Before discussing how to do the decarboxylation procedure, we would like to tell you how it works deliberately. By understanding the effect of decarboxylation on your marijuana, this might give way to new possibilities that you might want to try to personalize your marijuana outcome. Correspondingly, you must be mindful when performing the procedure. Prepare the materials you need, make your space a friendly place for decarboxylating your marijuana, and lastly, make sure to brace yourself for the worst, or probably the best results!
Decarboxylation might sound complicated to you, but in reality, you might have unconsciously experienced this yourself. Worry not! We will help you along the way and guide you to achieve your desired decarboxylated marijuana!
Decarboxylation: What Is It?
Decarboxylation is a process to bring out and harness the compounds in cannabis like THC. It converts the natural THCA found in your herb into THC to utilize it better. THCA is a useful element that is known to have anti-inflammatory effects and neuroprotective abilities. It has many more beneficial effects, but until THCA is converted into THC, consuming THCA is not as powerful and, thus, must be converted first undergo decarboxylation before going as far as drinking it.
The critical reagents needed for a successful decarboxylation are time and heat. Drying and eliminating the green taste of cannabis can already cause a fraction of decarboxylation to happen. For this reason, some cannabis is examined to confirm the little THC and THCA in them. Owing to the existence of a tremendous amount of heat, smoking or vaporizing marijuana will instantly decarboxylate them, which makes their potency attainable just by inhaling them. This means that as long as marijuana undergoes the right amount of heat within a particular time, its effect can be readily available by inhaling them despite not undertaking the whole process (Bennett, 2016).
Before decarbing your weed, a raw plant contains only 1% of THC and only 19% of THCA. After decarbing it, you might be able to harness 12% to 15% of THC contents. Besides, although THCA sounds useless when it comes to consuming weed, it is valuable to raw plants. It was theorized that THCA mostly serves as an acidic deterrent that keeps away threats such as pests and predators. Researches also suggested that THCA may even offer relaxing elements that can function as anti-inflammatory and neuroprotection. Other studies also hinted that when THCA is harnessed correctly, it may have the same beneficial qualities as THC without the high.
Unlike vaporizing decarboxylated cannabinoids where our lungs can easily access, cannabinoids enter our system indirectly when we choose to ingest them instead. Edibles require these cannabinoids to combine with what we eat for them to be digested along with it; that is also why it hits you slower than when you smoke it.
At a lower temperature, heating cannabinoids limits the influence of decarboxylation towards your plant. Using this method, you are preserving the material that you can use to blend with whatever you are consuming, giving way to edibles.
This procedure is highly suggested to do before cooking your cannabis to acquire your weed’s most potent psychoactive effects and medicinal capacity. Performing this will ensure the maximum application of your herb, leaving no waste behind.
Decarboxylation: How to Do It
Decarboxylation can happen naturally as a product of smokers and vapers. Though it is less proper, it is common for them to get a lighter and set a slight fire to your weed to immediately and conveniently decarb the terpenes and cannabinoids, permitting you to inhale it then in and experience its euphoric effects. The repeated, and too much heat might eradicate some of the volatile molecules. On the other hand, the vaporizing method can assert more control; devices are used to be heated up to activate THC and other terpenes and cannabinoids at around their boiling points, giving way for an approximately full dose of each compound.
However, if you sincerely long for the proper way of doing it, we can assist you in doing the process.
First and foremost, before you start decarboxylating your marijuana, you need to obtain the following;
- Oven or microwave oven
- Cannabis plant
Baking tray - Baking paper; and
- Tongs
Next, follow the procedure accurately;
- You start by preheating the oven. Set it to 115 degrees Celsius or 240 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Get your desired amount of cannabis and break it up into tiny chunks.
- Spread the chunks properly onto the tray with baking paper and put it in the oven.
- Bake it for 30 to 40 minutes. Stir or move it carefully once every 10 minutes to cook the weed evenly.
- After the given duration, your cannabis should start to give a darker color of brown. If this happens, your cannabis should be taken out and let it cool.
Temperatures above 204.4 degrees Celsius or 400 degrees Fahrenheit are fatal to your cannabis and will burn off the terpene content responsible for the aroma of your weed, and significantly decrease the effectiveness of it. It will also affect desirable substances that people are fond of the smell, such as particular flavors. Make sure not to burn your weed to enjoy it!
Decarboxylation: What Are Its Benefits?
It is of the essence that you must be aware that the chemicals in your raw cannabis are not naturally activated. To convert the buried particles found in your weed into active cannabinoids, you have to heat it, or your plant must undergo decarboxylation or the ‘decarb’ process.
THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, a compound found in your cannabis responsible for the high effect, has little to no presence in a raw cannabis plant. This surprising fact can be patched up by the reality that, depending on the strain, there is an abundance of THCA or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. When applied by heat, THCA will be transformed into THC due to the elimination of the carboxyl group. This then binds to endocannabinoid receptors in your brain and gives you that high.
This is the reason why directly eating raw cannabis will never get you high. However, there are accompanying benefits to your health when you devour the fresh plant in salads, juices, and others. And the reason why smoking cannabis gives out that powerful psychoactive effect is the sufficient period it was heated, resulting in the conversion of THCA to THC. Smoking yields a short time frame but transports THC’s powerful effect throughout your body and brain.
Decarboxylation is also needed to change CBDA compounds into CBD, which is responsible for increasing the bioavailability of the molecule. It helps accelerate the effect in your body.
Cooking and consuming cannabis are two different processes that are extremely exciting in their own right. Just like how you enjoy smoking or ingesting cannabis, preparing it for yourself must give you that same sense of excitement and will tend to set your mood on high. It is vital to do the process cautiously and adequately to bring out the best results and more potent finished products. We understand the enthusiasm it holds, but you should also realize the process’s delicacy, especially when it is heated at a lower temperature because this will make the process longer. It is not such a bad thing if you think about how the terpenes, or the one responsible for the weed’s irresistible aroma, will be intact.
Growing, cooking, and consuming is not merely about cannabis or cannabinoids; it also involves the determination and patience of the one doing these processes.
We account for the wide variety of smells and the diverse taste of molecules called terpenes. They are the ones who are responsible for your lemony zest and berry to pineapple experience in marijuana. They add to the pleasure and the medicinal traits of cannabis, and work together with THC to create and produce that psychoactive effect or the extreme high that you are so fond of.
As you already know, smoking and ingesting marijuana are two completely different ways of consuming it. Smoking marijuana will give you an instantaneous effect while eating edibles will take time to hit you. Regardless, you should be responsible for your consumption as it can lead to a more dangerous impact on your body.
Taking in marijuana, especially the decarboxylated ones, still have potent properties. When consumed carelessly, although it does not hit you instantly, the way smoking does, you can again feel its effect after a time. Instead of giving you the therapeutic effects of marijuana, it might lead to more serious ones when left unchecked. The same goes for smoking it. It is equally dangerous and must be taken responsibly. You must consume marijuana moderately; too much use of marijuana will affect your behavior.
With enough patience and determination, you can have the best cannabis for as much, and as long as you want!