Maximum Yield Cannabis USA December 2017 / January 2018 | Page 18

grow
“DRYING IS BEST done under mild conditions, as an
environment too wet and cold can delay drying long enough
to be a mold risk, and conditions too hot and dry can cause the
outermost portions to over-dry while the interior flowers and
stems are still too wet to be safely stored.”
The result of properly water cured cannabis is some of
the smoothest smoke available, if that is how you choose
to consume it. It is so smooth that many find the flavor
(what little there is left) to be flat and boring. Well-made,
water cured cannabis doesn’t have much flavor at all,
although the potency is still present. This can be an asset
if smoking in stealth is a concern (the smoke it produces
has little if any conventional cannabis aroma) or when
used in edibles. After decarboxylation (exposing to low
heat to drive off carbon dioxide from THC-A to convert
it to the active form THC), water cured cannabis is so
mild tasting it can be simply ground and used directly
in cooking. When made into cannabutter or infused oils,
the end product lacks the distinctive cannabis flavor that
many find somewhat repellent in edibles.
However, the process isn’t without its drawbacks. Even
if done correctly, the “bag appeal” is severely reduced.
The buds appear inferior and mistreated even if they
haven’t been. If done incorrectly and water changes are
not performed, it can be ruined by being allowed to sit
in stale water for several days. If not dried properly after
the rinsing, it can mold. Speaking of mold, water cured
cannabis should only be obtained from reliable sources,
as it is sometimes used by unscrupulous folk to pass
molded, insecticide-contaminated, or otherwise ruined
cannabis onto the unsuspecting.
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grow. heal. learn. enjoy.
HURRIED AND HARSH-
DRY ONLY, NO CURE
Unless using one of the above methods, cannabis is
usually at least dried before use. Freshly harvested
cannabis has too much moisture in it to be stable and
will eventually mold unless a substantial portion of
the moisture is removed. To this end, immediately
after harvest, the cannabis should be allowed to dry
in the open air until enough moisture has evaporated
to prevent fungal growth, but not so much that it
loses structural integrity. Drying is best done under
mild conditions, as an environment too wet and cold
can delay drying long enough to be a mold risk, and
conditions too hot and dry can cause the outermost
portions to over-dry while the interior flowers and stems
are still too wet to be safely stored. 
Due to time constraints, some cannabis is merely dried
and not allowed to cure before use. This is more commonly
seen from commercial farms or novice gardens than from
properly cared-for home grows. All other factors being
equal, the smoke from dried but not cured cannabis tends
to be harsher and less pleasant when compared with a
properly cured bud from the same plant. On the other hand,
dried but uncured cannabis is much more popular than
having no cannabis at all, so it is frequently used in times
of urgency, need, or occasionally greed.
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