edibles, or disposables, you need a substance that infuses into these things. So, that means creating THC-A crystalline. First, it starts with a cannabis extract, in this case – hemp extract. 

Then, it’s mixed with acetic acid and hexane – don’t worry, those are just fancy words for solvents that dissolve away all the stuff we don’t want, like terpenes, fats, lipids, and other cannabinoids.

Then, heavy-duty machinery applies pressure, motion, and heat to the solution. This makes the solvent evaporate, leaving behind the precious THC-A.

But wait, there’s more! That solution still has some unwanted compounds hanging around, so more chemicals are added to the mix before running through the specialized machinery again. This time, all the unwanted compounds get the boot, leaving only the pure, crystalline THC-A behind.

And that’s how the magic happens, folks! Those THC-A molecules chemically bond together and form a crystal structure that will make any stoner’s heart skip a beat.

Is THC-A Legal?

Well, my friend, the legality of THC-A is a bit of a sticky situation. See, even though it doesn’t get you high, it’s still considered part of the cannabis plant, and if it’s exposed to heat for too long, it can turn into good ol’ THC. And we all know how some people feel about that!

So, as with all cannabinoids, the legal status comes back to the source material. Did it come from marijuana or hemp? If it came from hemp, chances are good that it’s perfectly legal so long as it contains less than 0.3% Delta THC in the finished product. But to be sure, you should always check your local weed laws because some states are not so hemp friendly. 

How Strong is THC-A?

Remember how we said that THC-A is non-psychoactive? That’s still true…but we also said that all you have to do is heat up to activate that precious goodness into something more powerful! That decarboxylation process happens with a lighter, or say, a heating element from a vape cart battery or disposable pen. 

So, THC-A on its own produces no stoning effect. It’s what happens when you heat it up that adds potency. If you’re looking for super potent stuff, check out THC-P, THCP-O, or THC-JD.

THC-A Benefits and Uses

We still have a lot to learn about THC-A, but consumers are sharing rave reviews about its benefits. 

Here are a few ways THC-A might help you out:

• Neuroprotectant – Better brain power? We want some of that!
• Anti-inflammatory – Reduce aches and pains? Yes, please.
• Anti-Seizure – Fantastic news! Thank you, cannabis!

Because THC-A turns into THC the moment you heat it up, you have to get a bit creative if you want pure THC-A. One way to try it out is to juice cannabis leaves! Talk about green juice for the win.

Best THC-A Products

Whether you’re a seasoned smoker or new to the game, LOOPER has everything you need to elevate your smoking experience. If you are ready to try THC-A, just check out our goodies below or shop the entire collection of LOOPER products.