If you’ve spent any time in the cannabis world, you’ve probably seen the word “decarboxylate” pop up time and again. But what exactly is decarboxylation, and why is it so important when it comes to cannabis? Trust us: It’s simpler than it sounds.
From making homemade edibles to lighting up joints, decarbing cannabis is an essential step to unlocking your bud’s potent potential. However, most of the time, we hardly give it a second thought. If you’re at all interested in the science of cannabis, decarboxylation is a unique process that’s both fascinating and practical.
To better understand decarbing weed, we’ve got you covered! Read on and learn why decarbing cannabis is so important, how to do it with our easy step-by-step guide, and much more. By the end of this post, you’ll be ready to fire up your oven or load up another bowl and get to decarbing like an old pro.
What Is Decarboxylation?
In the cannabis world, decarboxylation is the process by which THCA—a non-intoxicating cannabinoid—is transformed into THC, the major psychoactive cannabinoid in weed and the one we’re most interested in when we’re talking about the cannabis plant’s psychoactive effects.
Though it may seem complicated, the entire process is quick and done almost instantaneously when your cannabis is exposed to a heat source like an open flame from a match or lighter, or when you vape a concentrate in a vape pen or disposable unit.
However, decarbing cannabis can also be done through a slower, gentler process, using steady heat with your home oven, which will transform your raw cannabis into a form that’s shelf-stable, potent, and can be used for all manner of edibles, topicals, and more.
Why Decarb Cannabis?
Though lighting up raw cannabis bud will immediately decarb it, there is some importance to decarbing your bud before other forms of consumption. Transforming cannabis flower—which isn’t intoxicating until it’s burned—into an easy, ready-to-use format of decarbed cannabis opens up a whole new world in terms of what you can make with it.
To understand what’s happening when cannabis is decarboxylated, we need to revisit the cannabinoids we named earlier, THCA and THC. The “A” in “THCA” signifies that it’s the acidic precursor form of THC. At the molecular level, THCA contains an extra carboxyl ring, which is the source of the term “decarboxylate,” since THCA will lose that carboxyl ring when exposed to heat and this will change the way it interacts with our bodies to produce the intoxicating effects we associate with cannabis. Similarly, decarbing CBDA will convert it to CBD.
THCA vs THC
Does that mean that THCA doesn’t do anything for us? While it’s not intoxicating, preliminary research has linked THCA with some potential benefits, including possible anti-inflammatory effects, and impacts on metabolism and insulin levels.
So, to return to the first question of what you can actually do with decarbed cannabis, the next question might be, what can’t you do with it? Since decarbed cannabis doesn’t require an additional heat source once activated, it’s the essential ingredient in all non-inhaled cannabis products—and that’s as good a reason as any to share exactly how it’s done.
Learn more about how THC and THCA are related and why it’s important.
The Importance of Temperature when Decarbing Cannabis
First things first: Making sure your temperature is on point is perhaps the most challenging part of decarbing cannabis. Too low, and your final product won’t be as potent as it could be. Too high, and those precious cannabinoids and terpenes might go up in smoke—literally!
So…what’s the right temperature? Most sources suggest an ideal temperature of between 230°F and 250°F as the sweet spot when you’re decarbing cannabis in the oven, but it’s important to note that THCA and CBDA decarboxylate at different temperatures. According to one source, CBDA decarbs at a slightly higher temperature than THCA, and strain differences may also play a small role in these equations.
How to Decarboxylate Cannabis: A Step-By-Step Guide
The decarboxylation process for cannabis flower and activating its cannabinoids is relatively straightforward.
Materials
- Stove or toaster oven
- 1 oz cannabis flower
- Cannabis grinder or sharp kitchen knife
- Parchment paper
- Baking sheet
- A container to store the decarbed cannabis, such as an 8-ounce Mason jar
- Optional: Oven-safe thermometer
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 240°F. Note that the internal thermostats in ovens typically aren’t very accurate. If you have an oven-safe thermometer handy, now’s the time to use it.
- Grind your cannabis. Grinding exposes more of the surface area of the flower to the oven’s heat, making for a more even decarboxylation. If you don’t have a purpose-made grinder, use the sharp edge of a kitchen knife to chop your flower finely or the broad, flat side to crush it. You can use a spice grinder, but be aware that it will probably smell like weed for a few weeks afterward.
- Place parchment paper on the baking sheet and evenly spread the ground cannabis on the paper.
- Place the ground cannabis in the oven. Set a timer for 25 minutes, checking the cannabis about halfway through baking. When it’s done, the flower should look lightly toasted and dry. If it needs a few more minutes, that’s not an issue, but try not to bake it for more than 45 minutes in total so as not to lose potency.
- Remove decarbed cannabis from the oven—allow to cool.
- Use immediately or store in a cool, dark place for later use.
How to Use Decarbed Cannabis
Now that you’ve decarbed your cannabis, what do you want to make with it? The sky’s the limit when it comes to decarbed cannabis, but the most popular ways to use it are in edibles, tinctures, and topicals.
Edibles
Let’s face it: When it comes to sheer fun, not much competes with cannabis-infused edibles. If you want to make your own, the most straightforward route is to infuse some form of fat, like butter, olive oil, or medium-chain triglyceride (MCT), with your decarbed flower. For a simple procedure, visit our easy step-by-step guide to making infused cannabutter or cannaoil.
Tinctures
Potent, shelf-stable, and portable cannabis tinctures are among the most useful of cannabis products. Depending on your needs and preferences, they can be made using one of several bases, including alcohol, MCT, or glycerin, an oily, slightly sweet liquid. Whichever method you choose, you can find complete instructions in our guide to making a cannabis tincture.
Topicals
While cannabis topicals don’t get quite the attention that flashier products like concentrates and edibles do, we think they’re an important addition to the cannabis market. The fact that merely applying cannabinoid creams and lotions to our bodies may help reduce pain and inflammation and may even support healthier, clearer skin is remarkable. Seeing as you’ve already decarbed your cannabis, there’s no reason not to use it in a homemade salve or balm. The process is similar to creating an infused cannabutter or cannaoil—only you’ll want to use oils that feel good on your skin, such as coconut or olive oil.
Get Down to Decarbing Cannabis with Mission
Decarboxylating cannabis may sound intimidating, but it’s actually quite simple and very important when making potent edibles, topicals, and more. If you’re ready to start your journey with decarboxylating your own bud, you can find plenty of premium cannabis flower at your local dispensary.
Don’t want to go through the whole process of decarbing cannabis? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered! Head to the Mission dispensary closest to you and explore a vast selection of delicious edibles and soothing topicals—without the need for an oven or heat source. Just remember the golden rule if you’re trying edibles for the first time: Start low and go slow when it comes to finding the right dosage for you. The decarbed cannabis in infused edibles can take up to 90 minutes to take effect.
Ready to learn more about all things cannabis? Read through our extensive blog to get the full rundown, including what happens to stale weed, a deep dive into the Cuban Linx strain, and so much more!
