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Edibles is a delicious way for marijuana patients to ingest their medicine without the harmful side effects of smoking. Since edibles will not be heated by the patient prior to ingestion, it is important that edible makers ensure that their products have been fully decarboxylated for maximum therapeutic activity.
Raw cannabis contains a lot of Tetrahydrocannabinol Carboxylic Acid (THCA) which is not psychoactive. The active element in marijuana is the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Decarboxylation is the process of removing the carboxyl group, in the form of carbon dioxide and water vapor, in order to cause cannabinoid conversion to their most active, delta forms. This process occurs simply through heating. After decarboxylating marijuana, it can be used to make medicated herbal capsules, cannabis infused butter and oil, tinctures and many other products that will be consumed without cooking.
Marijuana is not advisable to be eaten or place in food when raw because it is not psychoactive in this form. The decarboxylation process that takes place after drying is what gives its psychoactive properties. We need this process to optimize the potency of the treatment as it brings out the most of its ability to give medicated effect when ingested.
The Importance Of Cannabis Decarboxylation in Edibles