Looking to use cannabis in edibles, healing salves, or Cannabis-infused oils? If that is the case, you will want to start with decarboxylate cannabis. First time you are reading about decarboxylation? Well, it’s the process of creating and releasing the psychoactive characteristics of Marijuana. This piece will describe what decarboxylation is all about and how to decarboxylate cannabis concentrates in four different ways.

What is decarboxylation and why is it important?

The easiest way to think about this process is that it is an activating mechanism. For you to activate your cannabis, you have to break down its constituent resin from its fatty state into a medicinal format. Marijuana is known to cause a psychoactive high primary caused by the compound THC. This compound does not exist in fresh cannabis. But, flowers coated in trichome have an abundance of THCa, the acidic form of the compound THC.

To hasten the conversion of THCa into THC, heat is needed, which is why smoking or vaporizing cannabis gives a high. This process is known as decarboxylation, or decarbing in short. The process is important to culinary artists and those who love weed. It not only explains why most people prefer to smoke weed, but it is also the surest way to create effective and potent edibles.

Methods of decarbing Concentrates

The methods you choose to use depends on available resources and what you plan on doing with the end product. Here are four methods that you can use at home.

Method 1: Stove Top to decarb Cannabis Concentrate

  • Get a cooking pot and place on your stove
  • Turn on the heat
  • Into the pot add oil, not water
  • Heat the oil to 250 F (121 C)
  • Place bottle with concentrate in the oil to decarb
  • Wait until bubbles stop forming
  • Once the smaller bubble cease forming, remove a bottle of concentrate from the oil, and you are all done

Method 2: Toaster Oven to decarb Cannabis Concentrate

  • Place your bottle of concentrate in a toaster oven
  • Set to bake at 250 F (121 C)
  • Watch and wait till bubbling stops. Might take about 50 minutes give or take
  • Remove bottle from the oven, and that’s it.

Method 3: Crock-Pot to decarb Cannabis Concentrate

Can’t decarb using either of the two methods above? Use a Crockpot. However, be advised that a crockpot can only handle temperatures of up to 250 F. Here’s how to go about decarbing using this method.

  • Place oil in the Crockpot and heat to 250 F
  • Place your bottle of concentrate in the Crockpot and allow it to melt
  • Wait until content stops bubbling. Note, it might take up to 80 minutes before it’s done when using this method

Method 4: Hot Plate to decarb Cannabis Concentrate

  • Place your bottle of concentrate right on the Hot Plate and heat to 250F
  • Cover concentrate with a beaker to trap volatiles
  • Wait until small bubble stop forming
  • Remove beaker and scratch any extras stuck on the walls. This method took approximately 45 minutes.

Final Word

Now that you understand how to decarboxylate cannabis concentrate in 4 methods, you are ready to start experimenting with different recipes. You can now infuse decarb in your favorite oils, salves, or edibles. You might enjoy making homemade topical salves or cannabis-infused oils. Remember, safety comes first whenever you plan on consuming homemade recipes.