The Decarboxylation of THCA: What It Is & Why It Matters

If you’re interested in hemp and cannabis products, there’s a strange phenomenon you may not be aware of. When you light up a bowl or bake a batch of tasty edibles, you’re in the process of converting non-intoxicating compounds into active THC. If you were to eat cannabis buds and flower fresh, they wouldn’t affect you in the way you’d expect—the intoxicating effects we know and love come from a process called decarboxylation. While it’s a simple process, it’s critical for those wanting to enjoy the classic effects of cannabinoids like THC.

While “decarbing” can happen naturally over time or through exposure to sunlight, the fastest way to access your bud’s THC is through a lighter or the oven. Below, we cover everything you need to know about decarboxylation, including what it is, why it’s essential, and much more. 

What Are Cannabinoids?

To understand decarboxylation, you’ve got to understand cannabinoids. They’re a family of compounds found in hemp and cannabis that impart the plant’s most interesting effects. THC, which is responsible for the intoxicating “high” of the cannabis plant, is a cannabinoid, along with CBD, CBG, and so on. Cannabinoids have sparked interest in scientific and medical fields—especially in recent years, as hemp and cannabis continue to gain momentum and legalization across the country. 

Clinical studies show that THC may help us manage chronic pain, potentially  improve our sleep, and possibly stimulate our appetite, among other symptoms. Meanwhile, CBD—sometimes called the “second cannabinoid”—doesn’t get you high or have strong psychoactive effects, but some have used it for its potential relieving qualities. On top of a gentle buzz that may feel a little like caffeine, studies show that CBD may help us manage pain, tame anxiety, and more.

But here’s the thing: To explain decarbing cannabis, we need to take a step back into the world of acidic cannabinoid precursors.

THCA and Other Acidic Precursors

Believe it or not, hemp and cannabis plants contain very little THC in their fresh flower form. What they do contain is the chemical precursor to THC: An acidic compound known as THCA. Acidic doesn’t refer to flavor here, just the compound’s chemical structure. 

What’s more, THCA isn’t the only acidic precursor in cannabis: CBD’s precursor is CBDA, and CBG—a minor cannabinoid that’s been linked to potential effects like protecting the nerves and brain—has one called CBGA. 

We should point out that precursor cannabinoids such as THCA impart some unique effects in their own right. According to recent studies, THCA may help reduce inflammation, control seizures, and have powerful anti-nausea effects. However, it won’t get you high—so it’s time to talk about the business of decarbing.

Decarboxylation: What is It and How Does It Work?

As mentioned above, THCA isn’t intoxicating on its own, but when it undergoes the chemical transformation known as decarboxylation, that changes. 

Decarbing cannabis or hemp can happen in a variety of ways. Typically, some proportion of the THCA in cannabis or hemp will naturally decarboxylate into THC. This can occur during the growing process or after the harvest from the effects of ambient heat, exposure to oxygen, or sunlight, which is one reason to consider investing in a stash box to keep your weed fresh.

However, there’s a faster and more useful way to transform inactive THCA into usable THC: Hit it with heat. Whether it’s an open flame from a match or lighter or from a long and slow roast in an oven, decarboxylation is the crucial step in the journey from just another leafy plant to a potent herb.

Why? It all comes down to chemical structures. If you compare THCA and THC at the atomic level, they both look similar to each other. But THCA has an extra molecular carboxyl ring that prevents it from binding to our body’s cannabinoid receptors. The upshot is that while we will get the various benefits from THCA, CBDA, and the other acidic precursors we mentioned earlier, we won’t experience the intoxicating high that makes hemp and cannabis so memorable. 

Why You Need to Decarb Cannabis and Hemp

Until a cannabinoid has been decarboxylated, it’s in an acidic and non-intoxicating state. It won’t get you high because it doesn’t properly bind to the receptors in our endocannabinoid system (ECS) in this state.

The ECS is a big deal. No matter which cannabinoids we’re talking about—and  over 100 have been identified so far—they all have to pass through a sort of gate in our bodies, aka the ECS. It’s a truly remarkable regulatory network that plays a role in a surprising number of crucial functions, including:

• Appetite and metabolism
• Immune response
• Memory
• Growth and development
• Proper sleep function
• Communication between cells

Despite how important these processes are to our overall well-being, our current knowledge of the ECS is still relatively new. Researchers have only known about the ECS for about 30 years, which explains why some doctors have little understanding of it and may remain skeptical of the medical benefits of cannabis and hemp.

The ECS has two receptor cell types: CB1 and CB2. Different cannabinoids bind to one or both of them; some— like CBD —can even prevent others, like THC, from binding, which is believed to reduce the intensity of the high. 

How Are Hemp and Cannabis Decarbed?

Whether you’re putting a match to a fattie or baking raw cannabis flowers to make cannabis edibles, here’s what’s really happening. When we heat cannabis or hemp in its raw form, the plant undergoes a chemical transformation that causes the removal of the carboxylic acid group and then becomes a psychoactive end product.

The ideal temperature at which decarboxylation occurs in the oven can be anywhere between 230°F and 266°F. However, if you’re smoking herb and using a match or lighter, this ideal temperature is usually not important since the chemical transformation happens instantaneously, and the cannabinoids take effect very quickly. 

But if you’re making cannabis edibles, it can get a bit tricky. Why? If you don’t fully decarb your weed, you’ll end up with a weak final product, but if you let it decarb for too long, you’ll end up destroying some of the active cannabinoids through oxidation. The result will be an edible that’s not as strong as you hoped, and trust us: That’s something we want you to avoid. 

Many sources suggest THC should be decarboxylated at roughly 240°F for 30 to 45 minutes—tops. It’ll also help to use an accurate kitchen thermometer, as most oven temperature sensors aren’t very accurate.

Find Quality THCA and More at The Dopest

Ready to see the decarboxylation process in action? You’ve come to the right place! Check out our vast selection of THCA products, starting with the freshest flower, blunts, pre-rolls, and more. Shop in-store from one of our many retail partners, or order online and get THCA delivered right to your door. Your order will be processed within 24 - 48 hours, and delivery typically takes no longer than 3 - 7 business days in most locations. 

Due to state laws, The Dopest does not currently deliver THCA products to the following locations: Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont.

Want to learn more about THCA, decarboxylation, or anything else cannabis-related? Visit our blog for the latest tips, research, and news.