What is decarboxylation?
Decarboxylation or “decarbing” or is a chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group and releases carbon dioxide (CO2). When referring to the decarboxylation of cannabis, it is the process of turning the non-psychoactive compound THCA found in cannabis into the psychoactive THC which is what gets you “high”. If you want to feel a buzz or get high from your weed, it needs to be decarbed or “activated”.
You will not get high from eating raw cannabis, decarboxylation is a necessary step if you want to make edibles.
Raw cannabis is filled with tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA). These are very similar to the compounds THC and CBD, but they don’t carry the same psychoactive and medicinal properties. The decarboxylation process removes the acid component, essentially knocking the “A” off of THCA and CBDA, giving you THC and CBD.
Decarboxylation is a process of using heat and time to convert the THCA into THC.
How to decarb weed in a few simple steps
1) Place your cannabis in a baking dish
2) Cover it with tin foil
3) Bake it in the oven or a toaster for an hour at 215 degrees F
4) That’s it! Your cannabis is now decarbed and ready for use.
Note: The problems with decarbing weed in an oven are that 1) it smells a lot and 2) about 25-30% of the THC is lost in the decarbing process.
If you want a way to decarb 100% of your weed every time without wasting any THC and that doesn’t smell at all just order the Levo II all in one decarboxylator and infuser or the Ardent NOVA decarboxylator.