To Decarb or Not?

Update: I decarbed my latest batch before extracting into oil. Used a pizza pan that I covered in tin-foil and spread the weed (1oz.) over it, then put another sheet of tinfoil over it and crimped down both sheets under the pan. Decarbed for about 25min on 225 degrees and then extracted into 10oz of oil that was at about 220 degrees for 2 hours (plus 30min or so of the temp ramping up). Victory!

Gotta say, compared to the batch that prompted me to start this thread it's no contest. Like whoa. Decarbing = my new favorite thing. For me, at least, this is a definitive answer about whether to decarb and/or when to do it.

I am glad you see the light!!

props to SkunkPharm andJump117 for the graph.
Don't know if this helps you any more at this point but here you go!

this old guy i worked with said they used to take gound up herb in a spoon, then cover it in honey and hold it over a flame for a while...let it cool and eat it. He was full of stories which made days interesting at times lol but a good guy

I also heated cannabis in a spoon. First I added some honey oil, then ground cannabis. Heat from bottom and stir until mixed. Roll joint and enjoy.

Cooking it in oil automatically decarbs it. Notice the bubbles in the beginning, that's the water coming out and when it stops it's fully decarbed. For an alcohol tincture I guess its important though.

Erysichthon said:

I have been researching this for a while now. this most recent batch of oil, finished 5 min ago i took great attention with. i did decarb it before hand, up to about 235(and totally happy with that now) heres why.

im using the double boiler technique. only i use a mason jar for the second boiler, and in my cook i couldnt get my oil over 210ish. can anyone guess why?

water boils at 212. anything past that just goes to steam. unless your cooking straight oil its going to be hard to attain the 228ish you need for decarb.

so im glad i did my decarb. i advise you to decarb as well, unless your heating straight oil. which btw is my next step. after i eat/test this batch of brownies. i will update of course after next batch.

Ery

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what elevation are you at? water boils based on elevation.


there is a method for decarbing in oil, I"m currently messing around with it, you can do it in oil, over a double boiler or in an oil bath (but be careful, it can get hotter than you need it to pretty quickly.)

I'm doing 40 mins to 90 mins of heating, then 4-9 hours of freezing, repeating each time and testing 2 capsules to see potency differences. I've noticed after 4 of these cycles a SIGNIFICANT difference in potency, going to try a final heating cycle and see if it has any effect.

^ any thoughts on if it is the longer total heating periods or if it is the temp cycling that contributes to the increased potency? I assume it the cycling since thats what you are posting about so again any ideas why?

LadyZandra said:

Hey "Sparty" You a REAL Spartan from E.L???
GO MSU!!!!!

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Class of 82, Living north of EL now but close enough to enjoy all it offers!

GO GREEN!!

I vote Decarboxalation,
my reasons are from personal practice and about 60 hours of reading on the net and watching YouTube videos .
I believe that 220 for 15-20 minutes turns the THCN to THC.
The temp works for me, I have used it to produce a nice green dragon liquor and baked brownies, muffins, cookies.
always Decarboxalate to get the most from the bud, that is the general consensus I read.

I have read that raising the temp of the Decarboxalation to 320 degrees for 10 minutes will produce a CBD heavy bud.
reason is CBDN becomes CDB the same way as THC but at a higher temp.
I have not proved the above but I have done batches at two different temps and mixed before adding to alcohol for a very nice green dragn with couch lock.
Peace,
DZ

Meeeeech said:

Hey all, I realize this is probably a common question, but I thought I'd be specific for what I'm doing. What I want to do is make potent canna-dipping oil for bread. I usually make brownies, and they kick my ass. Last time, though, I tried stopping after extracting the THC into oil and then adding some herbs and dipping my bread in it. It was okay, but not nearly as potent as when I make brownies. Most people have said that I should have decarbed the weed if I wasn't going to bake the oil into brownies.

