What are THCA Liquid Diamonds?

If you've recently browsed our website or have even seen them in-store, you may have noticed that we started offering Live Resin THC-A Liquid Diamond Disposables.

But what exactly is THCA? And what's the deal with this paradoxical term "liquid diamonds?" This brief guide to THCA will answer all those questions and more.

"Liquid diamonds" is a confusing name, but it makes sense once you know how cannabis processors make them. Both THC and THCA can form crystalline bonds. To make diamonds out of THCA, a producer will use specialized equipment to apply immense amounts of pressure on high concentrations of the cannabinoid along with terpenes (naturally occurring compounds that give plants their scent). 

This enormous pressure "pushes" the molecules into place, stacking them on top of one another, forming a solid crystal structure. The final result is a product unmatched in potency and purity. 

THCA by itself is not psychoactive. You need to heat it up to decarboxylate it into Delta-9 THC. If you are familiar with Delta-9 edibles, then you should be familiar with the effects of inhalable products with THCA liquid diamonds in them. The effects of Delta-9 include:

Compared to Delta-9 edibles, on a milligram-to-milligram basis, the effects of THCA liquid diamonds are milder and shorter-lasting. When you consume Delta-9 in an edible form, your body converts it into 11-hydroxy-THC. When you inhale a THCA vape, you are inhaling Delta-9, and that is what bonds to your cannabinoid receptors. When you eat Delta-9, 11-hydroxy-THC is what binds to your receptors.

As stated earlier, THCA and Delta-9 are related but are entirely different cannabinoids with different molecular compositions and structures. According to the latest Farm Bill, hemp is cannabis with a 0.3% or lower concentration of Delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis. Now, THCA can degrade and become Delta-9 THC over time. However, the structure of THCA liquid diamonds greatly deters and reduces this process. 

In general, the Farm Bill requires compliant hemp products to be tested for total THC content including THCA, so always look for a product that has passed the potency test according to their COAs. However, you should also check with your state laws, as certain stipulations on specific cannabinoids may be in place. For example, Texas state law states that "THCa is technically legal to sell as long as it contains less than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis. But like most things involving any form of cannabis in the Lone Star State, the legality of THCa products is far from clear cut."

That just about wraps it up for what you need to know about THCA liquid diamonds. In short, THCA is the "raw" precursor to THC that converts into THC when heated/decarboxylated. THCA liquid diamonds are the result of highly concentrated THCA and terpenes being pressed into a solid form to create a pure, highly potent product that's ready for vaping. And THCA is legal under the current Farm Bill and many state laws because they only account for the concentration of hemp-derived Delta-9 THC, not THCA. 

If you're curious about trying products with THCA in them, then we welcome you to try our selection of Live Resin THCA Liquid Diamond Disposables available in: