Decarboxylating Cannabis | Everything you need to know

Cannabis decarboxylation is a crucial component of activating the psychoactive compounds

found in cannabis. Decarboxylation can sound intimidating, but it’s merely the process of
applying heat to cannabis to convert the cannabinoids THCA and CBDA into THC and CBD,
respectively.
Cannabinoids are specialized compounds produced by cannabis. The two most well-known plant
cannabinoids are CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). But THC and CBD are
not present in cannabis when the plant is growing. When the plant produces cannabinoids, they
initially appear in their “acidic” forms. Acid cannabinoids are sometimes referred to as “raw”
cannabinoids. In the case of THC and CBD, these raw cannabinoids are tetrahydrocannabinol
acid (THCA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), respectively.

What is decarboxylation?
Starting from the beginning, when the cannabis plant reaches maturity, it creates flowering buds
filled with cannabinoids. When these buds are harvested fresh from the plant they contain no
THC – They instead have THCA, a precursor to THC denoted by the inclusion of a carboxylic
acid in its molecular structure.

When THCA is exposed to heat the chemical reaction destroys the carboxylic acid chain is
destroyed (hence “de-carbing”), releasing carbon dioxide and leaving behind the THC molecule
What makes THC different from THCA — and CBD different from CBDA — hinges on a
process known as “decarboxylation,” aka “decarbing,” whereby raw cannabis is heated so that
the chemical structure of the acid cannabinoids changes to a neutral (non-acid) form. THC and
CBD are the neutral forms of THCA and CBDA.

Decarboxylation is the loss of a carboxylic acid group creating carbon dioxide and an alkyl
group.
Decarboxylation is the process that activates compounds in cannabis Think of decarboxylation as
activating raw cannabis into an enhanced potent form. In more scientific terms, decarboxylation
is the process of physically altering the chemical structure of various cannabinoid compounds
found in raw cannabis plants – including both marijuana and hemp.

When a cannabis plant is growing or freshly harvested, the cannabinoids found within the flower
trichomes contain an extra carboxyl ring or group (COOH) attached to their molecular chain.
The process of decarboxylating cannabis removes that carboxyl group from the cannabinoid
molecule. This process is what effectively transforms THCA into active THC, described more
below.
Some slow and natural decarboxylation occurs as fresh cannabis dries and cures after harvest.
However, heat is the quickest and effective catalyst to trigger the cannabis decarb reaction. For
example, decarboxylation is virtually instantaneous when cannabis is smoked or vaporized.

Don't worry; I'm here to help you understand this process (and I promise, it's not as hard
as it sounds!)

What Causes Decarboxylation?

The two main catalysts for decarboxylation to occur are heat and time. Drying and curing
cannabis over time will cause a partial decarboxylation to occur. This is why some cannabis
flowers also test for a presence of small amounts of THC along with THCA. Smoking and
vaporizing will instantaneously decarboxylate cannabinoids due to the extremely high
temperatures present, making them instantly available for absorption through inhalation.

While decarboxylated cannabinoids in vapor form can be easily absorbed in our lungs, edibles
require these cannabinoids present in what we consume in order for our bodies to absorb them
throughout digestion. Heating cannabinoids at a lower temperature over time allows us to
decarboxylate the cannabinoids while preserving the integrity of the material we use so that we
may infuse it into what we consume.

Why would (or wouldn’t) you want to decarboxylate?

In the cannabis community, the raw or non-decarboxylated cannabinoid compounds are referred
to as the “acid” forms – such THCA or CBDA. Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is a non-
psychoactive cannabinoid and the acidic precursor to potent CBD. Likewise,
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is not psychoactive until it is converted into the more well-
known compound THC. For instance, when you ingest raw cannabis there is very little
psychoactive effect or “high” experienced. Then, when cannabis is decarboxylated it becomes
psychoactive.

Obviously, this is important for folks who are hoping to feel the psychoactive effects of their
cannabis edibles, oils, tinctures, or otherwise. Yet the benefit is so much more than just feeling
the “high”. Both THC and CBD exude scientifically-proven powerful healing properties in their
decarboxylated forms. This includes providing relief from anxiety, pain, inflammation, and
more. THC and CBD readily absorb in our bodies and interact freely with our bodies
endocannabinoid system to work their magic.
On the other hand, the raw acid forms of THC and CBD (THCA and CBDA) also have some
promising but lesser-studied medicinal applications of their own. Therefore, folks who are
interested in a full-spectrum, ultra-healing experience may choose to use a combination of raw
and decarbed cannabis in their homemade oils and salves.
How to decarboxylate cannabis:
How to decarb weed in an oven

When decarboxylating your cannabis in an oven, it’s important to remember that the temperature
dial on an oven is more of an average temperature than an exact one. Ovens can fluctuate in
temperature by 20 or more degrees, so keep an eye on your cannabis. If it turns brown too
quickly or smells like it is burning, turn the oven down. An oven thermometer is a good
investment if you’re going to be using your oven regularly for cannabis cooking.

