Decarboxylation is a chemical reaction that involves the removal of a carboxyl group (-COOH) from a molecule. A carboxyl group is a functional group of atoms, consisting of a carbon atom attached to both an oxygen atom and a hydroxyl group (-OH). When cannabis is harvested, it contains a non-psychoactive cannabinoid called tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). In order to convert THCA into the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the decarboxylation process must occur. In cannabis decarboxylation, heat is typically applied to the plant material in order to catalyze the reaction. The heat causes the THCA molecule to lose a carboxyl group and become THC, which is the compound that produces the psychoactive effects associated with cannabis use.
The ideal temperature for decarboxylating cannabis is typically between 200-300°F (93-148°C), and the process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on the method used. Some common methods of decarboxylating cannabis include oven baking, sous vide cooking, and using a specialized machine designed for the purpose. I recommend avoiding oven baking if possible, for two simple reasons:
1) Oven baking leaves a very strong odor in the surrounding rooms from where the baking is taking place. If you are doing this at home, you may want to avoid having your house smell like a cannabis farm.
2) Oven baking is not very efficient, you may be overheating and/or burning your flower, and you’re using a lot more electricity than you would be using with a sous vide method, for example.
Decarboxylation not only converts THCA into THC, but it can also cause the degradation of other cannabinoids and terpenes in the plant material. This means that the final composition and effects of the cannabis will depend not only on the strain and method of cultivation, but also on the method of decarboxylation used.
During the sous vide process (my favorite and most recommended method), the vacuum-sealed bag creates a low-oxygen environment that helps to prevent the oxidation of cannabinoids and terpenes. The heat applied to the bag causes the carboxyl group to be removed from the THCA molecule, releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) as a byproduct. The CO2 gas will remain in the bag until it is opened, at which point it will be released into the surrounding environment.
It's worth noting that the carbon molecules from the carboxyl group do not disappear entirely; rather, they are simply rearranged into other forms. In the case of cannabis decarboxylation, the carbon molecule is combined with an oxygen molecule to form CO2 gas, which is released as a byproduct of the reaction. The remaining THC molecule contains the same number of carbon atoms as the original THCA molecule, but has lost one oxygen molecule.
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