In this step by step guide we’ll show you how to decarb THCA flower using several methods to maximize potency and flavor. Working with raw cannabis plants can be a rewarding experience and can decrease overall costs of edibles. Learn how to decarb THCA using the most effective methods for making potent THCA edibles and tinctures.
What is THCA Decarboxylation?
THCA decarboxylation is the process of converting tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), the non-psychoactive precursor found in raw cannabis, into tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive cannabinoid that produces the “high” associated with cannabis consumption. This conversion occurs through the application of heat, which removes a carboxyl group (COOH) from the THCA molecule.
Why Do You Need To Decarb THCA Flower?
This acidic compound in THCA needs to be removed so that the resulting cannabinoid THC, can bind to receptors in the human endocannabinoid system. Decarbing non-psychoactive THCA flower releases the acidic carboxyl group, making psychoactive THC readily available to the body.
Decarboxylating Cannabis
In simpler terms, all cannabis strains need to be heated to activate their psychoactive effects. If you ate a raw marijuana bud, you wouldn’t get high. The decarboxylation process is an essential first step in making edibles, tinctures or any other cannabis product that doesn’t get heated as it’s consumed. Without the decarboxylation of THCA, there will be little to no effects from your edibles.
Does Smoking THCA Decarb It?
Yes, when you smoke THCA flower the applied heat is enough to instantly release the acidic compound and activate your raw cannabis. Smoking or vaping cannabis applies a large amount of heat to the flower quickly. The resulting smoke or vapor contains THC.
Best Methods For Decarbing THCA Flower at Home
The decarb process can be approached in a few ways to turn your THCA into THC at home. The cannabis decarboxylation method you choose can greatly affect the strength and flavor of your THCA extracts. We’ll go over several ways to decarb THCA using heat as well as alternative decarbing techniques to activate THCA hemp flower.
How to Decarb THCA Flower In The Oven
The most popular method for conversion of THCA to THC is to heat the cannabis in an oven. Just about everyone has an oven in their home, but ovens can vary greatly in accuracy. Let’s start by calibrating your oven to find anomalies in temperature.
Calibrating Your Oven
When you turn on your oven and set the temperature, the internal temperature of your oven can be different than the temperature you set. These discrepancies in temperature can lead to uncertain outcomes when decarbing THCA flower in an oven. To ensure your oven is operating at the proper temperature for decarboxylation:
- External Thermometer – Buy an external thermometer for your oven. Place the sensor inside your oven and preheat it to 230 degrees. Does your external thermometer reading match the oven’s temperature reading? Most ovens won’t match, but you can trust the external thermometer. Then you can easily make adjustments using your accurate thermometer reading to dial in the perfect temps.
- The Toast Test – Internal oven temperatures can vary in different spots of your oven. The back of the oven is often hotter than the front. Cover the entire center rack of your oven in a layer of bread slices when preheating. As the bread toasts, you’ll notice that some pieces are darker than others. This will help you identify hot spots in your oven. Avoid placing raw plant materials in these areas for more consistent heat.
Preparing THCA Flower for Decarbing
Preparing your THCA flower for decarboxylation is probably the hardest part of the decarb process when you’re working with buds. To make this task easier, a lot of people will use a grinder to break up their weed. In our professional opinions, we DO NOT recommend using a grinder. You heard us, Leafly.
The more you handle your buds, the more chance there is for breaking the flower trichomes. Ground flower is less potent than flower carefully separated by hand, and it’s worth the extra prep time.
Decarboxylation occurs when cannabis is exposed to heat. The more your buds are broken up, the easier it will be for heat to penetrate your raw THCA flower.
- Carefully break up your THCA flower by hand and remove any stems or seeds from the plant material until you are left with shake.
- Place a sheet of oven safe parchment paper on a baking sheet.
- Place the broken up flower on the parchment paper, spreading it around to create a thin, even layer of plant matter.
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What Temperature Does THCA Convert To Delta 9 THC?
The optimal time and temperature for converting THCA into Delta 9 THC is 230 degrees farenheit for 30 minutes. The most crucial step in activating THCA flower is getting your times and temperatures right.
If you don’t apply enough heat, your THCA flower won’t decarb and you won’t get high. Too much heat, or even the correct temperature for too long, can produce other unwanted cannabinoids such as CBD, CBG or CBN and burn off THC. When decarboxylating THCA into THC, the flower should appear darker in color, but not burnt.
