Yes, THCA or tetrahydrocannabinol acid is 100% natural! It’s a cannabinoid that forms organically in raw cannabis plants and is the chemical precursor to THC.
At Bay Smokes, we pride ourselves on offering only naturally grown THCA flower, unlike some brands that cut corners with synthetic additives.
It is, in fact, the most abundant cannabinoid in raw cannabis plants of the over 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.
Want to learn all about THCA and where to get some real natural buds you can trust? Keep reading!
What is THCA Flower?
Like many other plants, the cannabis plant produces flowers. When harvested, these flowers contain gland-like structures called trichomes packed with THCA, terpenes, and other cannabinoids.
So, in simple terms, THCA flower is cannabis buds high in tetrahydrocannabinol acid in its natural state, as it’s found abundantly in raw cannabis plants.
At Bay Smokes, we only source THCA flower that's been nurtured the way nature intended — free from synthetic sprays, chemicals, or artificial enhancements.
One thing to note is after harvest, cannabis flower with more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC is considered marijuana, which remains a controlled substance under federal law. On the other hand, those with less than 0.3% are considered hemp, which is federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill.
Here is where things get interesting: remember how we mentioned that THCA is a non-psychoactive precursor to THC? When heated, it changes to THC, the psychoactive compound that gets you high.
This is precisely why you see many THCA products on many dispensary shelves. It is a sweet legal loophole in the cannabis industry. You can buy THCA flower and smoke it to experience all the effects of THC legally — and with Bay Smokes, you’ll always know you’re getting the real deal.
To dive deeper into what THCA flower is and why it's so popular, check out our full guide on THCA flower here.
How THCA Is Made: Nature’s Process, Not a Lab Product
One of the questions we often get is if THCA is man-made. The simple answer is no. There is no process for creating THCA in a lab.
THCA forms naturally as the cannabis plant grows—no synthetic processes are needed. We at Bay Smokes make sure to honor this natural process by only sourcing flower that's naturally rich in THCA, without chemical manipulation.
Earlier, it was thought that THCA was formed from cannabidiolic acid. Still, in the late 1990s, researchers discovered that its true precursor is cannabigerol acid (CBGA).
Here’s how it goes down in the plant:
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The plant synthesizes olivetolic acid (the cannabinoid precursor)
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Through enzymatic reactions, CBGA (the “mother of all cannabinoids”) is created
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Then, an enzyme called THCA synthase converts CBGA to tetrahydrocannabinolic acid.
As the plant matures, the THCA accumulates in the granular trichomes of cannabis flower and leaves. These trichomes are those tiny, crystal-like structures that make good buds look frosty.
So, each time you look at a sparkling nug, you’re literally looking at THCA. The plant keeps these compounds in their acidic form until they’re exposed to heat—that’s when the magic of decarboxylation happens, changing THCA to THC, as we will see below.
Decarboxylation: How THCA Becomes Psychoactive THC
Like many other cannabis users, you may be wondering: can THCA get you high? Raw THCA is non-intoxicating, but it’s just one step away from becoming the psychoactive THC we all know.
When you heat up THCA through smoking, vaporizing, or cooking, you trigger a process called decarboxylation. Don’t let the big word scare you – it’s just THCA losing its carboxyl group (COOH) and becoming THC, just like CBDA converts to CBD when it loses the acid group.
Once this chemical transformation happens, the resulting THC molecule can now fit into your brain’s cannabinoid receptors and produce those psychoactive effects of THC we associate with cannabis – the euphoric high, relaxation, altered perception, and so on.
Around 87% of THCA in THCA flower converts to Delta-9 THC when heated. So, to estimate how much THC is in your bud, multiply the THCA content (which you can find on all Bay Smokes packaging labels) by 0.87, and that’s how much active THC levels you’ll get.
For example, if you had a bud with 20% THCA, after smoking, it would give you roughly 17.4% THC (20 x 0.87 = 17.4).
Transparency is key at Bay Smokes — we provide full lab results (COAs) with every product, so you know exactly what’s in your flower.
THCA vs Synthetic Cannabinoids: What’s the Difference?
