How to Decarb CBD Flower with Lab Tests

Did you know decarboxylation is still an important step to take when making edibles or topicals with CBD flowers? If you want to reap the activated benefits of CBD, read on to learn how to decarb CBD flower and review the lab tests for the best time and temperature!

Article Features

• Step-by-step instructions for how to decarb CBDA flower into CBD
• Real lab tests I did to to determine how well the process actually works (hint, it works well!)
• Want to make it easy? Start with my favorite CBD flowers and have them delivered directly to your doorstep. Now shipping across the US! 

Why You Will Love This Guide

CBD flower is quickly gaining popularity for many reasons, including experiencing the benefits of cannabis without an extreme high.

I recently noticed a renewed interest in CBD flowers from my Well With Cannabis Community members who tell me they are using it for pain relief and relaxation.

What You’ll Need

Step-by-Step Instructions

• Step 5 – Place the container in the oven and bake for 90 minutes for CBD-dominant flower. You are looking for a toasted brown color and fragrant aroma when it is done.
• Step 6 – Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely with the lid on.
• Step 7 – Your decarbed cannabis flower is now ready for immediate use.
• Step 8 – Be sure to store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place if you don’t use it immediately.

Note: complete step-by-step printable instructions are located in the recipe card below.

Storage Instructions

After the process is completed, you can store your decarboxylated cannabis in an airtight container like a mason jar in a cool, dark place for several months.

Storing in the freezer will help preserve the potency of your cannabis products for a longer period of time.

What The Lab Tests Said

I am the first to say that there is so much variability when it comes to making edibles at an at-home kitchen, but I like to have at least a starting point.

For years I had heard the standard recommendation of 90 minutes, but I never knew for sure. That’s why I sent off a sample for lab testing. While it is only one sample, this is the closest I can get to a scientific answer here.

I sent in two samples. The first sample had not been decarbed and was tested nearly 5 months before the second.

This was used as the control to show how much CBDA was present in the starting material.

What is CBD Flower?

Cannabis comes in a variety of different strains with a variety of different cannabinoids and cannabinoid ratios, all which can produce different effects.

While many you may already be familiar with traditional THC flower, now you know there is also CBD flower.

Third-party lab tests like the ones above can help to verify what cannabinoids are present in your flower, and by how much.

CBD-dominant flowers may come with either high or low amounts of THC, depending on the strain of the plant.

This is a chemical difference, meaning CBD flower will look, smell, and perform almost the same as any other cannabis flower, minus the intoxicating high.

Cannabis plants can be selectively cultivated to produce a low THC, high CBD profile while maintaining other compounds, such as cannabinoids and terpenes. 

What is Decarboxylation?

If you want the benefits of the active form of CBD, you will need decarboxylation to occur first.

Often referred to as ‘decarb’ or ‘decarbing,’ the decarboxylation of cannabinoids really is an important step.

This is because the plant material does not naturally contain high amounts of cannabinoids in their active form; it contains acidic cannabinoids.

Cannabinoid acids like CBDA and THCA have potential health benefits but are neutral and not intoxicating.

To convert these non-intoxicating cannabinoid acids into the activated cannabinoids we want for our final product, the process of decarboxylation must occur.

The process of heating cannabis can decarboxylate THCA into active THC and CBDA into CBD.

Variations Will Occur

Decarbing with heat in an oven or Instant Pot is the easiest method to control in an at-home kitchen environment. 

This process really is as simple as putting your cannabis in an oven-safe baking dish and baking it for a set period of time.

However, keep in mind very high temperatures are not always better.

An oven set at a higher temperature will cause decarboxylation of THC to occur more quickly than an oven set at a lower temperature.

Now it’s important to remember that this is not a perfect process in a controlled environment, nor does it need to be.

Several factors can impact your final result:

• Chemical structure – the raw cannabinoids present in the plant will impact the resulting product
• Oven temperatures – temperature fluctuations can vary greatly from oven to oven
• Decarb process – whether you use the oven method, instant pot, water bath, etc
• Different decarboxylation temperatures – if you choose to use different decarboxylation temperatures, you will get different results at different times

Ultimately, desperate the variability among decarboxylation methods, we will all arrive at the same goal – activated cannabinoids that can be used in homemade edibles.

You Want to Decarb For Edibles

Just like traditional cannabis edibles, you can make any edible with CBD flower. 

These edibles will not produce the same intoxicating effects, but they can be just as delicious and rewarding, depending on your desired experience.

If you are decarbing CBD flowers, the most common recommendation is to set the oven to 240°F and bake for 90 minutes. 

This process converts cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) into cannabidiol (CBD), although both forms remain non-intoxicating in their respective states.

Once you have completed this step, you can use your cannabis flower to make CBD products with various extraction methods, including:

• CBD oil
• CBD cannabutter
• CBD brownies 
• CBD chocolate chip cookies
• CBD Seasoning

Frequently Asked Questions