Decarboxylation of THCA Chart
Here are two charts of optimal THCA decarboxylation times and temperatures for you to reference when decarbing your THCA flower. Different times and temperatures will release different cannabinoids, and these easy to use charts should remove the guess work from the process:
THCA to THC Farenheit
| Oven Temperature Farenheit | Cook Time | Resulting Cannabinoid |
| 215°F | 60 Minutes | CBG |
| 230°F | 30 Minutes | THC |
| 230°F | 45 Minutes | CBD |
| 320°F | 90 Minutes | CBN |
THCA to THC Celsius
| Oven Temperature Celsius | Cook Time | Resulting Cannabinoid |
| 102°C | 60 Minutes | CBG |
| 110°C | 30 Minutes | THC |
| 110°C | 45 Minutes | CBD |
| 160°C | 90 Minutes | CBN |
Decarb THCA Flower Faster
If you’re in a rush, you can decarb THCA flower faster at higher temperatures and shorter cook times. We do not recommend using these methods as it can easily lead to overcooking your flower. Slow and low, that is the tempo. But, if you’re pressed for time, here is the fastest way to decarb THCA flower:
| Oven Temperatures | Cook Time | Resulting Cannabinoid |
| 265ºF / 130ºC | 9 Minutes | THC |
| 265ºF / 130ºC | 20 Minutes | CBD |
Can You Decarb THCA Flower in the Microwave?
Yes, you can decarb THCA flower with any heat source. Cannabis can be decarboxylated in a microwave in a minute or less, but this method has the least amount of temperature control. We don’t recommend this method for decarbing weed, ever. The heat distribution is widely uneven and hard to gauge.
Does THCA Flower Smell When You Decarboxylate?
Yes, THCA flower smells quite strong when you decarb it in the oven. If you’re concerned about alerting neighbors or irritating housemates, there are a few things you can do to cut down on the smell.
Oven Bags
Placing your broken up flower into large oven bags can help reduce the smell of decarbing THCA flower. Remember you want the raw cannabis material to lie flat on the baking sheet, to provide the most surface area possible. Using multiple bags can help achieve this, and they cost less than $1 each, but it won’t totally eliminate the odor.
Silicone Bakeware
Placing your THCA flower into an oven safe silicone baking dish with a sealable top can help reduce the odors produced by decarbed flower. Remember that the inside temperature of your silicone baking dish may not be the same as the oven. If you’re using silicone bakeware while decarbing, be sure to use an external thermometer to read the internal temperature of the baking dish to ensure your flower is being heated to the correct temperature.
How To Preserve Terpenes When Decarbing THCA
If you want to preserve terpenes for maximum flavor and effects, the “Sous Vide” method of decarboxylation is perfect for you. This method uses an immersion circlator to heat water surrounding a sealed bag full of your THCA Flower. It decarbs at a lower temperature, preserving natural terpenes present in the flower buds.
- Prepare the Water Bath: Fill your container with hot tap water and place the immersion circulator inside. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for the correct water level.
- Seal the Bag: Place the broken up THCA flower in a vacuum-sealed, cook safe bag. If using a zip-top bag, use the water displacement method to remove air: close the bag 80% of the way, submerge it in water to push out the air, then seal it completely.
- Decarboxylate: Submerge the sealed cannabis bag in the water bath. Make sure it’s fully submerged and set a timer for 90 minutes.
- Cool and Store: After 90 minutes, carefully remove the bag from the water bath and let it cool to room temperature for 15-20 minutes.
This method is precise, preserving terpenes and flavor while producing minimal odor, making it a preferred choice for many cannabis enthusiasts.
How To Decarb THCA Flower Without Heat
THCA decarbs naturally with exposure to light and heat, but can you force decarboxylation without applying a physical heat source?
There is a lot of buzz on the internet about using citric acid as a catalyst for decarboxylated THCA flower. Although we don’t see this as the best way of activating THCA, we’re going to start experminting and report back. The potential of decarbing flower without heat to retain the terpenes that produce the entourage effect is exciting enough to give it a try!
What Can You Do With Decarboxylated Cannabis?
Once you decarboxylate cannabis you can use it to make cannabis butter, oils or tinctures. This concentrated THC can be infused into gummies, baked goods, drinks or taken sublingually for faster effects.
Want to learn more about the uses for decarboxylated flower? Check out the section of our blog dedicated to THCA Edibles.
Can You Smoke Decarbed THCA Flower?
Yes, you can smoke decarbed THCA flower, but it wouldn’t be a pleasant experience. Decarbing cannabis using heat burns off some of the terpenes that are so very important to flavor. Also, applying a second round of heat to previously decarbed THCA flower will decrease it’s overall potency. You can read this article for a more in-depth look at how to calculate THCA conversion rates, and the factors that affect total THC.
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