The Ultimate Guide to Decarboxylation: How to Decarb Weed

Link copied to clipboard.

Pop culture would have you believe that eating a bag of weed will leave you stoned out of your gourd, but it's not that simple.

The reason? Decarboxylation — or rather, a lack thereof.

Below, find out how decarboxylation works, why it's important, and tips for consumers with both high and low tolerances.

Decarboxylation — or "decarbing" — is a chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group (COOH) from a molecule. This process often occurs when heating organic compounds, such as cannabinoids, amino acids, or carboxylic acids.

In the context of cannabis, decarboxylation is a critical step to activate the psychoactive properties of the cannabinoids present in the plant, like THC and CBD. Raw cannabis plants contain THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) and CBDA (cannabidiolic acid), which are the non-psychoactive precursors of THC and CBD. When you heat cannabis flower through smoking, vaporizing, or cooking, you remove a carboxyl group from THCA and CBDA, converting them into their activated chemical forms, THC and CBD. The same goes for other cannabinoid acids.

These activated chemical forms are capable of interacting with your endocannabinoid system. It's the decarboxylation process that delivers the high or therapeutic relief many cannabis consumers seek.

Decarboxylation is the process of applying heat to cannabis flower to activate the psychoactive properties of cannabinoids in that flower.

It works in various ways:

Yes, if you want to achieve a psychoactive or intoxicating high, then you need to decarb your weed before making edibles. If you don't decarb your cannabis before use, the resulting infusions you make will be far less potent and may not produce the effects you were hoping for.

But if you're completely new to cannabis, have a very low tolerance for THC, or want to try a cannabis product without experiencing that classic weed high, then you may want to skip the decarboxylation step entirely.

Follow these steps to decarb weed in the oven before making edibles, tinctures, or cannabis-infused oils:

Set your oven to 250°F (115°C) and allow it to preheat. The temperature is crucial to ensure proper decarboxylation without destroying the cannabinoids and terpenes.

Break up your buds into small, pea-sized pieces using your hands or a grinder. Don't grind it too fine, as this can lead to uneven decarboxylation and makes it harder to strain.

Use a baking sheet with raised edges to prevent any spillage or loss of material. Line the sheet with parchment paper to keep your weed from sticking and ensure easy cleanup.

Spread the ground cannabis evenly across the parchment paper on the baking sheet. The layer should be thin and without clumps for even heating.

Place the baking sheet with cannabis in your preheated oven for about 20 minutes. The time may vary depending on the freshness and moisture content of your cannabis. If it's particularly moist, you may need to extend the baking time. Keep an eye on the color; the flower should turn from a bright green to a golden brown.

Check on the cannabis halfway through the baking process — about 10 minutes. If it's already golden brown and dry, take it out. Give it a gentle stir to ensure even decarboxylation.

After 20 minutes, the cannabis should be golden brown. Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven.

Allow the flower to cool completely on the baking sheet. It will be quite fragile and crumbly at this point, so handle it gently to avoid losing any material.

Once the decarboxylated cannabis is cool, you can pulse it in a food processor to add it directly to food or grind it into a fine powder for beverages. You can also use your decarboxylated herb to make potent cannabutter the traditional way or via a slow cooker for homemade cannabis edibles. Otherwise, store your decarbed weed in an airtight container away from direct sunlight and heat.

Decarbing weed is a function of heat and time. The following chart shows the recommended temperatures and times for activating THCA, CBDA, and CBGA, according to Dr. Adie Rae, neuroscientist and scientific adviser to Weedmaps.

The highlighted sections indicate Dr. Rae's recommendations for the ideal temperature and time for a balanced conversion. Regardless of the cannabinoid, Dr. Rae suggests decarbing weed at 250°F (120°C) for 20 minutes.

Once you have decarboxylated weed, you can use it in a number of ways:

When using decarboxylated weed, start with a small amount and wait to see how it affects you before consuming more. Start low and go slow, the effects of decarboxylated weed can be more potent and longer-lasting than raw or cured cannabis.

There are a few main takeaways to consider when it comes to decarbing weed:

Decarbing weed converts the non-psychoactive THCA in cannabis into psychoactive THC, making the cannabis more potent for use in edibles, tinctures, and other non-smoking consumption methods.

The recommended temperature for decarbing weed is 250°F, or 115°C. This temperature allows for effective decarboxylation without destroying cannabinoids and terpenes.

Decarbing weed typically takes around 20 minutes in the oven. However, the time may vary depending on factors like the starting freshness and moisture content of the cannabis. The final color of your decarbed weed should be a light golden brown.

Though you can, it's not recommended to decarb weed in a microwave or on a stovetop, as these methods can lead to uneven heating and may destroy cannabinoids and terpenes in the process. An oven provides the most consistent and controlled heating environment for decarboxylation.

Yes, sous vide is an alternative method for decarbing weed that involves sealing the cannabis in a vacuum-sealed bag and immersing it in a temperature-controlled water bath. This method allows for precise temperature control and even heating, reducing the risk of burning or losing cannabinoids and terpenes. To decarb weed using sous vide, set the water bath temperature to 250°F and keep the sealed weed submerged for 60 - 90 minutes.

You might wonder why you can't just skip a step and decarboxylate weed while infusing it in butter. Dr. Rae explained, "That usually requires a precise cooking device — like a sous vide water bath — to hold the temperature exactly where you want it for exactly how long you want to."

If you want to go the sous vide route and have the proper tools at your disposal, have at it. Otherwise, it's likely easiest for most home cooks to decarboxylate their weed and then infuse it into butter or coconut oil.

Smoking or vaporizing cannabis will automatically decarb any THC present, but for other uses like making edibles, the decarb step is crucial to achieving a potent head high.

The drying and curing processes happen after the plant has been harvested in order to help rid the weed of moisture. While minuscule amounts of cannabinoid acids are converted during these processes, it's not enough to deliver the effects that recreational and medicinal consumers typically seek.

No, when performed correctly, decarboxylation does not ruin CBD. Decarboxylation is actually necessary to activate CBD. As with THC, the raw cannabis plant does not contain CBD molecules. Instead, it contains cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), which does not interact with your body the same way CBD does.

To convert that CBDA into CBD, and enjoy its potentially therapeutic effects, decarboxylate your weed.

Over-decarboxylation can cause the following issues:

To avoid over-decarboxylation, carefully monitor the temperature and time during the process. Use an oven thermometer for accurate temperature readings and check on the cannabis regularly, looking for a color change from bright green to golden brown.

Knowing the boiling point of a particular cannabinoid or terpene is only useful for vaping flower and only if you have a vaping device capable of achieving precise temperatures. You could, for example, customize your session to deliver the maximum potency for whichever terpene or cannabinoid you choose by knowing the boiling temperature of that compound.

Link copied to clipboard.

Reviewed by Weedmaps Editors on 6/6/23