What Is Decarboxylation?
Decarboxylation is the process of applying heat to cannabis to convert THCA into active THC, which is what makes cannabis psychoactive.
Decarboxylation Explained
Decarboxylation (often called "decarbing") is a chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group from cannabinoids, converting them from their raw acid forms into their active forms. The most important conversion is THCA to THC. This happens naturally when you smoke, vape, or cook cannabis. Raw cannabis does not produce a high because THCA is non-psychoactive — heat is required to activate it.
Why It Matters
Decarboxylation explains why eating raw cannabis does not produce effects and why edibles must be specially prepared. It is fundamental to understanding how cannabis works.
Also Known As
Frequently Asked Questions
Does smoking automatically decarboxylate cannabis?
Yes. The heat from smoking or vaping instantly decarboxylates THCA into THC.