Why THC-A Hemp Flower is Becoming the Ruler of THC Products in Cannabis Stores.

Why THC-A Hemp Flower is Becoming the Ruler of THC Products in Cannabis Stores.

by | Apr 16, 2025 | 420, Education

Most cannabis consumers think of THC as a singular compound when the reality is far from it. There are four major types of THC used for their medicinal and psychoactive effects and many other lesser-known forms that show up in products. The BIG 4 are Delta 8 THC, Delta 9 THC, THC-A, and THC-P. Today we will learn about THC-A specifically: 

  • How is if different from what is sold at a typical dispensary 
  • Why it is becoming many longtime smokers go to flower 
  • Why some consider it “fake” weed 
  • How it is legal 

So, kick back in the cut, fire one up, and let’s learn about some weed stuff. 

What is THC-A 

THC-A or Tetrahydrocannabinol Acid if you want to be fancy is the primary form of THC produced by the cannabis plant. When heated it converts to Delta-9 THC. Delta-9 THC is often the form people are thinking of when they ask about “real” THC and in edibles and most vapes they’d be correct but when it comes to bud, they are missing the picture. THC-A makes up on average 98.5% of the total THC count in cannabis. THC-A is what gets you high when smoking flower so, when purchasing from a hemp shop or dispensary always look at the THC- A count. 

How is THC-A Hemp Different Than What is Sold at A Typical Dispensary? 

The easy answer is that it is not taxed at a ridiculous rate. For cannabis to qualify as THC-A hemp it only requires that it is has a dry weight of less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC. By that standard the vast majority of raw cannabis flower sold qualifies as THC-A hemp. To ensure they could get plants to stay around that 0.3% Delta 9 standard, growers crossed it with plants with a high CBG count. CBG might be the most beneficial compound for your health in cannabis (we can dig into that in another blog, another time). Now, we have THC-A hemp that tests as good or better than most flower found at typical dispensaries, but wait, we bumped the CBG count up significantly. Next time you buy from a typical dispensary, look at the Delta 9 THC count. If it is less than 0.3% (it probably will be) or says THC-A on the label, know you could have bought your flower cheaper elsewhere. 

photos of THCA Flower from RiverBluff Collective

Why Many Smokers Go to THC-A Flower 

I’ll keep this short and just give you a list of reasons. 

  1. It isn’t taxed nearly as heavy 
  2. It gets you just as high
  3. The extra CBG in theory should make it slightly better health wise.
  4. Most Hemp shops have less wait time, and their staff must be educated on the products they sell because many first-time customers will come in with the assumption it is all “fake”. 

Why Some People Call It “Fake” Weed 

The reason THC-A hemp is called “fake” weed is due to ignorance caused by lack of topic education brought on by the government’s futile war to demonize the plant. Little research existed on cannabis until the last 40 years when interest picked back up for its medicinal use to curb opiate addiction. Now, we live in the information age. You have a supercomputer in your pocket and hopefully an educated budtender in front of you. If people fail to listen to the budtender, fail to research what they are explaining, and choose to call THC-A hemp “fake” weed then there is nothing I could write today that would change their mind. The only thing that could change their mind is failing a drug test for THC (Which they most definitely will) after smoking “fake” weed and no one wants that. 

How is This Legal? 

The 2018 Farm Bill set the definition of hemp-based products as those having less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC by dry weight. This unknowingly made most cannabis grown in the county to now be classified as hemp, but it took a few years for the public to catch on as many were happy their states were now recreational. First, they realized they could still make high powered edibles and qualify them as hemp making them legal to see in most states. It wasn’t until the last 4 years that the THC-A hemp flower explosion happened as more and more people started to notice the weed that bought at their local dispensary should qualify as hemp and set out to prove that point.  

Don’t Knock It Until You Try it 

After reading this article, if you’ve never visited a hemp shop that sells THC-A flower, I implore you to do so. If you are still skeptical when you arrive, I dare you to ask for their best. What do you have to lose? It is cheaper and more convenient than most typical dispensaries. Find a hemp shop that educates and strives to carry quality products, there are many who do and twice as many who don’t but if you find the right one it will blow your local dispensary out of the water. THC-A hemp is not “fake” weed. It is just weed or maybe even weed that is better for you. Visit our Smokables page to check out all we offer in store and SIGN UP  for our email group to stay in the know.

When Holidaze Collide: 4/20 Meets Easter

When Holidaze Collide: 4/20 Meets Easter

by | Apr 10, 2025 | 420, Community

Not too often do we get to celebrate two awesome holidays on the same day, but this is one of those years. 4/20 falls on the same Sunday as Easter! Two very social holidays that couldn’t be more different. One is very child friendly, and one is very NOT! So how does one go about picking products to enjoy the day and not disturb the vibe of Easter? We got all your tips, tricks and products to boot. So, kick back in the cut, fire one up, and let’s learn about some fun holiday weed stuff. 

For Flying Under the Radar 

Almost everyone will be celebrating Easter but far fewer will be celebrating 4/20. You may be at a social function that stigmatizes cannabis use and want to go unnoticed. No better way than with an infused drink and we have quite the selection to choose from! For those who want to keep things light we have a variety of 4mg seltzers and sodas from Lemon Seltzer to Punch Pop Soda, we have you covered. If you need a step up from that, look towards our 10mg Grape Bluff Pop or maybe a 25mg Green Goddess drink like this Dragon Fruit. For the heavier consumer, we carry a host of Uncle Skunk’s 100mg sodas like this Grape Soda. We also carry some non-carbonated options that are great for longer storage after being opened like this 150mg Chronic Harvest Lemonade.  

