THCA flower is the biggest thing in the hemp market right now, and it’s easy to see why, considering how close it comes to legal cannabis. With this one product destined to be a best seller in the industry as we move into the new year, it’s important to always remember that not all companies and businesses carrying THCA flower are providing you with the quality, effectiveness and even the safety that you deserve.
That being said, we want to help you find only the finest and freshest THCA flower, especially if you’re looking around the Charlotte, NC area. So, by helping you figure out what you need to do to discern between different flower products, you’ll be able to select one that’s guaranteed to bring you the most awesome results imaginable.
What is THCA Flower?
THCA flower refers to raw hemp flower buds that contain high amounts of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. In their raw forms, hemp flower buds are naturally full spectrum, high in CBD, and loaded with flavorful, beneficial terpenes. THCA, meanwhile, is the raw form of delta 9 THC, naturally abundant in cannabis. When THCA is heated, like when we light flower to smoke it, THCA converts into delta 9 THC.
With THCA flower, we get to enjoy a delta 9 THC high, and experience a product that’s almost exactly like cannabis. Simultaneously, it’s quite a versatile product, since not only can it be smoked, but even vaporized in a flower vaporizer, or used to make edibles with your favorite recipe.
What is the Legality of THCA Flower in North Carolina?
THCA flower is actually fully protected under federal law, despite the fact that those potent servings of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid in each bud inevitably create a substantial amount of delta 9 THC when the product is heated to be used. Federal law, as of the 2018 Farm Bill, makes it clear that only products that contain more than 0.3% delta 9 THC by dry weight are prohibited. THCA is ultimately a different cannabinoid, and so products, including ones that allow the THCA to turn into delta 9 THC when used, are legal without any kind of restrictions.
Some states have banned products containing more than 0.3% of what they refer to as “total THC”, which is the combined total of THC cannabinoids including delta 9. But, North Carolina is not one of those states, and so THCA flower is legal in any concentration.
Keep in mind that in North Carolina, marijuana is strictly banned in the state, for both medical and recreational use. One minor exception is that low-THC, high-CBD products are legal for those approved based on having seizure disorders, but there are no dispensaries selling these products in the state, and so patients have to travel out of state to purchase them. Fortunately, THCA flower is not marijuana-derived, so there is no risk of penalty for having or purchasing it.
What Determines the Quality of a THCA Flower Product?
Naturally, if you want to get the best THCA flower in Charlotte, there are several things you need to lookout for. These factors below impact a THCA flower product’s quality, safety, potency, and authenticity, which all come together to determine whether you’ll be satisfied with the product or not. Essentially, not all THCA flower is created equally, as you’re about to find out here.
Factor #1: Freshness
We know that in general, hemp flower has a shelf life of about 6 months. After the 6 months have elapsed, the product isn’t considered dangerous to consume, but its compounds will have degraded to the point that you’ll derive very little, if any, effects from using the product. What this means is that the fresher the flower, the better. Look for a company that has enough of a positive reputation on the market to guarantee a fast product turnover rate. This way, no one flower product ever sits on the shelves for so long that it’s almost expired by the time it’s at your home.
Factor #2: Whether or Not It’s Been Lab-Tested
Third-party lab-testing is a critical part of selling hemp products, and THCA flower must undergo this testing procedure before it can be sold. Lab reports, provided by a state-authorized, unbiased laboratory, should be easy to find on a company’s website. Give them a good readthrough, as this is where you’ll find objective information about how safe the product is, whether or not it complies with the law, and how much THCA it actually contains.
Third-party testing is an extremely important way for the hemp industry to be self-regulating, as these lab reports don’t lie. So, they serve as the only way to provide consumers with completely true information about what is contained within the product.
Factor #3: Strain Type
We know that cannabis strains belong to something of a tier system, in which certain strains are considered far superior to others. “Top-shelf” strains are sort of a subjective term, but overall, some strains are higher in quality than others based on the chemical compounds that they produce, and the potency of these compounds.
Primarily, when shopping for THCA flower, you want to be sure that the company is selling a variety of top-shelf strains. That way, you will be able to enjoy more reliable effects, and also customize those said effects to meet your needs – i.e., whether you want an indica, a sativa, or a hybrid.
Factor #4: Whether or Not Its Organic
Organically grown hemp flower is always superior to hemp that was grown conventionally. By choosing only organic, you will be able to avoid pesticides and other environmental toxins that take away from the quality of the flower, and even introduce unwanted impurities into your body. Not only that, but organic flower is more likely to be potent, as many conventional growing methods destabilize the chemical composition of the plant itself. So, make sure that the company providing the THCA flower is sourcing their hemp from USDA-approved organic farms.
Factor #5: How Much THCA the Flower Contains
Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid is the star of THCA flower, so naturally, you’re going to want to be sure that there’s more than a minuscule amount of that THCA in the flower. Companies often publish the amount of THCA that’s in each strain they carry, by the percentage. And, any good THCA flower company infuses into their flower enough THCA for its percentage to match that of the strain in marijuana form. For instance, of a marijuana strain naturally yields 23% THCA, most companies will infuse that strain in hemp form with enough THCA to match. Most businesses will tell you the amount of THCA in each strain of flower.
How to Avoid Cheap, Fake, Weak, or Expired THCA
If you’re looking for only the best THCA flower available, you’re going to want to consider visiting a reputable cannabis dispensary in the Charlotte area, such as GreenLife Remedies, Charlotte. You may find flower products in other types of businesses, like gas stations, vape shops and convenience stores. But, the thing is that these businesses don’t specialize in hemp, so their standards may be lower since they don’t rely on it for their main source of income.
The main reasons why you want to avoid non-hemp businesses are:
- Low quality standards due to low incentive to carry the best product
- Products that sit on shelves for a long time due to low local demand, losing their potency
- Poor choice of product selection
- Lack of knowledge on behalf of staff
True THCA Flower Can Be Found at GreenLife – Come Visit Our Dispensary Today!
Ready to give THCA flower a try? If so, head on down to GreenLife in Charlotte, North Carolina, where we’ve proudly maintained our hemp dispensary for years, with many satisfied customers who trust us for all things hemp-related. Our THCA flower comes in an abundant choice of high-quality strains, and is always sold fresh, along with providing extensive third-party lab reports (know you’re getting the finest flower out there). GreenLife’s staff will be more than happy to help you choose the perfect THCA flower product.
Remember, GreenLife offers more than just THCA flower. We act as a one-stop shop to provide the Charlotte area with every cannabinoid, product type, strain, flavor, and milligram strength they could ask for. So, whatever it is that you’re seeking out from hemp, we have you covered.
