THCa Continues to Make Waves in The Texas Cannabis Landscape
THCa, which stands for tetrahydrocannabinoilic acid, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that is the precursor to the well-known psychoactive cannabinoid, THC. Through a process called decarboxylation, THCa converts to THC.
According to Wyatt Larew, founder of the Dallas-based cannabis brand Wyatt Purp, decarboxylation happens when the plant is exposed to light, heat and death.
“The scientific definition of THCa is conventional cannabis that has not converted into THC yet,” he said.
When live plants are tested, Larew said the THC content will be higher in the same plant four to six weeks post-harvest.
“That’s because decomposition is decarboxylation,” he said.
According to Larew, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency deems THCa flower legally compliant hemp flower because testing takes place before decarboxylation occurs.
“All THCa flower is federally legal cannabis. There’s no difference in it other than the time of the testing,” Larew said. “The U.S. Department of Agriculture doesn’t regulate finished goods, and everything is done with a full chain of custody from the farm to the package. The testing was done while it was like that.”
By this logic, Larew says all cannabis is technically federally legal.
“This has been legal since 2018, which means that every single cannabis arrest since 2018 is based off of constitutional fraud,” he said.
According to Larew, it gets dicey when Texas’ state crime labs test products that were purchased as legal THCa because they could have since decarboxylated through the natural decomposition process. He also said a common testing method called gas chromatography uses heat, which also causes decarboxylation.
In a Feb. 14, 2023, letter regarding the legal status of THCa in smokable hemp, Rod Kight of Kight Law Group LLP acknowledges that there are dozens of forms of the THC molecule, including THCa, but only delta-9 THC is used to determine whether harvested hemp and hemp products are lawful under federal law.
“The quantity and concentration of other THC isomers, and other cannabinoids and forms of THC, including THCa, are totally irrelevant with respect to the legal status of harvested hemp and hemp products,” the letter states.
Unlocking THCa’s Health Benefits
While THCa does not offer psychoactive effects, it has been shown to offer some health benefits. According to Cresco Labs, one of the largest publicly traded, vertically integrated multistate cannabis companies in the U.S., THCa is beneficial for relieving inflammation and pain and is an ideal cannabinoid for relieving the symptoms of arthritis and seizures. It’s also an effective neuroprotectant, they say, making it beneficial for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Because of decarboxylation, however, users must consume the plant in a certain way to reap the health benefits of THCa. When smoking cannabis, the heat converts THCa into THC, so it’s best to grind fresh flower into something edible.
Arbors Wellness, a Michigan-based medical marijuana provisioning center, recommends sourcing a freshly made THCa extract or adding ground bud into a smoothie along with other superfoods like kale or avocado.
“Some people even juice fresh palm leaves and sugar leaves right after harvest, but make sure your grower isn’t using chemical pesticides if you’re planning this,” the Arbors Wellness blog states.
Building an Empire with THCa
Wyatt Purp has become a major player in the THCa landscape, and Larew said the company has experienced a 10,000% annual year-over-year growth rate since 2021. Up to this point, Larew has shipped his THCa flower to customers nationwide through his e-commerce store. However, he said a Wyatt Purp retail store is coming in the next couple of months.
“We don’t have a location decided yet, but I’m just getting my ducks in a row and waiting to pull the trigger,” he said.
Larew said his stores will not offer the typical smoke shop experience but will operate more like cannabis dispensaries in legal states. The locations will not sell nicotine products, and patrons will first check-in in a waiting room before going to the back to select natural THCa flower from the menu.
Larew said he plans to open multiple Wyatt Purp stores, with the flagship brick-and-mortar location planned for Dallas.
