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Decarboxylation of marijuana in the oven and more
Decarboxylation is a term that all cannabis lovers know in the kitchen, but one that all cannabis users should know, regardless of the form in which they take it! Therefore, if the word decarboxylation is foreign to you, and the word marijuana or hemp is not, read this post to the end!
What is Cannabis Decarboxylation?
Decarboxylation is a chemical reaction that occurs during the heat treatment of a given material, here dried marijuana. The compounds contained in marijuana, which users care most about, i.e. CBD, THC, are in the acidic form of THCA and CBDA. Decarboxylation, as the name suggests, removes the carboxylic bonds from our cannabinoids.
What does decarboxylation do?
We now generally know what the decarboxylation process is and that it transforms the acidic forms of cannabinoids into decarboxylated forms. However, we do not know what exactly decarboxylation does. The acidic forms contained in the fresh plant are most beneficial and have beneficial properties, including: antioxidant, painkillers, Czy anti-inflammatory. However, these acidic forms are called inactive, and THC and CBD are active forms, which means they are able to interact with the human endocannabinoid system. Thanks to this, by engaging in appropriate pathways, they trigger various types of reactions in our body. These are the specific effects that marijuana users are concerned about, i.e. relaxation, calmness, euphoria, joy, pain relief itd.
Is Cannabis Decarboxylation Always Necessary?
Is the drought or marijuana you have already decarboxylated? Should you always decarboxylate cannabis? Certainly, the decarboxylation process will be necessary when we want to use the herb in the kitchen, and what about smoking or vaporizing marijuana? You probably guessed that since decarboxylation occurs under the influence of higher temperature, smoking or heating the herb in a vaporizer does the trick… Unfortunately, this is not entirely true. The decarboxylation process itself, in order to occur properly, without damage, i.e. degradation of THC or CBD cannabinoids, must take place at the right time and at the right temperature.
The drought you have most likely has not been decarboxylated, but during drying, this process partially took place. However, this is not enough activated THC to give a satisfactory effect. Such drought, when smoked in the form of a joint, will largely damage the cannabinoids due to too high a temperature. In the case of a vaporizer, we can set the heating temperature ourselves and take advantage of the benefits of active cannabinoids much more successfully! Hence, vaporization wins in the battle with smoking the herb. And what if we want to use marijuana in the kitchen, to create our own hemp cosmetics or spirits? In such a situation, we have to carry out the decarboxylation process ourselves! Read on to find out how to do home and safe decarboxylation.
Cannabis decarboxylation in the oven
Decarboxylation of dried herbs in the oven is probably the most commonly used method of activating cannabinoids at home. The oven allows you to control the whole process to a good degree. Of course, it's worth knowing your oven - as you know, some ovens overheat others, vice versa. An oven, casserole, grinder and a few important tips should be enough to carry out safe and effective decarboxylation at home.
How many degrees of decarboxylation?
The first key thing is the heating temperature. How many degrees to decarboxylate marijuana? It is assumed that temperatures in the range of 100-120 degrees Celsius and time in the range of 45-60 minutes will guarantee the activation of cannabinoids. It's best to set the oven to convection.
How long to decarboxylate marijuana?
In addition to the right temperature, the decarboxylation time is important. It is recommended to heat the drought in the oven for about 45 minutes. In the case of CBD drought, the time can be slightly longer, no more than 60 minutes. If we have medical marijuana with a high THC content, about 30 minutes is enough.
How long should marijuana decarboxylation take?
As we mentioned above, you should not exceed 60 minutes of heating the herb at a temperature of about 100-120 degrees C. Lower temperatures will preserve more terpenes, too high will cause their degradation. After a properly carried out decarboxylation process, the drought should be darker, slightly brown, but not burnt.
Read how we decarboxylated dried CBD to make hemp butter step by step!
Decarboxylation of marijuana in the oven – step by step
Oven decarboxylation of marijuana is a process that allows THC and other cannabinoids to be activated by heating them. Here's how you can carry out this process step by step:
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to approximately 105-120°C. Higher temperatures can cause THC to burn, so it's important to carefully control the temperature.
- Grinding Marijuana: Crush your marijuana buds into smaller pieces. They don't have to be too small, just the size of rice or peas.
- Spreading marijuana on a baking tray: Place a sheet of baking paper on a baking tray and spread the shredded marijuana evenly on it. Try not to create thick layers as this may affect the uniformity of decarboxylation.
- Bake in the oven: Place the tray in the oven and bake for about 30-40 minutes. Some recommend stirring the marijuana every 10 minutes to ensure even decarboxylation.
- Cool down: After baking, let the marijuana cool in the oven. This allows the decarboxylation process to continue gently even after the oven is turned off.
- Storage: Once cooled, store your decarboxylated marijuana in an airtight container to avoid loss of cannabinoids and terpenes.
Remember that decarboxylation is a key process in preparing marijuana for any type of cannabis edibles, as raw marijuana buds do not contain active THC. This process allows you to enjoy the full spectrum of effects this plant offers.
