Hemp flower or THCA flower contains Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, which exerts more therapeutic qualities rather than psychoactive ones. And, because of this reason, it is still considered legal in many countries and you can use it to prepare smoothies, salads, or edibles that you will not get high.
However, there is still another side of the coin. The same THCA flower can actually make you high when you consume it similar to marijuana. So, if you ask, does THCA flower get you high? The answer is ‘no’ when you are consuming it raw, and ‘yes’ when it is exposed to heat.
Whether you are smoking or vaping THCA flower, the heat will convert the components to decarboxylated THC, resulting in euphoric effects.
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What is THCA Flower?
You have heard of cannabis and hemp plants, and their flower is known as THCA plants. Since the flower is the same plant part, many people believe that the flower is also psychoactive, which is not true.
THCA, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is the precursor of THC, which eventually is associated with the euphoric feeling you get after smoking weed. So, you need to decarboxylate the acidic part from the flower by exposing it to heat, and you can get high.
However, the application of THCA flower is more important therapeutically. If you consume the THCA flower, your mood will elevate without making you sleepy, and in some cases the flower can relieve you from pain.
Although the cannabinoid profile of THCA flower and Marijuana falls under the same category, they are not derived from the same plant.
People who cultivate THCA flowers need to choose a selective strain and maintain a highly controlled environment. Cultivating the flower cautiously results in trace amounts of THC and high THCA.
If you heat the THCA flower, it will convert into 9 THC. Hence, many people believe that the THCA flower should be illegal to cultivate this flower.
However, raw THCA flowers have medicinal uses and contain less than 0.3% delta 9 THC, whereas unprocessed weed contains 1-2% of THC. So, raw THCA flowers are significantly different from weeds.
You can buy thca flower and add it to your healthy and wellness regime however, you first need to be aware of how to use the flower for both recreational and medical uses.
Methods of Using THCA Flower for Recreational Purposes
Due to a small yet significant change in the chemical structure of THCA flower you will not feel lightheaded after consuming it raw. However, if you want to specifically use it to get high, there are simple and effective methods for that as well.
Ensure that you are buying the flower from a trusted source with proper labeling, known potency, and less contamination or use of pesticides during cultivation.
Roll a Joint
You must have already tried a joint with a weed and tobacco mix. To create a change of flavor and after-effect, grind THCA isolate powder or diamonds. Your traditional joint will provide a more relaxing and soothing feeling, unlike a roll with 100% marijuana.
Smoke with Vape or Bong
You must know the most effective way to consume THC oil. To extract the oil from the THCA flower and convert it into psychotropic THC, you can use a bong, bowl, or vape. Using any of these methods will expose the flower to heat and give you a trippy feeling.
Choosing the right equipment to smooth your experience is always better. Read more to learn how to choose the best THC Cartridges for your needs.
Vaping is simple, and it preserves the terpene flavors by heating the oil to 157°C. To get a satisfying effect, you need to ensure that the consistency of your grinding stays in the medium-fine stage and does not go all the way to fine grinding.
Dabbing THCA
Dabbing refers to inhaling the vapor from heating the crystalline form of the THC extracted by cold-extraction method. The after effect of inhaling such vapor is much more intense than a regular joint.
Crystalline THCA or THCA has cannabinoids, trichomes, and terpenes freshly preserved in it, which ensures the most potent effect.
Moreover, inhaling the vapor makes it easier for your lungs to deal with the smoke. All you need to know is how to heat the substance appropriately so that it melts into THC and produces vapor.
Scientists are still researching whether THCA flower is actually medicinally potent or is it just a local belief. Researchers are working on proving the therapeutic effect of THCA flower buds.
Depending on user experience and small-scale scientific research, THCA can help you manage the following diseases that CBD cannot provide.
Irritable Bowel Diseases
Improves digestion and helps dealing with ulcerative colitis, inflammation, chronic pain, Crohn’s disease and muscle spasms.
Inflammation
Can help reduce inflammation, pain, and even insomnia.
Seizure
If you are suffering from sclerosis and epilepsy-related spasms and seizure attacks, you can consult with your doctor for prescribing THCA flower.
Although raw flowers are inactive to produce a trip-like effect, the prescription will guide you to take the effective dose for receiving anticonvulsant properties.
Cancer-Related Discomforts
Cancer patients suffer from various side effects of chemotherapy, including nausea, vomiting, pain, eating disorders, and many more. A prescribed dose of THCA is a possible therapy to manage such discomforts.
Neuro-inflammatory Diseases
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or Huntington’s are diseases that affect the neurotransmitters and proper functioning of the brain.
Accident, trauma, or stroke can cause chronic neurodegenerative disorder. In such cases, researchers are considering THC as a new drug candidate.
THC can cross the blood-brain barrier and exert positive effects on the cognitive function of the brain. Therefore, it shows neuroprotective function.
The pharmacological properties of THCA flower are, however, dependent on a few factors.
Tolerance level in the patient’s body, compatibility with the drug molecule, and the possibility of the drug creating dependency – are a few major factors to consider for health specialists before prescribing raw THCA for medicinal purposes.
How to Consume Raw THCA Flower?
Consuming raw THCA in flower or bud form will provide you with a relaxing and pain-relieving feeling. To achieve that, you have to pick the cooking or preparation process that doesn’t require exposure to heat.
● Infused in Food
Adding the THCA flower into salad dressing, juice, and smoothies are a few ways to consume raw THCA. In some parts of the world, people prefer juicing the raw flower and extracting the juice without adding anything to gain the antioxidant properties of the drug.
● Tincture
Another extraction method for THCA consumers is to use glycerin or alcohol and process it in tinctures. You may find them in small bottles and measure your dosage for the desired effect.
● Edibles
Although heating is completely prohibited to protect the medicinal properties of THCA, slow and consistent heating may still be used to consume the flower. In brownies, tea or slow baked cookies, you can infuse the flower and enjoy antiinflammatory properties. However, you need to be extremely careful about the cooking process if unless you want to get high with THCA cookies.
What are the Side Effects of Smoking THCA Flower?
Similar to any other drug particle, long-term exposure to THC-related substances will start creating dependency. Since it helps in relaxation, people working in a stressful environment may get dependent on the flower to sleep or relax.
Long-term usage of the flower can potentially cause depression or psychosis, although we need more research insights to know why this happens. Moreover, smoking all through your teenage age will undoubtedly cause lung diseases. Other than that, the short-term side effects of the flower are:
- Alters your perception during the time THC stays in the body.
- Your eyes can become red, also known as bloodshot eyes.
- Being paranoid, pressurized, or anxious in interacting with people or objects.
- You may not remember everything you experience after consuming THCA vapor or smoke. It may alter your memory.
- Trouble walking or performing basic tasks.
Since THC directly hits the brain neurons, it may not assist you in performing the tasks that regard your brain function. Dull and dizzy feelings are common. So, it is better to rest after smoking any above-mentioned methods of smoking THCA flower.
Conclusion
We are hoping that this article helped you answer the most common question of people who try to experience the mind-altering effects of THCA flower. So, does THCA flower get you high?
In short, exposing the flower or bud to an adequate temperature will decarboxylate the acid part from the drug molecule and convert it into THC.
End result is a more potent psychoactive effect. However, burning any form of cannabis will burn away a few cannabinoids and show less potent effects than the THCA flower.
Nevertheless, the flower contains medicinal properties in raw form to help manage inflammation and degenerative neurons of the brain.