Maximum Yield Cannabis Canada September/October 2022 | Page 48

HOW TO

DECARBO

YOUR BUDS

by Rich Hamilton
Decarboxylating your weed before infusing it into edibles is essential if you want to transfer those active cannabinoids into your products .
HC and CBD are the dominant

Tcannabinoids found in cannabis . They supply us with psychoactive and medicinal benefits , respectively . THCA is the non-psychoactive cannabinoid version of THC that is present in raw , live cannabis . Likewise , CBDA is the non-active version of CBD . As the mature harvested cannabis plant dries and is exposed to the air , THCA , CBDA , and the minor cannabinoids slowly convert into their active forms .

Application of heat aids this process known as decarboxylation . THCA and CBDA in raw cannabis have an extra carboxyl ring in their chemical structure . The application of heat removes that ring or decarboxylates the compound . The flame you light your joint or bong with heats the cannabis and decarboxylates it instantaneously . It turns the non-psychoactive compound THCA into the psychoactive compound THC , which is then taken into your bloodstream . Without decarboxylation , you would not get any of the psychoactive benefits of THC .
48 Maximum Yield