We have cleared the air; THCA is indeed a naturally occurring cannabinoid. But it’s said where there is smoke, there is fire. So, when people talk of synthetic weed or cannabinoids, what do they mean? Is it even a thing? And if yes, how is it different from natural THCA?
Now, synthetic cannabinoids are definitely a thing. Products like Spice or K2 are artificial chemicals made in laboratories and often sprayed onto plant material to make them smokeable. These can be unpredictable and dangerous, causing severe side effects like rapid heart rate, psychosis, and other nasty effects, so it’s best to avoid them altogether.
In comparison, THCA comes straight from the plant itself. Some growers have mastered the art of cultivating cannabis plants with high THCA and low THC for legality at the federal level. After harvest, these plants go through lab testing for quality and safety before being packaged as THCA flower or extracted using solvents to create products like concentrates or tinctures.
At Bay Smokes, we reject anything artificial or synthetic — we’re committed to providing only naturally grown, lab-tested THCA products you can trust.
It’s worth noting that some cannabinoids like Delta-8 THC, although present in hemp, are in such low amounts that most of what you’ll find in the market is synthetic. Delta-8 THC is typically made from CBD through a process called isomerization to produce large quantities.
Where To Buy Real, Natural, and Organically Grown THCA Flower Online
If you are looking for high-quality, organically grown THCA flower, Bay Smokes has got you covered. Unlike some brands that may use sprayed or altered flower, everything we sell is 100% natural, just as nature intended.
Check out our THCA flower collection and browse hundreds of premium strains we offer.
The THCA flower we stock is organically grown right here in the USA and lab-tested to ensure it’s free of pesticides, heavy metals, and other contaminants and has consistently accurate cannabinoid levels. We provide all the COAs with each purchase so you can check the lab reports for yourself.
Whether you are looking for a high-potency indica, sativa, or hybrid, Bay Smokes is the place to shop. Order your favorite strain and enjoy discreet, fast delivery to your door. All our hemp products contain less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC, making them compliant with the 2018 Farm Bill at the federal level.
You deserve flower that’s fresh, natural, and trustworthy — and Bay Smokes is here to deliver exactly that.
FAQs:
Is THCA safe to smoke?
THCA is generally safe to smoke when used responsibly and in moderation. Always source your THCA products from reputable brands to ensure you get lab-tested and organic products for a safe experience. For a deeper dive into this topic, check out our full blog on whether THCA is safe to smoke.
Is all THCA flower natural?
Yes, THCA is 100% natural and found in abundance in raw cannabis plants
Is THCA flower sprayed?
No! High-quality and legitimate THCA flowers are not sprayed with artificial coatings but rather grown naturally to contain high levels of THCA.
What are the benefits of THCA?
Smoking THCA has many therapeutic effects like relaxation, appetite stimulation, sleep aid, focus, and creativity.
How can you tell if THCA flower is natural or sprayed?
A natural THCA flower should have consistent trichome coverage, natural variation in color, and a fresh, complex aroma from the plant’s terpenes. Sprayed products will look uniform, have an unnatural coating or residue, and might smell like chemicals or have an overpowering artificial scent.
The best way to check whether THCA is sprayed is to review the COAs that should be made available with every purchase you make. On the other hand, if a cannabis product does not come with lab reports, consider that a red flag.
Is THCA legal in the USA?
Yes, THCA is legal at the federal level as long as it is derived from hemp with less than 0.3% data 9 thc on a dry weight basis. However, State laws vary, so always check your local laws before purchasing or using.
Does THCA get you high?
Yes, THCA gets you high when heated. Heat converts THCA to THC, which is responsible for the cannabis high.
THCA vs THC?
THCA is the acidic, non-psychoactive precursor to THC found in raw cannabis. It has a carboxyl group that prevents it from binding to cannabinoid receptors in your brain.
THC is what you get after heating THCA, removing that carboxyl group, and creating a compound that produces psychoactive effects. They’re essentially the same molecule in different states – one before heat (not intoxicating) and one after heat (intoxicating).
Does THCA show up on a drug test?
Yes, consuming THCA products can result in a positive drug test for THC. This is because when you use THCA flower (by smoking or vaping), the THCA converts to THC. Standard drug tests look for THC metabolites, not specifically THCA, which can form in your body even if you ingest unheated THCA.