Table of contents
- What is decarboxylation? The meaning in plain terms ›
- Why you have to decarb cannabis for edibles ›
- Decarboxylation temperature and time (in Celsius and Fahrenheit) ›
- How to decarb weed in the oven ›
- How to decarb weed without an oven ›
- How to decarb weed for butter and oil ›
- Using decarbed cannabis ›
Short answer: decarboxylation means heating cannabis so THCA turns into active THC, and CBDA into CBD. Skip it and your edibles will not work. For dried flower, aim for roughly 115 degrees Celsius (240 F) for 30 to 40 minutes.
What is decarboxylation? The meaning in plain terms
Decarboxylation is a heat-driven reaction that converts the acidic forms of cannabinoids into their active forms. THCA becomes THC, and CBDA becomes CBD. The acids are not intoxicating on their own, which is exactly why raw flower does not get you high, a point we cover in does THCA get you high and in THC versus THCA. A study on the decarboxylation of acidic cannabinoids confirms the conversion depends on both temperature and time.
Why you have to decarb cannabis for edibles
Tossing raw ground flower into batter and baking it does not work, because the inside of a baked good rarely gets hot enough for long enough. So decarbing is a separate step done before you infuse anything: heat the cannabis gently on its own, then use that activated material to make butter, oil or any edible.
Decarboxylation temperature and time (in Celsius and Fahrenheit)
The whole thing is a balance. Too little heat and the THCA never converts. Too much and you destroy the THC you just made along with the terpenes. Most people search for how long to decarb at a specific temperature, so here it is both ways.
| Temperature | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 105 C / 220 F | 50 to 60 minutes | Maximum terpenes and aroma, low and slow |
| 115 C / 240 F | 30 to 40 minutes | The reliable all-rounder for dried flower |
| 120 C / 250 F | about 20 minutes | Faster, with slightly more terpene loss |
| Kief or hash | 15 to 25 minutes at 110 to 120 C (230 to 250 F) | Converts faster thanks to more surface area |
Decarb calculator — pick your oven temperature:
50 to 60 minutes. Low and slow, keeps the most terpenes and aroma.
30 to 40 minutes. The reliable all-rounder for dried flower.
About 20 minutes. Faster, with slightly more terpene loss.
Do not go above roughly 150 degrees Celsius (300 F). Past that, THC degrades into CBN and you lose potency. It also helps to know what temperature THC evaporates at.
How to decarb weed in the oven
- Set the oven to around 115 degrees Celsius (240 F) and let it settle, ideally with an oven thermometer, since most ovens overshoot.
- Break the flower into small, even pieces and spread it in a single layer on a lined tray.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the colour shifts from bright green to a light, toasty gold.
- Let it cool. It will be dry and crumbly, and now active.
Two habits make the difference: resist opening the door, which drops the temperature, and keep the pieces even so nothing scorches while the rest stays raw.
How to decarb weed without an oven
No oven, or worried about the smell? Two alternatives work, though both are harder to keep steady. On the stove, warm the cannabis in a sealed jar sitting in gently simmering water, a water bath that caps the temperature near 100 degrees Celsius and keeps the smell down. In the microwave, heat it in very short bursts of 10 to 15 seconds and check between each, because microwaves heat unevenly and scorch fast. The oven is still the most reliable route, but these get you there in a pinch.
How to decarb weed for butter and oil
Once the cannabis is decarbed, warm it gently into butter or a carrier oil over a low heat to make an infusion, then treat that like any other ingredient. That infused fat is what powers hash brownies, the recipes in our THC edibles guide, and homemade sweets like the ones in our gummies guide.
Using decarbed cannabis
Cleaner starting material gives a cleaner result, and it all traces back to the cannabinoids stored in the plant's trichomes. If you would rather skip the process, ready-made cannabis edibles have the work done for you, or start from quality flower. Home edibles are hard to dose and the law varies by country, so start with a small amount and check the rules where you live. This is general information, not medical advice.
