decarboxylation question

[Coelho]

^Thanks for the great replies! The weed worked A LOT better than before. That being said, I think I'll try a high temp next time

How was the "decarboxilated" high for you?

[NaughtyDreadz]

hmmm/... I need to try this... especially when I make bhang...

[Euphoric7]

How was the "decarboxilated" high for you?

I guess I didn't do it right, but it definitely WAS slightly more intense than usual. Not very relaxing, just intense... :P

[Coelho]

^^^^ It is what usually happens... this process increases the THC, which causes the sativa-like (energetic mind high) effects... yet the indica-like effects (relaxing couchlock stone) are caused by the CBD, which is not altered by this process.
So, if your weed is a sativa, decarboxilating it will make it stronger. And if it is an indica, it will become more sativa-like.
Anyway, its always worth a try... you all may be surprised with the effects! :thumbsup::stoned::abduct:

[LargeToker37]

I am trying this tonight with my new hookah. Approx .75 gram in the microwave... hmmm... 30 seconds sounds like enough.

[Euphoric7]

I don't even think a microwave would do anything, because it heats the H2O particles on a things moisture just enough to boil it. That temp is 100Celcius, but you need beyond the boiling point. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you CAN'T get near the full effects of this method if you microwave it (no matter how long).

[Coelho]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you CAN'T get near the full effects of this method if you microwave it (no matter how long).

Well... i actualy dont know... cause the ideal conditions for the decarboxilation happen is heating at 105C for 5 minutes. As it is just a bit higher than waters boiling point (100C), im pretty sure that heating at "only" 100C would be enough.
Also, while IN THEORY the microwave cant reach temperatures higher than 100C, i found that in the practice things are a bit different... once i put some ground bud in the microwave, and it did catch fire! So surely it reached temperatures higher than 100C... since then i only microwave whole buds, and never ground ones anymore...
But the surest way to make sure is microwave a bit of weed, heat in the oven another bit of it, and compare the two, to see if there is some noticeable difference between the two methods.

[Euphoric7]

Oh okay, I stand corrected . I still think the oven is a better method than the microwave though. Because the microwave tampers with certain molecules, while the oven just heats it. Just my thoughts.

[jimmy8778]

all microwaves do is makes the molecules and such vibrate, which causes heat, and the wavelengths are designed for those of water so it heats more evenly and stays warmer longer, which is why everything comes out of the microwave steaming, hot water.

Water can only boil at 100C no higher so the water may only be as hot as 100C but the steam could be hotter, so its still a mystery at how hot a microwave can get.

[GreenDestiny]

Ok, so when it's decarboxylated the H2O and CO2 are released..... so,
if I break up the weed and seal it up inside a little pocket of foil to put into the oven... wouldn't that also trap the H2O and CO2 that needs to escape? Should I poke a couple tiny holes in it with a needle?


Also I've been going crazy thinking about another thing....

Weed that's fresh or that has just finished drying has mostly THCA, so then heating it up to decarboxylate it into THC will work. That's cool!

BUT, if you've let the weed naturally do the process through curing then wouldn't heating up the weed degrade/destroy the THC that you've waited so long for?

Light and heat are the two major enemies of THC... Maybe that's why so many people fail to make working oils and extracts??? Using naturally decarboxylated weed to start with, and ending up with a product that has destroyed most of the THC... makes sense to me, which is why I've always been afraid to use weed that I've purchased for cooking - I don't know it's age or how it's been cured.

If that's what is really happening, then is cured bud worthless for cooking? Or could I use it for making oil by heating it up just enough for extracting THC without harming it too much?...(below the decarb. temperature). argh, I'd so greatly appreciate some answers