Drying or curing herb for cooking

If I am only going to cook with the herb I grow, do I have to do the drying and/or curing process? If so, why and what is the best way to go about the process of doing the best cure for cooking, tincture, butter, etc.?

I do know how to dry herb for smoking, but the question is, "Why should I allow herb to dry if I am going to cook with it?" I am not concerned with the taste that cured herb provides. But if, for some reason - and what is that reason - maturing the bud does something special. If there is a given amount of THC's, CBD,s and CBN's when the herb is cut down, do those elements change with the curing process or does the herb have the same amount of elements whether it is cured or not and if not why cure it if it is to be used in cooking, tincture, etc.

you should just use it as if it were some regular weed for smoking. i believe that curing it makes is so that the thc and other chemicals are in an active form that can be dissolved into the oil or alcohol. but you dont need it to be completely dry where it is crumbly i dont believe, just cured.