How is THC Made? (Growing, Extraction Methods, and More)

The cannabis plant has Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, mostly in the flowers. If you really look at a cannabis bud, you'll see trichomes, which are tiny structures that look like crystals. This is where the plant makes THC and other chemicals that are related to it. Trichomes are important because they hold most of the THC. They also help protect the plant from bugs and too much sunlight.

There are various kinds of cannabis trees. Different types, or strains, make more THC on their own than others. Growers who want to make strong THC extract oil should use seeds from strains that are known to have a lot of THC.

Growing Cannabis for THC

The cannabis plant is the first step in the journey of THC. For cannabis to grow well, it needs the right amount of water, shade, and food. Some growers use areas outside, while others use rooms inside that are lit differently and have climate controls. You can have more control over the surroundings when you grow plants indoors, which can help them make more THC.

The plants are ready to be picked after a few months. Time is very important when it comes to growing THC. There may be less THC if the flowers are picked too early or too late. The color of the trichomes is often used by growers to tell when to pick. When the trichomes change from clear to milky white or yellow, it's most likely time to harvest them.

How is Delta 9 THC Made in the Plant?

The cannabis plant doesn’t make delta 9 THC directly. Instead, it first makes a compound called THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid). THCA is found in the trichomes. When the plant is heated—such as when it’s smoked, vaped, or cooked—THCA changes into delta 9 THC. This change happens through a process called decarboxylation. Decarboxylation is a key step in making THC extract oil because it turns the inactive THCA into the active form of THC.

THC Extraction to Turn Plants into Oil

The next step after picking the cannabis leaves is to get the THC out of them. Extraction is the process of getting the THC out of the plant and into a more concentrated oil. There are several ways to do this. 

Ethanol extraction is a popular way to do it. In this method, the plant matter is soaked in ethanol, which breaks down the THC and other chemicals. The ethanol is then taken out of the mixture through a filter, leaving behind a thick oil that is high in THC.

Hydrocarbon extraction is another common method. Butane or propane is used as the solvent in this method. The gas is pushed through the plant matter, which gets rid of the THC. It is then cooked to get rid of the gas, leaving only the oil. It is possible to make very clean extracts this way, but be careful because the gases are explosive.

Another way to use carbon dioxide is to put it under a lot of pressure and heat it very quickly. CO2 is very good at pulling out THC and other beneficial compounds because it acts like both a liquid and a gas at this point. After the CO2 is depressurized, a clean oil containing THC and other beneficial compoundsis left. 

Extraction can also be done without using any chemicals or solvents. Rosin Press is an example. In this machine, plant matter is pressed between hot plates. The oil full of THC is pushed out by the heat and pressure. 

Processing the Extract

After extraction, the oil often needs more processing before it can be used in products. One common step is winterization, where the extract is mixed with cold ethanol and chilled. This causes unwanted fats and waxes to harden so they can be filtered out, making the oil clearer and smoother.

Decarboxylation is another important step. As mentioned earlier, the plant makes THCA, not THC. The extract is gently heated to turn THCA into THC, making the oil ready for use.

Some producers also use distillation to further purify the oil. The oil is heated, and the THC is turned into vapor. The vapor is collected and cooled back into a liquid, resulting in a very pure and strong THC extract oil.

How is Delta 9 THC Used in Products?

After extraction and processing, delta-9 THC can be used in many forms. THC extract oil is a thick, golden oil that contains a high amount of THC. It can be used in capsules, tinctures, or edibles. Some products use THC distillate, which is an even purer form of THC extract oil. Distillate is almost clear and has very little taste or smell, making it ideal for products where a high level of purity is needed. THC’s journey begins in the trichomes of the cannabis plant. It is grown, picked, and extracted with care so that THC extract oil and other goods can be made. Each technique has its own steps and tools for getting the THC out. There may be some interesting changes in how we make and use THC in the future as new methods are found.