For When You Need to Sneak Away 

When you’ve seen enough plastic grass in baskets that your mind wants to melt, it may be time to put some grass in a bowl of your own or enjoy your favorite vape. Grab a relative and say you’re going for a “cousin walk” and come back happy. It is a holiday tradition after all! Our smokable products are only available in store but are worth the trip. We have disposable vapes ranging from .5g up to the massive 5g Litty. We carry individual pre-rolls, 2pks and 6pks. We also have multiple tiered pricing for flower and have NO PURCHASE LIMIT. To take a close look at our smokables click HERE.

 

To Feel Young Again 

Outside of socialization, chocolate may be the only other thing the two holidays have in common. While the younglings gorge on Easter chocolate you can gorge on some THC chocolate of your own, just make use to keep out of reach of the younglings. We have a host of chocolate options from 5mg Berry Crunchy Balls to 99mg Chocolate Bars like our French Toast Bar. If you really want to have fun, you can make a chocolate bunny bong by watching this video. 

You Have All You Need 

You should be all prepared for the collision of holidaze. It will be weird and fun. You’ll see unexpected faces and make unforgettable memories. Enjoy your day, don’t let anybody yuck your yum! Consume responsibly and as always be safe. If you’d like to stay up to date with all the latest deals and articles offered by RiverBluff Collective be sure to SIGN UP for our email group to stay in the know! 

Topical Delta 9 THC Products Are High End Pain Relief at An Affordable Cost. 

Topical Delta 9 THC Products Are High End Pain Relief at An Affordable Cost. 

by | Mar 31, 2024 | 420, Education

Topicals are becoming a necessity to have on hand at any store that sells Delta 8 products or Delta 9 products. For those not familiar with the term topical, a topical is any lotion, salve, or oil you apply to your skin directly. These types of THC products are essential to helping those who seek pain relief but don’t want to get high. These customers want more help than they will get from an over the counter topical at Walmart, and many of them find their way into a cannabis dispensary or a hemp shop. Most cannabis dispensaries carry little to no topicals with few options. Hemp shops have taken up the slack in this department with most offering multiple options with multiple ways to apply the product. In this article I am going to cover how topical THC products work, if they will cause you to fail a drug test, what types of products are on the market, and introduce you to RiverBluff’s new line of topical products. 

How Do THC Products Work on the Skin? 

Our bodies contain natural cannabinoid receptors throughout the soft tissue and skin known as the endocannabinoid system, so when applying a CBD or THC product, your body is built to accept it. Most standard topicals found at your local pharmacy do not penetrate nearly as well due to lack of natural receptors. They work okay for skin irritation and minor aches, but if your issue is more severe, you should consider a topical THC product to see if it more suits your needs. In more cases than not you will find that it exceeds expectations. 

Will Topical THC Products Cause You to Fail a Drug Test?  

Many non-cannabis consumers shy away from the topic of using topical THC products out of fear they will get high or fail a drug test. First, topical THC products will not get you high. That is unless you start eating it in which case you either misread the directions or have a much much larger problem. As for Drug testing, topicals stay in skin cells for around 24 hrs. If you are not taking a skin test (the rarest of all drug tests) you should be fine but wait 24-48 hours to keep at ease. All in all, these products are safe, and your body was built to use them. 

Types of Topicals and What to Use Them For 

Lotions– Lotions are great for skin irritation and minor soft tissue pain. They don’t penetrate nearly as deep as salves or oils but many of them smell pretty whereas the other two generally have a medicine smell to them. They are also probably the easiest to apply.  

Salves- Salves are the deep penetrator of topicals. It is the messiest to apply but really the best to use for deep tissue bruising and sprains.  Once you get used to applying it it isn’t as messy but at first rest assured you will get it everywhere. 

Oils- Many oils use a roll-on applicator. Roll-ons are nice because the roller also offers a slight massage when rolling over the skin. It penetrates better than lotion but not quite as good as a salve. It is the most versatile. It does well with everything from skin irritation to deep tissue bruising. It is also the cleanest to apply as your hands never really need to come into contact with the oil. 

 

RiverBuff’s New Topical Delta 9 THC Products! 

3oz CBD/Delta 9 Roll On- This is our strongest roll on yet! 1000mg of CBD and 50mg of Delta 9 THC are paired with menthol to create a cool soothing easy to apply topical. 

1.6oz CBD/Delta 9 Salve- Our new salve is our most powerful topical yet. Same pairing as the roll on except there is 100mg of Delta 9 THC in it. This product is our best offering for deep tissue pain. 

Besides offering new topical THC products, we have also brought out our new 1200mg Citrus Splash CBD lotion. Arter reading this article if you still have trepidation toward trying topical THC products, please, try a CBD product, the amount of relief you can experience far outweighs any stigmatism you might face from uneducated people for trying to find relief for yourself. Your comfort should be the focus of any treatment you try and the optics of it should be a distant second. If you know someone struggling to come to terms with the possibility that they may be better suited to THC products, please, show them this article or one of the many others written by others on the topic. 

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