Best Cannabis Diamonds Price per Gram Guide
Find out the top pick for cannabis diamonds and the factors to consider when purchasing by gram.
What are cannabis diamonds?
Cannabis diamonds are crystalline formations of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). They look like clear or amber faceted stones. Most cannabis diamonds are 95% to 99% THCA. They contain little to no THC until heated.
How cannabis diamonds form
Producers extract cannabis with a solvent such as butane, propane, or CO2. The extract holds THCA, terpenes, and other cannabinoids. Over days or weeks, THCA molecules bind into crystals. The crystals separate from the terpene and cannabinoid liquid. That liquid is called sauce. The result is diamonds and sauce. Some producers wash the crystals to make diamonds without sauce.
Appearance and potency
Diamonds range from small grains to chunks larger than a pea. Color is clear, white, or amber. Lab tests show 90% to 99.9% THCA. A 1-gram diamond with 99% THCA holds 990 mg THCA. After decarboxylation, that equals about 868 mg THC. THCA loses mass as carbon dioxide when it converts to THC.
Best Cannabis Diamonds to Buy Online: A Practical Buyer's Guide
How people consume cannabis diamonds
Most people dab diamonds. A dab rig heats a quartz or titanium nail to 400°F to 600°F. The diamond melts and vaporizes. The heat converts THCA to THC. Some people add diamonds to joints or bowls. Eating raw diamonds does not produce psychoactive effects because THCA is not intoxicating. To make edibles, decarboxylate diamonds in an oven at 220°F to 240°F for 30 to 60 minutes.
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Effects and risks
Effects start in seconds to minutes after inhalation. They last 1 to 3 hours. A high THCA or THC dose can cause anxiety, paranoia, rapid heart rate, and impairment. New users should start with 2 to 5 mg THC. Diamonds are not for beginners. Do not drive after use. No established lethal dose for THC in humans exists, but high doses cause distress. Unknown: long-term lung effects of dabbing and effects of repeated high-dose THCA or THC.
Legal status in the US
Federal law places cannabis and THCA in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. One exception: hemp-derived THCA with delta-9 THC at or below 0.3% dry weight. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoids. Some states allow hemp-derived THCA diamonds. Other states ban them. State cannabis programs sell diamonds in recreational and medical dispensaries. Check your state law. Unknown: how courts treat hemp-derived THCA diamonds that convert to THC when heated.
Diamonds vs. other concentrates
- THCA diamonds: crystalline, 95% to 99% THCA.
- Live resin: terpene-rich, 60% to 80% THC and THCA.
- Rosin: solventless, 60% to 85% THC and THCA.
- Distillate: 90% or more THC, no terpenes or crystals.
What to look for on a label
- THCA percentage.
- Total THC (THCA × 0.877 + THC).
- Terpene content, if sauce is included.
- Batch test date and lab name.
- Pesticide and solvent residue results.