THCA crystalline is a newer, extremely potent extract on the market. Guild Extracts brought it to the public’s attention years ago with a 99-100% pure isolate. Most of the terpenes in THCA crystalline are removed and the resulting product has little aroma with potent effects if heated up. It can also be eaten for its benefits without the intoxicating effects.
What is THCA?
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is responsible for most of the intoxicating effects we’ve come to expect from cannabis. The lesser-known precursor to THC is THCA, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. THCA is decarboxylated over time either as the plant dries or by heat (like smoking or cooking marijuana) to convert into THC. It does not have intoxicating effects like THC.
THCA Crystalline
THCA crystalline has gained a lot of attention lately because of its potency and purity, making it especially useful for users who need powerful effects from their cannabis. It’s also a convenient choice for users who want to benefit from its medicinal properties by eating it without getting high. Appearance-wise, THCA crystalline is composed of white or clear rocks that look like crystals.
This look has garnered headlines like “The World's Strongest Pot Product Is for Sale in Seattle, and It Looks Almost Like Crystal Meth” comparing the cannabis product’s appearance to illicit drugs. It is not immediately recognizable as cannabis. The effects are far from comparison to other crystal-like drugs, however.
How to Use THCA Crystalline
There are two main ways to consume THCA crystalline. You can either heat it up and inhale by dabbing, smoking or vaping it, or you can ingest it orally. Heating THCA converts it into THC, meaning you’ll get high. If you’re using a powerful method of delivery like dabs, beware. You’re delivering nearly 100% pure THC to your system and should take it slowly.
THCA crystalline is also popular among people who want the benefits of THC without the intoxicating effects. With pure isolate, there’s no question about the presence of other cannabinoids or terpenes, and users can be sure they know exactly what they’re ingesting down to the percent. While it may seem useless to eat cannabis that has not been decarboxylated, THCA can still deliver positive effects without getting users high.
The compound has been suggested to help with inflammation, nausea, and bowel diseases, though we need more definitive research on the subject. Still, many users find consuming THCA to be beneficial for their conditions. It’s easy to fill pills with THCA crystalline or mix it into various foods. With such high purity, it’s also very easy to consistently dose it.
What are the Effects of THCA crystalline?
When consuming THCA crystalline orally, users will not get high but may still find relief from various symptoms, especially those rooted in inflammation. When smoking or dabbing THCA crystalline, users can expect to be hit with a very potent dose of THC. Since it comes out to almost 100% THC, beginner users may find themselves knocked out by the potency.
Proceed with caution even if you’re an expert toker. A crucial difference to note is that THCA crystalline does not contain any other cannabinoids or terpenes, so the overall effects of the high will vary from other experiences. Instead of all parts of the plant synergizing together, it’s just THC. This is convenient for people who do not want to gamble with the effects of their cannabis.
The result will be the same each time, unlike full-plant extracts or flower that produce the entourage effect. You’ll miss out on the flavors and smells you may be used to from smoking cannabis when using crystalline. The effects will be different too. Many people recount their experience as feeling very clear-headed and different from other highs they’ve experienced.
How is THCA Crystalline Made?
THCA crystalline is made by starting with an extract and mixing it with hexane and acetic acid to separate the THC from any plant material or impurities. The solution is then placed in a rotary evaporator which removes the remaining solvents from the compound. The compounds need to be further isolated so they are put through a chromatography process.
More chemicals are added during this step and removed later with the rotary evaporator. The remaining solution is purified again with more compounds, filtered, and then rotary evaporated again to remove any impurities. Solvents are added and then removed from the final product with the rotary evaporator, resulting in a pure THCA crystal.
THCA crystalline can be purchased at many cannabis dispensaries. Expect to pay a hefty amount for one gram. You probably won’t be flying through THCA crystalline because of how strong it is, so it may be a good investment for those who want the best bang from their buck without having to ingest very much.
Final Thoughts on THCA Crystalline
THCA crystalline is made by isolating THCA from the plant and thoroughly purifying it to a potent final product with nearly 100% purity. As THCA is the precursor to THC, it does not get users high from consuming it if it’s not decarboxylated. Some people use the crystalline for relief from various conditions because it doesn’t get them high.
THCA crystalline is useful for medicinal purposes because it doesn’t have to be activated to provide benefits and can be easily dosed. THCA crystalline is versatile. It can be intoxicating if activated and turned into THC. It’s extremely potent and should not be smoked or dabbed by newbies who have not experienced such high levels of THC. If you choose to use THCA crystalline recreationally, go slow and be careful.