There are so many different terminologies when it comes to enjoying cannabis. And when you top that with details such as the various strains or concentrates that you can accomplish with marijuana, the results are utterly mind-blowing.
When you break it down, there are likely hundreds of possibilities. Whether you vape or enjoy your products, it’s important to be able to differentiate the variables so you at least have some understanding of your options and can use your products being fully informed.
One of the products with rising popularity is THCa. But what does that even mean and what is a high THCa percentage? This particular cannabinoid, also known as tetrahydrocannabinol acid, is ultimately the prologue to THC percentages.
Keep reading below to find out more about just what this is and what constitutes a high percentage of THCa.
what the heck is THCa?
THCa, more officially called tetrahydrocannabinol acid, is an acidic form of hemp plants that comes before the THC percentage. Some might call it the nonpsychoactive precursor or an acidic precursor. This precursor to THC concentration comes in its raw form and is highly pure. THCa is found naturally in cannabis plants that have not been heated or manipulated in any way.
However, when cannabis gets heated from cooking, smoking, or vaping, THCa is converted to THC. This is what makes it so popular in the cannabis industry. In the conversion process, THCa suddenly becomes highly potent and that is why the percentage in certain substances has to be considered. In its pure form, it’s a different element.
When THCa is raw, it has no intoxicating or psychoactive effects and most people don’t realize that. It is considered a nonpsychoactive compound. The hype in the industry is all about THCa because it can produce a very strong high. The truth is that it only happens when it undergoes some sort of heating process or a decarboxylation process. And yes, it’s true, it is highly potent when used in that manner.
THCa is also easy to find. It’s in every cannabis flower, especially the trichomes. Those small crystal-like pieces on the flower surface have an abundance of the cannabis compound. The thing to know in terms of how this affects use is that the concentration of THCa can vary dramatically. It might be affected by different cannabis strains.
The reason the high percentage question is so relevant with THCa is because of this very factor. When someone refers to a high THCa percentage, they are typically talking about percentages over 25%.
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what factors affect THCa percentage?
Several details should be considered when it comes to determining what affects the THCa percentage. We know what is a high percentage, but how can that be controlled or manipulated? Let’s take a look at these things:
Genetics
Growing conditions
Harvesting techniques
We’re going to break down these details just a little bit more.
genetics
Genetics is a significant part of every cannabis plant, and it affects the THCa content. Each plant has a family history or a type of history. For example, the sativa plant is well known as coming from certain genetics. It’s like that with every plant. They all have an origin of some sort.
There are tons of different strains out there, most of which are classified based on the plant that they come from. If you start looking into the different strains, you will discover that some strains naturally have higher levels of THCa. Each strain has different cannabinoids, terpenes, THC percentages, and so on and so on. You get the picture, right?
We also have to consider that some marijuana harvesters and breeders also crossbreed different strains. They do this for the different cannabinoid profiles and they even do it to impact THCa content too. It makes it even harder to dictate when you consider the crossbred strains, although the growers can likely pinpoint the specifics because they know their plants well.
growing conditions
Then, we have growing conditions. If you aren’t a grower yourself, you probably don’t understand the very specific requirements of growing quality products. That environment affects everything about the raw cannabis plant and it’s going to play a role in determining the THCa percentage too. Of growing details, these factors matter:
Temperature
Humidity
Nutrients
Light intensity
The growing process affects cannabinoid production and since THCa is an element of cannabinoids it will come from that as well. Having optimal growing conditions is essential. Again, the levels of THCa will be impacted, making it very hard to say exactly what the percentages are.
When plants are grown with all the best environmental and production details, they are far more likely to promote higher levels of THCa in the final product. In poor growing conditions, the THCa will likely be much lower. By the time cannabis consumers like us see the final cannabis concentrates and products, we have no idea where it came from or how it was grown.
harvesting techniques
Finally, harvesting techniques will also impact THCa levels. The truth is that poor harvesting can easily damage elements of cannabis compounds and cannabinoid production. And it goes beyond just harvesting. It also boils down to how the product is then condensed down into other products. Turning it into a specific concentrate or using solvent-based processes might impact the THCa levels.
When the raw cannabis flower is harvested will have an impact and how it is harvested will also have an impact. The timing and method will be a big part of this. The key is to harvest the plant at just the right segment of time. If it’s too early or too late, then the THCa content will be lower in most cases.
Cannabinoids like THCa develop up to a very specific point and that includes the flowering stage. If harvested before it’s complete or after the flower wilts, the THCa is going to be negatively impacted.
A producer needs to be extremely careful about their drying and curing processes. Again, they have to be mindful to not damage the elements that produce THCa cannabinoids within the plant. If someone wants to preserve THCa and prevent degradation from the materials, they need to use proper processes to do so.
the significance of the THCa percentage
Why does the THCa percentage even really matter? Well, the biggest detail is that THCa on its own provides high therapeutic effects and potential benefits because it is a potent substance. People like this product because it has nonlimited psychoactive effects when used in ways that don’t dissolve the THCa into THC.
Those who specifically seek out THCa do it for one of two reasons. The first is because they want the wellness properties and they will use it in such a way that they can experience those potential benefits. And then there are the people who want to heat it and feel the extreme high and potential effects of doing so.
The therapeutic potential benefits include many of these things:
Anti-inflammatory properties
Neuro benefits
Anti-nausea
Pain relief
Neurodegenerative diseases
Most people who use it for medical potential need these aids in some capacity. Individuals who use medical marijuana might seek out strains containing THCa specifically for these benefits and the ability to enjoy them without psychoactive effects. That being said, they also have to know the right ways to use the concentrate so that it doesn’t result in conversion to THC. That would simply defeat the purpose right? Unless you want to use high-THCa products for recreational purposes.
what is a high THCa percentage?
When you hear the term high percentage, you think of something that has a lot, right? In this case, it does have a lot, but the percentage might be lower than you think. High THCa products usually have THCa of 25% or more. This allows the cannabis product to provide highly potent results without the potential effects of THC that could also occur.
When you’re looking at strains, look for the shiny trichomes or check for these details as it is a clear indicator of the THCa levels. It’s possible to create THCa diamonds when you get a strain high in these trichomes. It’s also possible to choose other selections that are lower and yet yield great medicinal benefits all the same.
How high the percentage is will ultimately dictate the power of the therapeutic benefits or how much it takes to get the relief that you need from the product. In uses where people turn to heat for a potent high, this will also impact the potency analysis and psychoactive effects on that level.
The truth is that it’s an intricate balance. Growers and producers need to understand the intricacies of this. However, it’s also important for users like us to understand. If you want the medicinal benefits of THCa, you’re going to want to use it in a method besides vaping. If you want to explore the power of potency, vaping is a great option.
conclusion
What is a high THCa percentage? Well, technically speaking it’s anything over 25%. However, the answer to the question doesn’t stop there. It’s the responsibility of cannabis consumers and producers alike to understand the materials they are working with and make informed decisions about processes or consumption methods. THCa is known for its therapeutic benefits rather than psychoactive effects, but it could also easily portray psychoactive properties with certain uses.
