Many states have legalized weed, but unfortunately, dispensaries aren’t accessible to everyone. Turns out, there’s still a way to explore cannabis if any of those limitations apply to you: the mail. By using the alleged gray area around hemp and THCA, companies have found that it’s possible to ship weed through the mail, even to illegal states.
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But how?
A quick recap of the THC vs THCA debate: THCA, or Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is the precursor to THC. It’s mostly found in raw, newly harvested weed. Once heated, though (as cannabis typically is), THCA becomes THC as it drops a carboxyl group. Basically, every time you light up, you’re changing THCA to THC, no matter how the bud was advertised to you.
Here’s where it gets fuzzy. The 2018 Farm Bill defined legal hemp as cannabis with at most 0.3 percent THC. The bill never mentions THCA, and retailers have been able to exploit that oversight in order to sell intoxicating cannabis products that, in any other case, would be seen as plain old cannabis. Some feel as though this technicality doesn’t give brands the right to sell THCA.
Jared Reams, a cannabis attorney, said, “If this were true, all cannabis would be hemp because THCA is what the plant creates…In sum, THCA flower is not legal and is, in fact, just run-of-the-mill cannabis.”
Cannabis attorney Rod Kight feels differently—according to him, “Under federal law and the laws of some, but not all, states, THCA flower is not a controlled substance…the sole metric for distinguishing hemp from marijuana is the level of delta-9 THC. The levels of other cannabinoids, including THCA, are irrelevant to the material’s legal status.”
In June, the House Appropriations Committee advanced a provision under the 2026 fiscal legislation that would ban hemp-derived products containing quantifiable amounts of THC or THCA. In Texas, a Senate committee advanced a bill that would do the same. In some states like California, hemp THC has already been struck down. THCA is in trouble, but for now, it’s still protected to a certain extent.
THCA through mail
Buying THCA online is increasingly popular, and consumers seem to enjoy it not only because the weed quality is often high, but also because it feels like the safer choice. Subreddits like r/THCaFlower are filled with posts of “mail hauls” where people show off what they managed to score through the mail—those who are newer to shipping the plant sometimes post and ask for reassurance that they won’t get in trouble, and they often receive it.
According to UPS, “hemp in plant form is accepted for transportation only for pre-approved shippers as a contractual service.” All shipments must contain the certificate that certifies the hemp’s delta-9 THC content. Marijuana, on the other hand, “is prohibited under any circumstances, even when marijuana is for medicinal purposes or is otherwise legal under a state’s law.”
USPS has a similar stance, stating that, “Hemp and hemp-based products, including cannabidiol (CBD) with the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of such hemp (or its derivatives) not exceeding a .03 percent limit are permitted to be mailed in domestic mail,” as long as mailers show compliance with federal law, like a certificate of analysis demonstrating the plant’s total THC content.
Carolindica is one of the companies that provides this service. It’s been in business for six years, and 20 percent of online orders are THCA flower. Despite the legality of shipping hemp and THCA, both sending and receiving the packages don’t come without issue—though it may not be what you think.
“We’ve sent out hundreds of thousands of boxes and never received anything from law enforcement, but it’s not uncommon for the box to just get ‘lost’ or ‘destroyed,’” said Chris Karazin, founder and CEO of Carolindica, in an email to GreenState.
Aside from including the proper documentation, Carolindica has found other ways to make sure its packages get to their rightful owners.
“To minimize the chances of a box being opened, the key is always making sure the packages are smell-proof, and using standard brown cardboard boxes,” said Karazin. “While we would love to bring on nice branded boxes, the package needs to look like every other box moving through the mail.”
In Karazin’s experience, the risk of packages being stolen or damaged is more prevalent than the prospect of confiscation at the hands of law enforcement. However, others have had THCA packages taken or rerouted. According to Reddit users, companies can email local law enforcement to inform them of the legality of shipping the plant. For many, though, the stress is unnecessary and not worth it.
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The future of weed by mail
According to Prairie State Hemp, THCA products can be shipped to every state except the following:
- Arkansas
- Hawaii
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
Even in states in which shipping the cannabinoid is legal, doing so still carries risk. Law enforcement may mistake a hemp package for marijuana, so it’s important to check local regulations and beware that even with documentation, there could be issues.
Hemp law is changing rapidly around the country, and the ability to ship THCA may not last very long for many consumers. To ensure the safety and legality of shipping your favorite products to your door, know your rights and keep up with local laws, even if you feel confident in your state’s stance on weed.