Have you ever tried making your own edibles, but no matter how hard you tried, they just didn't hit? Chances are, if your homemade goodies aren't hitting, you've skipped one of the most important steps in the process: decarboxylation.

It's kind of a hard word to say, but don't worry, it's a super easy concept, and the key to making next-level edibles and infusions at home. So bust out the notebooks because we're about to talk about Decarbing 101.

WHAT IS DECARBING?

Decarbing is the process where you expose your dried cannabis flower to low heat in order to trigger a chemical process that converts THCA or CBDA to THC and CBD respectively. This process is essential to feel the psychoactive effects of weed. This is why you don't get high from smelling raw weed - the THC, the psychoactive compound in bud, hasn't been activated yet.

This is a process that happens on its own when you pack a bowl or smoke a joint; your weed is exposed to heat from the flame and initiates the chemical conversion process to create the THC. Then when you inhale it and get a massive stoney hit.

With edibles, however, there's really no opportunity where your flower would be exposed to heat in this same way, so when making edibles, you need to add that extra step where you expose your weed to heat. This step is called decarboxylation.

HOW TO DECARBOXYLATE YOUR BUD

The process of decarboxylating is actually pretty easy. Let's start with a list of materials you'll need.

MATERIALS YOU'LL NEED

An ounce of your favorite cannabis flower strain
A glass baking dish or cookie sheet
Parchment Paper
Oven mitts
Spatula
Oven or toaster oven

STEP 1: PREHEAT OVEN & BREAKDOWN THE BUD

Once you've gathered your materials, you're ready to get started decarboxylating your bud. The first you'll need to do is preheat your oven to about 250F. Then, start breaking down your weed - a grinder comes in handy for this particular job as you'd want to literally be as hands-off as possible. You know, to keep your flower oil-free.

STEP 2: PREP FOR BAKING

Once you've preheated your oven and broken your weed, tear off a piece of parchment paper to line your baking sheet or glass dish. This will make sure the flower doesn't get stuck to the container. Then, spread it out as a thing layer evenly around the dish.

STEP 3: BAKE THE BUD

Put your baking sheet of evenly spread flower bits in the oven. Bake the bud for about 20 minutes, checking it every five minutes. Decarboxylation time will vary with the amount and moisture of your flower. Drier flower will decarboxylate faster than moister varieties. By the end of the baking process, expect the color of the flower to turn into a golden brown.

STEP 4: COOLING AND STORING

After the baking process, take out the baking sheet and let it cool. Be careful when handling your decarboxylated flower as the structural integrity of it will be very dry and brittle. Once the cannabis is cooled, it's ready to be used to make your edibles!

Should you choose to store it, use an airtight glass container to maintain its freshness.

STEP 5: USING YOUR DECARBOXYLATED WEED

This final step is the second-most important - after step 3 of course - using your decarboxylated weed to make edibles and infusions! There are a couple of different methods of infusion, so let's a learn a little about each!

CANNABUTTER

One of the easiest and most versatile infusions you can make at home is cannabutter. Cannabutter, or cannabis-infused butter is simply butter simmered with decarboxylated weed over a period of a few hours. During the simmering process, the cannabinoids fuse into the fats of the butter resulting a perfectly emulsified ingredient for further cooking.

Due to the nature of the butter as a catalyst for particularly baked goods, the classic pot brownie, cookies, rice krispie treats, buttercream, fudge, caramels and other types of sweet desserty goodness make the perfect edibles for using cannabutter.

CANNAOIL

One of the other most versatile ways to infuse different foods and beverages is by infusing oil with cannabis. You can infuse any type of oil, though the one you choose should be based on how you intend to use said oil. Infusion is fairly simple, add your preferred oil and your decarbed flower to a double boiler and let it sit for anywhere between one to six hours depending on how potent you'd want the oil to be.

One pro-tip to ensuring consistency is to keep the internal temperature at a minimum of 180F but not to exceed 200F. When the mixture is finished, strain and store in an airtight container for future use.

TIPS BEFORE YOU GET STARTED

Despite the DIY decarboxylation's ease, there are still a few things that are helpful to know before taking this project on.

The optimal temperature range for cannabis decarboxylation is between 200 and 290 degrees. If it's your first time, start somewhere between 200 and 225. Lower temperatures decarb slower while high temperatures faster. Similar to dosing, it's always a better idea to start slow when you're trying something for the first time. Plus, you don't want to accidentally burn your bud!
You HAVE to decarboxylate your bud before you make edibles and infusions. If you don't your edibles will have a super grassy taste with no psychoactive effect at all. Big bummer.
Decarboxylating and infusions will make the space smell very weedy - so plan accordingly if you live with others.

LEAVE IT TO WEEDSY

We get it, as much as we love a challenge and to cut costs by doing it ourselves, this is inherently a monumental task for the average user. If the preparation, waiting, and countless checks and balances seem a little overwhelming to you, and the idea of DIYing your own edibles isn't your idea of a good time, don't worry! There is an infinitely easier way that requires just a little bit of manageable effort.

Jump on your phone and head over to Weedsy and find your local dispensary or delivery service. There is a fat chance that the spot would have our assortment of oh-so-delicious Treaties in stock.

Treaties are perfectly dose to give you the trippy experience you're looking for. These yummy gummies come in three mouthwatering flavors - the sweet and sour Blue Razz, a refreshing Lemon Drop, and the sweet and juicy Bubba Melon, all of which, make the perfect excuse to eat your way to that higher level.

Decrypting Decarboxylation: How You Can Make Your Own Edibles