Last reviewed October 18, 2026
To decarb weed, bake ground flower on a lined tray in the oven at a low temperature, around 105–120 °C (220–250 °F), for 30 to 45 minutes, until it turns light golden brown. Decarbing turns THCA, which isn’t intoxicating, into THC. Skip it, and anything you cook with raw flower will be much weaker than you expect.
You’ll need:
- Flower, broken up into small pieces (not powder)
- A baking tray and parchment paper
- An oven, ideally with an oven thermometer, since dials are often off by 10 degrees or more
- Good ventilation: it smells strongly
Oven method
- Preheat the oven to about 115 °C (240 °F).
- Break up the flower into rice-sized pieces and spread it in a single layer on parchment.
- Bake 30 to 45 minutes, stirring gently halfway through.
- Look for colour: it’s ready when it’s dry, crumbly and light golden brown, not dark brown.
- Cool it, then store it in an airtight jar until you use it.
Other methods
| Method | How | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Covered dish | Same oven method in a covered oven-safe dish | Less smell and fewer terpenes lost |
| Sous vide | Sealed bag in a water bath for a few hours | Almost no smell, but slow and needs gear |
| Decarboxylator | A countertop device that runs a set cycle | Easiest and most consistent, but costs extra |
Common mistakes
- Too hot: above about 150 °C, THC starts breaking down and terpenes burn off.
- Grinding to powder: fine dust scorches and makes infused butter or oil taste grassy.
- Skipping it: raw flower in food has little effect, so people take more, then feel it all later.
Dosing what you make
Homemade edibles are hard to dose accurately, because potency varies by batch and by how evenly it’s mixed. Health Canada suggests starting with 2.5 mg of THC or less, and waiting before having more: eaten cannabis can take 30 minutes to 2 hours to begin working, and up to 4 hours to reach full effect.
Common questions
What happens if you don’t decarb weed?
Most of the THCA stays unconverted, so the result is much weaker. Some converts during cooking, but not reliably.
Do you need to decarb for cannabutter?
Yes. Simmering butter alone isn’t hot enough for long enough to fully convert THCA.
Can you decarb in a microwave?
It isn’t recommended. Microwaves heat unevenly, which scorches some flower and leaves the rest unconverted.
Do concentrates need decarbing?
Yes, if you plan to cook with them. Diamonds and other THCA-rich concentrates need heat to become THC.
Source: Health Canada, Cannabis: lower your risks.
