What is hemp?
Hemp and marijuana are both types of the Cannabis sativa plant, but they are legally and chemically distinct. The key difference lies in their Delta-9 THC content. Under U.S. federal law, hemp is defined as any cannabis plant containing no more than 0.3%
Delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis. Marijuana, on the other hand, is any cannabis plant with a Delta-9 THC concentration greater than 0.3%.
THCa is everywhere right now, but most people have no idea...
Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa) is a naturally occurring, non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in raw, living cannabis plants, including hemp.
It is the precursor to the psychoactive compound Delta-9 THC. This means that THCa itself will not produce a "high." However, when THCa is heated—through smoking, vaping, or cooking—it undergoes a chemical reaction called decarboxylation.
This process removes a carboxyl group, converting the THCa into Delta-9 THC, which is the compound that produces the euphoric effects associated with marijuana.
The reason THCa flower is so popular is that it allows vendors to sell a product that is technically legal hemp (since the raw flower is below the 0.3% Delta-9 THC limit), but which, when consumed by the user, becomes potent Delta-9 THC. This allows consumers in states with restrictive cannabis laws to access a potent, federally compliant product.
However, it's important to note that while THCa products may be federally legal under the Farm Bill, some states have passed their own laws to ban or regulate them, creating a complex legal landscape.