Does curing really stop at 55%, unable to be restarted?

In the popular guide "A Perfect Cure Every Time": https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=156237

It says:

Below 55% RH - the RH is too low for the curing process to take place. The product starts to feel brittle. Once you've hit this point, nothing will make it better. Adding moisture won't restart the curing process; it will just make the product wet. If you measure a RH below 55% don't panic. Read below:

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I don't understand why this would be the case. AFAIK the vast majority of THC is in the trichomes, which are highly exposed to air. So if the air humidity was below 55%, wouldn't the cure quickly be ruined? Of course, the humidity won't be exactly the same as the air humidity around the trichomes due to the evaporation of water from the buds.

I think I recall reading in Marijuana Horticulture that curing converts some non-active THC into its psychoactive form. Yes, just checked and it says that. So, would dropping the humidity below this level permanently stop the curing process or is this a myth?

Found an explanation for the conversion:

Ed Rosenthal in CannabisCulture said: "Marijuana produces THCA, an acid with the carboxylic group (COOH) attached. In its acid form, THC is not very active. It is only when the carboxyl group is removed that THC becomes psychoactive."

From Mycotopia:
"Before drying, decarboxylation of inactive THCA acid into delta9 THC has not yet occurred. During the curing (drying) process, the COOH bonded to the THCA is released. The result is marijuana’s psychoactive compound delta9 THC. The material must also lose its water molecule for decarbox to occur."

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I don't see why the humidity dropping below 55% would permanently stop this. There are other aspects of curing, of course.

I know very little about cureing MJ

But in tobacco after the humidity drops below a certain level it kills of the majority of the bacteria and stalls the bio. process , at this point some of the chrolphil degrades to secondary compounds that even after the bacteria #'s rise will not ferment into their prefered final products

LIBERTYCHICKEN said:

I know very little about cureing MJ

But in tobacco after the humidity drops below a certain level it kills of the majority of the bacteria and stalls the bio. process , at this point some of the chrolphil degrades to secondary compounds that even after the bacteria #'s rise will not ferment into their prefered final products

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The thing is that the idea and science behind curing marijuana is directly adapted from the science behind curing cigars.
What you said is correct and translates into why the curing stops ~55% RH.
For cigars it's obviously mainly focused on the improvement of flavour and aroma but the basic principles translate.

By curing cannabis you allow carboxyl groups in various compounds to degrade and release CO2, thereby leaving behind the decarboxylated active cannabinoids, which increases the potency (assuming the cannabis was grown and harvested correctly).
Chlorophyll also dissipates during the dry & cure which in turn improves flavour and aroma.

What you want is a steady slow cure from 65% RH to 55% RH inside the curing 'container' (the cannabis can be stored safely for long periods @ 55% RH).
The basic principles is that the more care and perfection you can carry out in the cure the better product you end up with.

LIBERTYCHICKEN said:

I know very little about cureing MJ

But in tobacco after the humidity drops below a certain level it kills of the majority of the bacteria and stalls the bio. process , at this point some of the chrolphil degrades to secondary compounds that even after the bacteria #'s rise will not ferment into their prefered final products

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Ah, if it kills the bacteria then couldn't you just finely grind some properly cured weed and then sprinkle it throughout, reintroducing the beneficial bacteria?

It's a shame about the chlorophyll. Something I've wondered is whether there's a substance that removes/alters it. You could add it to the water during a water cure.

bukujutsu said:

Ah, if it kills the bacteria then couldn't you just finely grind some properly cured weed and then sprinkle it throughout, reintroducing the beneficial bacteria?

It's a shame about the chlorophyll. Something I've wondered is whether there's a substance that removes/alters it. You could add it to the water during a water cure.

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Yeah...but then that substance would possibly introduce extra chemicals that could prove harmful or even deadly.

Does it have to do with Bacteria or something breaking down the chlorophyl or maybe enzymes? I am researching this. I find it hard to believe if you accidentally dropped a little lower than 55 that putting 58% Boveda or similar would not keep the curing process functioning?

bukujutsu said:

Found an explanation for the conversion:



I don't see why the humidity dropping below 55% would permanently stop this. There are other aspects of curing, of course.

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plumsmooth said:

Does it have to do with Bacteria or something breaking down the chlorophyl or maybe enzymes? I am researching this.

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Curing doesn't stop at 55%. But if it did the reason would be hydrolysis.

A high degree of hydrolysis is composed of low molecular weight peptides that impart a flavoring effect to the product and release free amino acids that serve as precursors for flavor production, which is beneficial in various applications.

The difference between strains is organic acid composition: Amino and fatty acid profile. Not limonene vs terpinolene vs myrcene like the pharma goons have told you. Same reason for extended dark period. The plant switches from carbs to proteins.

Bacteria? What the hell are you guys growing?

Well, the process does indeed stop when the cells die, which is way before you reach 55%, think more like 60%. The curing process doesn't have anything exactly to do with whats outside the cell, but whats inside. The sugars, chlorophyll and stuff has to be used up by the cell machinery or when you go to smoke it in a pipe it will burn to a charcoal and taste nothing like it smells, either.

Any links to articles that is a little more technical of a Point being made then I have seen thusfar!

What I want to know is it really a Bacterium responsible for the breakdown of Chlorophyll or is it just a natural oxidation of sorts that needs moisture?