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I ’ m a Homegrower ,
How Do I Decarboxylate
My Medical Cannabis ? by Leah Maurer , contributing writer
Leah
Leah Maurer , a native Missourian , is now a canna-journalist and activist living in Portland , OR . She is a co-owner of
www . TheWeedBlog . com , a top national cannabis news and information publication , where she serves as the Editorial Lead . In 2014 , Leah founded Moms for YES on Measure 91 through grassroots efforts alone , it proved pivotal in the passage of the Measure , successfully legalizing recreational / adult-use cannabis in the OR . Leah is a social justice and cannabis activist at the core and hopes to see an end to the prohibition of cannabis globally .
22 January 2022
Cooking with cannabis has undoubtedly evolved from basic weed brownies with ground buds baked right into them . While cooking with your cannabis might not be your first choice for consumption , it is important to get the most from your cannabis . You can take your cannabis buds ( or other material ) and heat them enough so that they can be infused into other mediums to create edibles and even topicals or tinctures . This process is called decarboxylation , and by learning how to do it , you can maximize your THC .
Cannabis decarboxylation is the chemical process that converts THC-A into THC . Both THC-A and THC are cannabinoids found in marijuana , but only THC is psychoactive , which means it creates the feeling of being “ high .” However , the consumer won ’ t feel that effect unless the THC is activated by applying heat , which is why directly applying heat and smoking cannabis is more of a conventional consumption method than edibles , topicals , and tinctures .
If you are a home grower , decarboxylation is ideal for getting the most from your cannabis plant matter . After harvest , when the buds are trimmed and drying , you are left with all those leaves and smaller ( or “ B ”) buds , which are perfect to use for making cannabis oil or butter through infusion . However , for those consumers who prefer this consumption method of delivery , using the buds right off the plants ( trimmed or not ) or the raw cannabis flower you have purchased from a medical marijuana dispensary will certainly yield great results through decarboxylation .
The simplest and most common method to decarboxylate , or “ decarb ,” your cannabis flower can be done in any kitchen with the following materials : dry cannabis plant matter , oven , timer , baking sheet , and parchment paper .
After gathering the items listed above , follow these easy steps : 1 . Grind the cannabis using a standard grinder — but avoid breaking it down into a fine powder .
2 . Line the baking sheet with parchment paper .
3 . Lay the ground cannabis evenly on the cooking sheet . 4 . Preheat the oven to 225 ° F . 5 . Put the cannabis in the oven on the middle of the rack for 40-60 minutes . ( Note — this will definitely smell up the kitchen and potentially the whole house ; there ’ s really no way around it with this method .)
6 . Remove the cannabis . It should be a darker green / light brown color .
7 . Transfer the decarboxylated cannabis into an air-tight glass container with a tight-fitting lid , such as a mason jar , and store the jar in a cool dark place , like you would with other cannabis . * It is important to note that decarboxylation is not limited to buds ; you can also decarb trim and stems despite their low levels of THC .
Now your cannabis plant matter has been converted and is ready to use for infusion . It is best to use it within 3-6 months . Decarboxylation is necessary for all edibles . If you eat raw marijuana plant material without