Could someone explain why this is the case? Or if it is actually necessary? I never decarb when making brownies and they're fine. Also, I cook my oil at roughly 210-230 degrees, for what it's worth. Thanks!

p.s. - if you think decarbing is a necessity, could you link to a guide or explain how? Double thanks!

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I vaporized most of my zip at 446F of my vaporizer and I ate 5 grams with noodles ( i should have parachuted it because it was disgusting!!!) and shit was melting on me when I took a bath. Drymouth hit me 20 mins or working out and the melting shit happened after an hour and a half. Woke up next day still high ( well actually stoned because I wasn't functional at all).. mom wanted to go to red lobster and we did and I had the munchies like you wouldn't believe. I never got full and I loved eating, I only had slight stomach pains next day which just shows you how powerful 5 grams of vaped weed 12+ ( probably more like 16-20 because i went to sleep after the bath because shit got strange lol) hours after ingestion really is.

it was a pretty bad experience and I now know my limits of marijuana. I was a high tolerance user before doing this so i didn't think 5 grams was a lot... boy was I wrong.

I have found that when making ghee from butter for my cookies and choclates that they are stronger and more effective when not de-carbed ?
Why is this ??

It depends on the reefer you're using. Freshly harvested and cured "dank" needs to be decarbed but brickweed or last year's mids or air dried buds do not need be decarbed and can actually deteriorate your reefer by turning naturally decarbed matial, from age, into cbn with the added heat. Without that last step, it will give you a more cerebral, energetic effect, more in line with the Sativa it usually is. I have personally performed no decarb, partial decarb and full decarb on dank reefer and can attest to the differences. I've done them side my side and determined that the potency is equally as intense for each, but there is a definable difference it the properties, or effects of the resulting products.

PsychedelicSam said:

It depends on the reefer you're using. Freshly harvested and cured "dank" needs to be decarbed but brickweed or last year's mids or air dried buds do not need be decarbed and can actually deteriorate your reefer by turning naturally decarbed matial, from age, into cbn with the added heat. Without that last step, it will give you a more cerebral, energetic effect, more in line with the Sativa it usually is. I have personally performed no decarb, partial decarb and full decarb on dank reefer and can attest to the differences. I've done them side my side and determined that the potency is equally as intense for each, but there is a definable difference it the properties, or effects of the resulting products.

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Sound , I think I will re - read that when I am not wasted

there are a lot of variables to it... the only way to truly know is to get your weed tested, and then get your extracts tested to know if you got your activation method down or not

here's proof that I know how to decarb properly... notice the THCa... 0.00%...

poplars said:

here's proof that I know how to decarb properly... notice the THCa... 0.00%...

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This is your link:*edit got it thanks man*

Okay everyone understands that the THCA needs to be converted for it to work.

but

Wouldn't cooking the oil/butter turn most of that THCA into THC, especially when some people cook their oil/butter for 12+ hours?

Just a thought, don't know much on Canna Cooking yet.

Comatoke said:

Okay everyone understands that the THCA needs to be converted for it to work.

but

Wouldn't cooking the oil/butter turn most of that THCA into THC, especially when some people cook their oil/butter for 12+ hours?

Just a thought, don't know much on Canna Cooking yet.

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If i'm going to bake a good to eat, i won't decarb before hand becuase decarbing should be completed in the oven.
If you want to get high off your oil with out baking it you're going to have to decarb it first.
Regardless heat is involved in order to get high

So you are right, cooking does turn most of the THCA into THC...takes some times to nail a recipe with the right temp and time i'm sure.
I'm new to baking and looking forward to making some great edibles or even some canna-pops...or pills w/e you wanna call them.

Also if you want to decarb dbl boiler style just use a hot veggie oil bath instead of water. can reach high temps no problem.
I use a Wok fryer with a candy thermometer and i'm actually just about to try it out for the second time.
I don't have much practice decarbing just starting to mess around with it.