When you smoke or eat weed you want to have some fun, right? But, raw cannabis does not produce the psychoactive THC effects unless the carboxylic (COOH) group is removed. So, when a person smokes or vapes weed the heat and water vapor naturally removes the COOH molecules from the cannabis causing a high. That is not the case when it comes to marijuana edibles. Edibles must go through a process called decarboxylation, or decarbing. Before you turn on your stove, remember to decarb your raw cannabis then begin to cook with it. Below is the process and some helpful definitions to keep your buzz going strong!

 

Terpenes: Cannabis often contains powerful oils that increase color and flavor. Common flavors are mint, pine, and berry. While there are no medical reasons to use cannabis with terpenes in it, there are links to aromatherapy qualities such as enhanced relaxation and focus.

Temperature: Decarboxylation at a high temperature allows more terpenes to be released from the raw cannabis thereby decreasing edible flavor. So while high temperatures will allow your cannabis to decarb faster, your end edible result may have less flavor.

Grinding: It is important for all of your cannabis to dry evenly which can be difficult when it is in a clump. Using a grinder to achieve a powder that is not too course and not too fine. Overly grinding is not recommended which is often achieved by using household coffee grinders. Consider purchasing an herb grinder that is designed for this type of task.

TABLE of Temperatures and Times HERE

 

Decaboxylation Methods

Flower

 

• Preheat your oven to the recommended temperatures listed above. Check your oven temperature with a handheld thermometer.
• Shake your cannabis into a pie plate then tightly cover with foil so no air is allowed to vent.
• Place foil covered pie plate in the oven (see table above and set timer) – bake older, dryer cannabis less and newer, fresh cannabis longer.
• When timer goes off, turn the oven off and remove cannabis. Let it slowly cool before you unseal the container. This allows any cannabinoid and terpenes vapor to seep back into the cannabis.

 

 

Keif/Hash/Dry Sift/Pollen

 

Oven Method

• Preheat oven using temperature guide above.
• Scatter hash on pie plate then tightly seal with foil so no air is allowed to vent. Place sealed dish in oven for length of time recommended above.
• Remove sealed pie plate and let it cool down slowly but do not remove foil thereby allowing any vapors or cannabinoids to settle back into the kief.

 

 

Boiling Bag method

• Place the cannabis pollen/keif/hash into a cooking bag designed to be boiled then seal it.
• Place bag into boiling water for 1.5 hours (90 mins) making certain the bag remains submerged in boiling water without total evaporation.
• Remove bag and allow vapors and cannabinoids to settle before opening bag.

 

 

Cannabis Oil

 

• Place cannabis oil into a heat resistant container such as a metal bowl or small pan. Then, place container in a second pan of canola oil. Heat canola oil to 121C/250F.
• As cannabis oil heats, stir to break up any bubbles that form.
• Remove cannabis oil container from the canola oil bath when bubbles begin to slow down. For increased sedative effect, leave cannabis oil container bubbling until bubbles no longer form.