What Counts as a High THCA Percentage?

Key Takeaways

• THCA percentages represent the potential THC content in a cannabis product.
• This number differs from Total Active Cannabinoids (TAC), which is a summative figure of all present cannabinoids.
• Usually, 20-30% THCA is considered high, and anything above 30% is considered extremely strong. But how a product makes you feel is subjective and can vary with experience.
• Different types of products have different scales for measuring THCA percentages. What might be considered highly potent for flower could be moderate for vape pens.

What if the key to unlocking your ideal cannabis experience lies in smoking a specific amount? One of the first things our customers ask about is the potency of our THCA prerolls and popular edibles. After all, the THCA percentage dictates how high they’ll get you.

When you smoke it or vape it, THCA converts to Delta-9 THC almost at a 1:1 rate. In this sense, a 78% THCA vape performs like a 78% Delta-9 THC vape.

THCA & Potency

How strong a product feels is fairly subjective, as what one person deems a very potent THCA vape pen might feel weak to someone else. The concept of cannabinoid content can be a bit convoluted, too, with some brands marketing their products as “total cannabinoids,” which doesn’t tell you the whole story.

Total Active Cannabinoids (TAC) is a number on a product label that gives you a larger picture of all the cannabinoids in the product. It’s a summation beyond the effects of THC.

For instance, our THCA vapes have nearly 98% total cannabinoids, but the actual THCA percentage is roughly 24% in that same vape, a percentage that’s considered high but not exceptionally potent.

So if you specifically want to know about the THCA content, make sure you’re looking for that number on the packaging separately.

What Is THCA?

So what is THCA exactly? Is THCA strong? This non-psychoactive cannabinoid is found in raw cannabis, be it hemp or marijuana. In fact, it’s among the most prominent cannabinoids, even though it has no psychoactive properties on its own. But it has all the potential to get you high.

This is because when it’s exposed to heat through smoking, vaping, or even baking, it converts to Delta-9 THC (the real deal). This is known as decarboxylation.

To understand what a high THCA percentage is, it’s helpful to learn how these percentages are calculated.

How is THCA Content Calculated?

The THCA percentage you see on a product label isn't just pulled from thin air and is definitely not an educated guess based on the cultivar in question. The first step is rigorous lab testing to determine the THCA content. Most brands use HPLC for this.

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

This is a technique that measures the precise chemical composition of the product, including cannabinoids in both their active and inactive forms.

Once the THCA content is known, labs apply a conversion formula to estimate the total potential THC yield. The equation might look like this:

Why 0.877?

It accounts for the loss of the carboxyl group (CO₂) during decarboxylation. This is important context when you’re shopping for THCA-heavy products, because some brands may only report “total cannabinoids” or “potential THC” content.

This can be disingenuous because it doesn’t really paint the full picture for customers. Instead, customers should get to view the complete lab tests for a product before making a purchase.

What is a High THCA Percentage?

Even though certain percentages are considered “high” on the scale, how strong each product might feel is somewhat subjective to your tolerance and the way you’re partaking. It’s also important to remember that the THCA percentage will vary depending on the type of product you’re looking at.

Dabs will be much stronger than raw flower, while disposable cannabis vapes typically sit somewhere in the middle. Here’s a rough THCA range for most cannabis products:

It’s important not to get caught up comparing cannabis flower to vape pens. A 24% THCA flower is considered very strong. That same percentage in a vape or dab, though, is relatively tame by concentrate standards.

There’s a reason you’ll find so many different THCA levels when buying cannabis online. Strain genetics, cultivation practices, storage conditions, and processing methods all shape the final THCA percentage. Here’s the role each of these factors plays:

Strain Genetics

Some flower strains are naturally more THCA-rich than others. High-THCA cultivars are often bred for potency, similar to high-THC marijuana strains.

Cultivation Practices

Light exposure, nutrients, temperature, and harvest timing can all impact THCA production.

Storage Conditions

THCA can slowly degrade into other cannabinoids (like CBNA) if the product is exposed to heat or UV light over time.

Processing Methods

How the plant is dried, cured, and extracted has a major effect on THCA concentration, especially in concentrates and vapes.

But if you’re still confused about what a high THCA percentage means, it could be educational to take a closer look at THCA percentages across the most common products you’ll encounter on the market.

Cannabis Flower THCA Percentages

This tends to be the weakest of all cannabis products, but that isn’t a bad thing. Good ol’ flower always has its place in the realm of consumption methods. Here’s what you can expect:

Keep in mind that THCA flower becomes Delta-9 THC once you smoke or vape it. So, 25% THCA flower will hit just like 25% THC flower.

THCA Concentrates

Now we’re entering heavy-hitter territory. Concentrates, such as THCA diamonds, wax, or shatter, are refined to isolate the THCA molecule, often to levels of extremely high purity. These are some of the common ranges you’ll encounter:

THCA dabs don’t mess around. Even a tiny amount can feel overwhelming if you’re not used to that level of potency. That’s why these are best for the most experienced users. So if you have a lower tolerance or are relatively inexperienced, stick with something more mellow like flower or vapes.

Vape Cartridges

Vapes are a bit trickier because brands often promote “total cannabinoids” instead of a pure THCA percentage. This can make it hard to tell what’s what, but this chart can help you cut through the noise:

Our best advice is to always look at the COA (Certificate of Analysis) when buying a vape, or any THCA product for that matter. This way, you won’t have to play any guessing games about the THCA content or risk falling victim to shady marketing tactics.

What is a Good THCA Percentage?

Now you know what a high THCA percentage is. But the highest THCA percentage isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

So, rather than looking for a high percentage, it’s better to reframe your search and ask yourself: What is a good THCA percentage for my unique needs? You’ll find that the answer changes based on various factors.

Tolerance

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for what the best THCA percentage is. Moderate users often prefer products with 15-20% THCA, while experienced users might seek 25-30% or higher.

Purpose of Use

The ideal percentage for medicinal use can vary depending on the condition being treated and individual patient needs. Some medical users may benefit from lower THCA percentages for milder, more manageable effects that still let them go about their day.

Entourage Effect

It’s also important to remember that the THCA percentage is only one piece of the puzzle. The entourage effect shapes the experience you have with cannabis, too. This means that if you’re just consuming pure THCA, the high might feel a bit flat or one-dimensional.

On the other hand, consuming THCA products that contain the full spectrum of cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other good stuff gives you a more true-to-strain experience. Even though the THCA content may not be much, the high could feel complex and more intense.

Final Thoughts on Finding the Right THCA Percentage

Decoding the right THCA percentage for your needs isn’t just about the THCA content. What matters for users is how these numbers are determined and why they matter.

From mellow flower strains to ultra-potent dabs and vapes, potency is a spectrum. Bigger numbers don’t always mean a better experience, so start low, go slow, and focus on quality over quantity. Because the last thing you want to do is overshoot your high!

It’s also crucial to only shop from brands that provide COAs and transparent lab results, empowering customers to make informed decisions.