“Decarb” is short for “decarboxylation”. Decarbing cannabis is a process that activates the compounds in a raw cannabis plant (by removing carboxyl – if you want to know what that is, this is the wrong site) prior to consumption so you can actually feel the intoxicating effects of it. It’s like flipping a switch; if you consume your cannabis without decarbing, you won’t be able to enjoy those therapeutic benefits you expect from the plant. Rolling a joint and smoking it – burning the weed – does activate it, but it’s not decarboxylation. Burning heats it way above any good decarb temp.
Decarboxylating cannabis doesn’t involve combustion and instead occurs through exposure to heat that is too low to cause the weed to burst into flame. This chemical reaction activates the THC and CBD compounds in cannabis, which can provide more intense effects than smoking alone. Decarbed cannabis has an extended shelf life, if properly stored in a mason jar or other airtight container, and can be used in many other ways such as making cannabutter (cannabis infused butter) for homemade edibles or if you want to make cannabis infused oils for topicals without sacrificing potency.
How To Store Weed
Nobody wants to smoke stale weed. Old cannabis has lost its flavor, potency, and aroma. It can be dry and harsh on the throat, causing coughing fits or an unpleasant burning sensation in your lungs. Not only does it taste…
What’s the Difference?
The primary difference between smoking a joint and decarboxylating cannabis buds lies in how heat affects the compound structure of cannabinoids. When smoked, the active compounds are partially broken down during combustion, resulting in a less potent and shorter-lasting effect. Decarbing exposes these compounds to a low temperature for an extended period of time, which preserves their potency while also making them easier for our bodies to absorb when consumed or applied topically.
Why Decarboxylate Cannabis?
If you are going to smoke or vape your weed, there is no need to decarb it. Vaping essentially is rapid decarboxylation, and smoking decarbed weed defeats the purpose of decarbing as you are just going to burn it anyway. You can smoke cannabis that has been decarbed, but there’s no benefit and it is harder to manage, with an unfortunate flavor profile – something like burnt popcorn.
To Infuse!
Cannabis decarboxylation is only a necessary step if you are going to use your cannabis for something other than inhaling, such as cooking cannabis edibles or making a topical oil. If you use raw cannabis flower in your recipe without decarbing it first you will not activate the beneficial cannabinoids like THC and CBD. With no active psychoactive compounds there will be little or no psychoactive effects, and you’re probably not using it for the taste!
Ways to Decarboxylate Cannabis
So, how do you decarb cannabis at home? There are a few different ways to do it. You can use an oven or a slow cooker, with temperatures ranging from 220°F (105°C) to 250°F (121°C). The amount of time needed depends on the method used, but it generally takes 1-2 hours to complete.
Oven Method
- To decarboxylate cannabis in an oven, the first step is to preheat it to an oven temperature between 220°F (105°C) and 250°F (121°C). Getting the specific temperature you want is very important – you don’t want to go above it. High temperatures are your enemy here – low and slow is the way to go!
- Break up the cannabis into small pieces and place it on a baking sheet, baking tray, glass baking dish or any oven-safe baking dish.
- Put the baking sheet in the preheated oven.
- Bake for 1-2 hours, until it appears done, stirring it every ten minutes or so. Depending on your oven it might be done in as little as 20 minutes, so keep an eye on it!
- It will be done when all the moisture has been boiled off. Properly decarboxylated cannabis looks like dry, crumbly pieces of weed. It is usually golden brown to brownish-green in color and does not burn when you touch it.
Sous Vide
If you are into sous vide cooking (I am! Big fan) and have the equipment lying around this is a great, safe way to decarb without the risk of heating cannabis to the point of uselessness. The advantage of this method is that it keeps the material to be cooked at exactly the right temperature – without going over – for an indefinite period of time with a precision that conventional ovens can’t match. It does this by surrounding the material with water that is kept precisely at the desired temperature – perfect for the decarboxylation process as you don’t risk burning the raw weed.
- To carboxylate weed the target temperature should be set to about 205°F.
- Grind the weed as finely as you can to maximize the surface area and vacuum seal it.
- Once the specific temperature is reached by the immersion circulator, submerge the vacuum-sealed weed into the water tank.
- Leave it there for about an hour, then take it out and wait for it to cool.
The vacuum-sealed weed might have some air bubbles – this is because carbon dioxide is released during the heating process. In fact that’s basically what decarbing is – altering the molecular structure by removing carbon.
Be Careful
What’s to be careful of? Well, decarbing weed can be a bit tricky if you don’t have experience and there is always a risk of burning your weed if you’re not careful. Decarbing weed at home in an oven can also produce a very strong, distinctive smell throughout the whole house if you’re not careful, so be prepared for that.
Make sure to follow the recommended cannabis decarboxylation temperatures and times to get the best results. Use the sous vide method for absolute safety, and no smell while cooking. Have fun making edibles!
