How to Decarboxylate Cannabis

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Co-authored by Riley Kirk, PhD

Last Updated: February 24, 2025 Fact Checked

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Decarboxylating Cannabis in the Oven

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Understanding the Science

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If you going to cook with cannabis, you will need to decarboxylate it to activate the THC and achieve the desired result. Decarboxylation is essentially a process of heating the cannabis to the point that the naturally occurring THCA is converted into THC.^{[1]
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Aaron Justis
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Expert Interview} This is unnecessary if you are smoking or vaporizing the cannabis, but if you are cooking, make sure you decarboxylate first.

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Decarboxylating Cannabis in the Oven

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If you have cannabis that you want to use in cooking, decarboxylation is a vital part of the process. Start by breaking up the cannabis into small pieces. Then put the cannabis onto a baking tray, and spread it across the tray as you would whatever you were cooking.^{[2]
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To decarboxylate cannabis, you need to heat it to around 240 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature at which decarboxylation occurs. Heat your oven to this temperature, before placing your baking tray of cannabis into it.

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Put the cannabis in the oven. When the oven is up to temperature, place your tray of cannabis in there. To achieve the maximum amount of decarboxylation, you need to heat it until the bubbling dissipates. There is no fixed amount of time you should leave it in there for, but around an hour is generally considered to produce the best results.
- Keep an eye on it, and give it a quick stir every ten minutes or so.
- Cannabis with a higher moisture content may take longer than an hour, but you should never raise the temperature above 240 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Allow it to cool. After around an hour, you should remove the cannabis from the oven and allow it cool. You will notice that the colour will have changed, and become a medium brown. You will also notice it has dried and it should have quite a crumbly texture.
- Once it has cooled you can grind it in a food processor so that is in made into a small enough powder to use easily in cooking.
- Store it in an airtight container like your other herbs and use as appropriate.

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Understanding the Science

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The marijuana flower contains THCA, which in its natural state, is not psychoactive. The psychoactive THC is only created through the process known as decarboxylation. By heating the THCA, that THC is activated and can then be absorbed when consumed.

Jorge Cervantes, Bestselling Marijuana Author

Decarboxylating cannabis is vital to unlocking its complete effects, though the process is frequently misunderstood. Applying precise heat for a defined time to dried cannabis prompts chemical changes that convert THCA into psychoactive THC. Perfecting decarboxylation necessitates care and patience, but allows one to fully access the varied medicinal and recreational properties of this exceptional plant.
The main reason to decarboxylate cannabis is to achieve the maximum potency and efficiency for oral consumption, rather than for medicinal purposes. A separate process of decarboxylation is not necessary when cannabis is smoked or vaporized, because the heating involved releases the THC without needing any prior decarboxylation.^{[3]
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Act responsibly. Decarboxylation can greatly increase the potency of cannabis. If you are cooking something and are going to include decarboxylated cannabis, be sure to act sensibly and recognise just how potent it might be. It can easier to consume a larger amount of cannabis in food than by smoking.
- The difference between the edible and the topical approach to CBD is that the topical application is more concentrated and focused on a particular area.^{[4]
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- Consuming it orally has more of a systemic effect.^{[5]
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- It depends on what you want to use it for. Some people use it for both purposes. For example, people with chronic pain may take it orally and apply it on their neck and lower back.^{[6]
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Question

Are there any other ways to decarboxylate cannabis?

Aaron Justis
Cannabis Expert
Aaron Justis is a Cannabis Expert and the President of Buds & Roses dispensary based in Los Angeles, CA. Buds & Roses is a premier Los Angeles cannabis retailer serving customers and the LA community since 2006. Since 2010, Aaron and the Buds & Roses team have been the proud recipients of 26 High Times Medical Cannabis Cup awards, including multiple first-place victories, solidifying their reputation as a top provider of premium cannabis products. As a recognized thought leader in the cannabis industry, Aaron has played a pivotal advocacy role in the Cannabis community. His thought leadership has attracted attention from mainstream media, including features and profiles in notable outlets such as CNN and Variety.

Aaron Justis

Cannabis Expert

Expert Answer

I recall a past encounter where a friend ingeniously used a cracker, placed a cannabis flower on it, microwaved it, and then consumed it. This unconventional, cost-effective method essentially served as a home decarboxylation process for ingesting cannabis.

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Question

Do I need to decarboxylate cannabis when making an edible?

Aaron Justis
Cannabis Expert
Aaron Justis is a Cannabis Expert and the President of Buds & Roses dispensary based in Los Angeles, CA. Buds & Roses is a premier Los Angeles cannabis retailer serving customers and the LA community since 2006. Since 2010, Aaron and the Buds & Roses team have been the proud recipients of 26 High Times Medical Cannabis Cup awards, including multiple first-place victories, solidifying their reputation as a top provider of premium cannabis products. As a recognized thought leader in the cannabis industry, Aaron has played a pivotal advocacy role in the Cannabis community. His thought leadership has attracted attention from mainstream media, including features and profiles in notable outlets such as CNN and Variety.

Aaron Justis

Cannabis Expert

Expert Answer

While conventional advice may advocate for decarboxylating before cooking or baking edibles, my perspective aligns with the notion that the cooking or baking process inherently accomplishes decarboxylation. Ultimately, it comes down to your personal preference.

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