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Medical Jane

Last updated: May 31st, 2016

Decarboxylation, as it applies to medical marijuana, is a chemical reaction that occurs when THCA and CBDA are converted to THC and CBD (respectively) as the plant is heated or under pressure. Using cannabis as a medicine begins with understanding the basic science of decarboxylation, and why it is a crucial process in making edibles, tinctures and topical treatments. To get the full medicinal value out of your cannabis, it needs to be heated to a temperature that is just not possible to obtain in the human digestive system.

The major downside of decarboxylating is that some of the more volatile terpenes (and other aromatics) that give the plant its signature aroma and flavor are lost during the process. Adding an equal amount of raw material to the decarboxylated materials may improve the taste and/or smell of your creations, but learning how to properly decarboxylate cannabis from the get-go will save you a lot of time, energy, money and product when cooking with cannabis.

Click here to learn more about the decarboxylation process and how it applies to cooking with cannabis.

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