THC diamonds are crystals of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), the acidic form of THC. A lab-tested diamond runs 95% to 99.9% THCA. Raw THCA does not bind CB1 receptors well and does not cause a high. Heat strips a carboxyl group from the molecule and converts THCA to THC. That step is decarboxylation, and it starts near 220°F.

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What the crystal is

THCA forms a crystal lattice inside a saturated extract solution. The result is a faceted, translucent solid. Labs measure mass and purity with HPLC. Diamond size ranges from grains of salt to chunks over a gram. Dispensaries sell two forms: bare crystals and crystals packed in a terpene-rich liquid. The second form goes by the name diamonds and sauce. The sauce holds most of the aroma compounds. The diamond holds most of the cannabinoid.

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How diamonds are made

  1. Extract flower with a hydrocarbon solvent such as butane or propane, or with supercritical CO2.
  2. Winterize the extract with ethanol and freeze it. Fats, waxes, and lipids drop out and get filtered off.
  3. Dissolve the clean oil in a solvent and seal it in a jar.
  4. Hold the jar at a controlled temperature. Crystals grow over 2 to 6 weeks. Time and saturation set the final size.
  5. Drain the liquid sauce from the crystals and package both.

Potency and chemistry

THCA has a molar mass of 358.5 g/mol. THC has a molar mass of 314.5 g/mol. The difference is carbon dioxide, and it leaves as gas during decarboxylation. One gram of pure THCA yields about 0.88 g of THC. A 0.5 g diamond dabbed at full conversion delivers roughly 440 mg of THC, far above a single serving. Most users take 20 mg to 50 mg per dab.

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Ask for a certificate of analysis. A full panel covers THCA, delta-9 THC, total terpenes, residual solvents, pesticides, heavy metals, and microbials. Diamond-only jars test low in terpenes. Sauce jars test high.

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How to consume

Dab rigs and vaporizers work. Set the surface or coil between 480°F and 600°F. Below 480°F the oil pools and burns off in the next hit. Above 600°F the terpenes break down and the vapor turns harsh. Cold-start dabs heat the nail with the concentrate already loaded. That method protects flavor.

For edibles, decarb first. Place the crystals in an oven at 220°F for 30 to 45 minutes. Then mix with a fat such as butter or coconut oil. Eating raw THCA will not work; the body does not decarboxylate it at a usable rate.

Storage

Keep crystals in a glass jar with an airtight lid. Store at 60°F to 70°F, away from light. Heat and UV light convert THCA to THC over time, and the crystal softens into oil. A fridge adds moisture with each open.

Legal status in the United States

Federal law places delta-9 THC above 0.3% dry weight in Schedule I. THCA is not named in that threshold. Hemp-derived THCA diamonds sit in a gray zone, and state rules differ. Some states ban all THCA products. Others allow them under hemp programs. Check your state law before you buy. The exact federal position on isolated THCA is not settled.