Tools

Jesse Milns/Leafly

• Baking tray (preferably Pyrex)

• Aluminium foil or parchment paper
• Cannabis
Directions

 Set your oven temperature to 225 degrees Fahrenheit and place the oven rack in the
middle position. Ovens are hotter at the top and cooler at the bottom, placing it in the
middle will ensure that you are decarboxylating at the ideal temperature.
 Cut a piece of aluminum foil to the size of your baking sheet and lightly crumple it, then
lay it across the baking sheet. This will minimize the direct contact of the cannabis to the
baking sheet, which conducts heat better than aluminum foil and will get hotter than the
air in the oven.
 Lightly break up the cannabis until it is about the size of a grain of rice, too fine of a
grind increases the risk of burning. Spread the cannabis across the aluminum foil, then
lightly lay another piece of aluminum foil on top. Place the baking sheet in the oven and
bake for 45 minutes.
 After 45 minutes, remove the baking sheet from the oven and let it cool for 30 minutes at
room temperature. The cannabis should look lightly toasted and golden brown.
 When it is cool enough to handle, carefully put your decarboxylated cannabis into a
storage container to use for future cooking.

How to Decarboxylate in a Mason Jar

There are a few benefits to the mason jar method over decarboxylating on a baking sheet in the
oven.
For starters, decarbing in a mason jar significantly minimizes strong cannabis odours. Another
benefit concerns the terpenes that evaporate in the process; they will stick to the glass of the jar
and if you use the same jar for your infusion, you can preserve them. Finally, there is no direct
contact with the air in the oven, and it is less likely that you will burn any of your cannabis
during the heating process.
Tools

Jesse Milns/Leafly

 Mason jar with lid

 Baking tray
 Kitchen towel
 Cannabis
 Oven gloves
Directions

Jesse Milns/Leafly
 Set your oven between 220- and 240-degrees Fahrenheit and place the oven rack in the
middle position.
 Break up the cannabis until it’s about the size of a grain of rice, put it into the mason jar
and lightly screw on the lid.
 Lightly wet the kitchen towel and lay it over the baking sheet then put the mason jar on
the towel. The damp towel will help anchor the jar to the baking sheet and keep it from
falling over.
 Place the baking tray in the oven and bake for 60 minutes. Every 15 minutes, carefully
remove the mason jar from the oven with the oven gloves and give it a shake to disperse
the cannabis evenly.
 After 60 minutes, remove the jar from the oven, and let cool for 30 minutes before storing
or using it for cooking

GENERAL DECARB TEMPERATURE RECOMMENDATIONS

 The most common recommendation for decarboxylating THCA to THC is to bake the
flower at 240° F for 40 minutes.
 The most common recommendation for decarboxylating CBDA to CBD is to bake the
flower at 240°F for 90 minutes.
 The most common recommendation for decarboxylating CBGA to CBG is to bake the
flower at 220°F for 60 minutes.
 The most common recommendation for degrading THC to CBN is to bake the flower at
240°F for 180 minutes.
HOW TO STORE DECARBED CANNABIS

One question we often receive is;

 How long you can store decarbed cannabis for future use?
 Thankfully, decarbed cannabis can be stored for quite a long time before infusing into an
oil or tincture.
 Just store the decarbed cannabis in an airtight mason jar in a cool, dark space.
 A freezer works well and helps to preserve the potency of the activated cannabinoids.

MANAGING THE SMELL OF DECARBOXYLATION

Yes - the decarboxylation process can cause your house to smell like weed.

 When we bake cannabis, we activate and release certain terpenes which gives cannabis a
distinct and prominent smell.
 While many enjoy the wonderful aroma of the baking herb, others are concerned about
the smell affecting a loved one, a neighbor, or someone else in the home.
 That is why we recommend baking the cannabis flowers in a sealed container, like a
mason jar.
 The sealed lid will hold in many of the terpenes, which is great for your final product,
and helps to cut the odor down significantly.