Cannabis decarboxylation in water
Another method of marijuana decarboxylation is decarboxylation in a water bath. Water boils at 100 degrees C, thanks to which we will not be able to exceed the recommended temperature for decarboxylation. The indisputable advantage of this method is the minimization of odor during the decarboxylation process.
The most important thing in this method is to place medium-ground herbs in a tightly closed bag intended for cooking. These types of pouches can be found under the name Sous-vide, which is a method of cooking food in which the food is sealed in a plastic vacuum bag and then placed in a water or steam bath at a precisely controlled temperature lower than traditional cooking.
Fill the pot with water and then bring it to a boil. When the water starts to boil, reduce the heating power. Put a vacuum-sealed drought in a bag into such water. The temperature should be monitored with a thermometer so that it stays between 95-100 degrees. 60 minutes of cooking should be enough.
Cannabis decarboxylation in the microwave
We will not write about the harmfulness of using a microwave in the kitchen, but there is a method that will decarboxylate herbs in the microwave. This is an express method, for the lazy, but quite risky. When you decarboxylate marijuana in the microwave, you have no control over the temperature, so you can simply destroy it. The only verifier is your eye and nose. It is enough to put the ground herbs in a dish (suitable for use in the microwave) in the microwave and set it to the highest heating, usually marked with the English "high". About 60-90 seconds, you can do it in batches and check the state of the drought.
Cannabis cookies decarboxylation
For all baked goods, including cookies, dried CBD must be decarboxylated to achieve the desired effects. What if we don't want to take the time to decarboxylate or just don't want to play around with it? In this case, there are two options. You can add CBD hemp oil to your dishes or buy and use already decarboxylated herbs in the kitchen. In our store you will find decarboxylated hemp drought from the Hemp Combine at a very good price! However, if we want to make cookies with medical marijuana from the pharmacy, then there is no choice but to decarboxylate it.
How is THC decarboxylation different from CBD decarboxylation?
The decarboxylation of THC and CBD differs mainly in the temperature at which these cannabinoids are activated. THC and CBD are present in raw marijuana in their acid form as THCA and CBDA. To transform them into psychoactive THC and therapeutic CBD, decarboxylation is necessary.
- THC decarboxylation: A temperature in the range of approximately 105-120°C is usually required to activate THC from THCA. This process usually takes 30 to 40 minutes, but may vary depending on your oven and amount of material.
- CBD decarboxylation: CBD requires a slightly higher temperature to decarboxylate than THC. The optimal temperature for CBD is around 120-140°C. The decarboxylation time may also be slightly longer than THC, allowing CBDA to be fully activated into CBD.
During decarboxylation, it is important not to exceed these temperatures or extend the baking time too long, as this may lead to the degradation of cannabinoids and loss of their properties. Therefore, temperature and time control is crucial to obtain the desired effects from marijuana, whether it is THC or CBD.
How to store decarboxylated dried hemp?
Perfect decarboxylation of marijuana should end with placing the herb in an appropriate container.
Storing decarboxylated dried hemp requires special attention to maintain its quality and properties. It can be used for proper storage of dried herbs after decarboxylation tight containers. It is best to store decarboxylated herb in airtight containers. You can use glass jars with lids or special containers intended for storing herbs.
Another important aspect is light protection. Exposure to light, especially sunlight, can degrade cannabinoids. Therefore, store herbs in a dark place or use dark glass containers. It is also worth ensuring a stable temperature for the stored herbs. Therefore, it is worth avoiding extreme and fluctuating temperatures. A stable, cool temperature is best, but not necessarily a refrigerator, as this may lead to moisture condensation.
Speaking of humidity. Avoid humid places as they may encourage the growth of mold and fungi. The ideal humidity should be maintained at 59-63%. It is also worth avoiding exposing decarboxylated herb to excessive air exposure. Oxygen can accelerate the degradation process, so try to minimize the amount of air in the container with herbs.
It is also worth storing different varieties of dried herbs separately. If you have several different varieties, store them separately to avoid mixing flavors.
Following these rules will help preserve the full properties of your decarboxylated dried cannabis for a longer period of time, ensuring that it is ready to use when you need it.
Summary – decarboxylation of marijuana
The article explains in detail the decarboxylation process of marijuana, which is key to activating the THC and CBD contained in the plant. It presents various decarboxylation methods, including oven, water, and microwave decarboxylation, each requiring different temperature and time settings.
Oven decarboxylation is the most popular method and requires heating the marijuana at a temperature of approximately 105-120°C for THC and 120-140°C for CBD, for approximately 30-40 minutes. The water method ensures more even decarboxylation without the risk of burning. Microwave decarboxylation is a quick method, but less accurate and requires caution.
The article also highlights the importance of properly storing decarboxylated marijuana, pointing out the need to use airtight containers, protect from light and air, and maintain a stable temperature and low humidity to avoid cannabinoid degradation.
All of these storage methods and tips are designed to maximize the effectiveness and preserve the therapeutic properties of marijuana, which is crucial for those using it medically or recreationally.
