Crystalline cannabis: the purest concentrate on the market

Crystalline is the purest form of cannabis concentrate existing. This extract consists of a single type of isolated cannabinoid, usually tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), or CBD, refined to a purity of 95 to 99.9 %. It appears as white crystals resembling powdered sugar or fine salt.

Crystalline is also called "crystals" or (incorrectly) "THC crystals,", diamonds or isolate depending on the cannabinoid in question. Crystalline CBD is more commonly referred to as CBD isolate.

THCA, CBDA, or CBD: Which Cannabinoids Come in Crystalline Form?

The crystalline form can only be produced from three specific cannabinoids: THCA, CBDA, and CBD. This limitation is chemical in nature: active THC cannot form a stable crystalline structure. What is commonly referred to as «THC crystals» is actually Pure THCA, the acidic, non-psychoactive form of THC.

THCA is converted into active THC by decarboxylation when exposed to heat. This is why THCA crystals, which are inactive at room temperature, become intoxicating as soon as they are vaporized or dabbed.

In contrast, CBD has a chemical structure that allows it to crystallize naturally. Crystalline CBD is therefore pure CBD, free of THCA and terpenes, and is legally available in France at CBD shops.

Close-up of the Crystalline – Allie Beckett

Crystalline, the world's strongest concentrate

Crystalline THCA was popularized by the California-based company Guild Extracts, a company specializing in mining in Southern California, which produced the first documented batches of 99.9 % of THCA. By way of comparison, other concentrates such as the rosin, the bubble hash or the BHO typically contain 50 to 80 % of THC. Demand was so high when it first appeared that the price reached 200 $ per gram in dispensaries in Southern California.

Guild Extracts' manufacturing process is kept secret, but the company claims it can produce crystalline THCA from sources as diverse as CO2 extractions or ice water hash, without solvents for the final crystallization step. To compensate for the complete absence of terpenes in the crystalline, Guild Extracts has become famous for its «dip n dab», dip the concentrate in terpenes extracted from strains such as Goji OG, Tangie, or Sherbert before consuming it.

Crystalline vs. Other Concentrates: Advantages and Limitations

Crystalline offers unmatched power, but this extreme purity comes with a downside: the complete absence of terpenes. Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give each strain its flavors, aromas, and some of its specific effects through the’entourage effect.

Without terpenes, THCA crystalline from a Durban Poison strain and that from a Northern Lights strain produce exactly the same effects: the isolated crystals from one strain are chemically identical to those from another. Therefore, dispensaries do not sell «strain-specific» crystalline: the concept makes no chemical sense.

Consumers who have tried crystalline THCA report a high described as very clean, stable, and clear, without the complex notes of full-spectrum extracts or the live resin, but of incomparable intensity.

How is crystalline made?

Warning: The production of crystalline should only be carried out by qualified professionals. The process can be dangerous and is illegal in many jurisdictions.

Crystalline is produced from a refined cannabis extract. The process essentially involves mixing a refined concentrate with a solvent, then applying specific heat and pressure conditions to evaporate the solvent. Under the right conditions, THCA precipitates, separating from the solution and chemically bonding with other THCA molecules to form crystalline structures.

The starting material can vary widely: CO2 extract, BHO, ice water hash. It is the control of the precipitation conditions (temperature, pressure, solvent concentration) that determines the size and purity of the final crystals.

How should crystalline be consumed?

Crystalline can be consumed in several ways:

• Dabbing : the standard method. The crystalline substance is placed on the hot banger of a dab rig and vaporized. The heat converts THCA into THC through decarboxylation.
• Addition to other concentrates : mixed with budder, from shatter or the terp sauce, e crystalline boosts potency while still providing the benefits of the host concentrate's terpenes.
• Edibles : The crystalline can be dissolved in cooking oil or butter for edible preparations. THCA must be decarboxylated first to become active.
• Oral ingestion without decarboxylation : Unheated THCA is non-psychoactive but has been studied for its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Some medical patients use raw THCA crystalline for this purpose.

To learn more about the entire concentrates cluster, visit our complete guide to cannabis extracts and concentrates.