Legal Dispensaries Blame THCA Flower for Their Problems, Briefly Forget They’re Bad at Business

Legal cannabis dispensaries across the country are once again pointing fingers at nearby smoke shops and hemp retailers selling THCA flower, insisting the unregulated market is the primary reason their stores are underperforming, customers are leaving, and vibes are “challenging right now.”

Industry insiders confirm this accusation is being made loudly, frequently, and usually right after reviewing sales numbers that suggest something else might be wrong.

“It’s the THCA,” said one dispensary owner, surrounded by dusty pre-rolls and a menu that hasn’t changed since 2021. “People are buying fake weed instead of our $68 eighths. That’s the whole issue. Nothing else.”

The Hemp Shop Menace (Allegedly)

According to operators, glass shops selling THCA flower are:

• Confusing consumers

• Undercutting prices

• Avoiding taxes

• Existing within a regulatory gray area

Which, coincidentally, are the same advantages dispensaries enjoyed during the early days of legalization - a period most of these same owners now describe as “the good old days.”

“What’s unfair is that they don’t have to follow the rules,” another operator complained, while running a Buy One Get One 50% Off promotion for the ninth consecutive weekend.

The Other Possibility No One Wants to Discuss

Despite the uproar, some uncomfortable questions remain unanswered, such as:

• Why does the dispensary feel like a DMV with weed?

• Why do customers need a TED Talk to buy a vape?

• Why does everything cost more but feel worse?

Consumers interviewed for this story said they weren’t defecting to hemp shops because of THCA chemistry, they were leaving because the dispensary experience sucked.

“I don’t care what molecule it is,” said one former regular. “I just want something affordable that works without a 12-minute wait and a lecture.”

Pricing, Selection, and the Art of Self-Sabotage

Industry analysts note that many dispensaries:

• Refuse to lower prices despite oversupply

• Carry the same white-labeled products as everyone else

• Blame regulation instead of differentiation

• Treat customer experience like an afterthought

Meanwhile, hemp shops are doing something radical: meeting customers where they are.

“They’re open late, they’re friendly, and they don’t act like they’re doing you a favor,” said one shopper. “Plus, they don’t make me feel like I’m ruining their day by asking a question.”

Regulation as a Personality Trait

Rather than adapting, many operators have instead chosen their favorite strategy: calling regulators.

Trade groups are urging lawmakers to crack down on THCA flower, arguing that consumers need to be “protected” from products they are voluntarily purchasing, enjoying, and returning for.

“This industry used to be about the plant,” said one executive. “Now it’s about compliance.”

He then returned to approving a sixth gummy SKU that tastes exactly like the other five.

Final Thoughts

Yes, the THCA loophole is real. Yes, it creates uneven enforcement. And yes, it probably needs to be addressed.

But pretending hemp shops are the sole reason legal dispensaries are struggling is like blaming Uber for why your taxi smells like despair.

The hard truth is this: If a glass shop with a neon sign and a card reader is eating your lunch, the problem might not be the loophole.

It might be you.