Do you need to decarboxylate weed before making tincture?

Great question! Yes, you generally need to decarboxylate cannabis before making a tincture if you want the psychoactive effects.

Here’s why:

Raw cannabis contains THCA and CBDA, which are non-psychoactive.

Decarboxylation is the process of heating cannabis to convert THCA into THC (the psychoactive compound) and CBDA into CBD.

Without decarboxylation, your tincture will have mostly THCA and CBDA, which have different effects and won't get you "high."

How to decarboxylate:

Preheat your oven to around 220-240°F (105-115°C).

Break cannabis into small pieces and spread evenly on a baking sheet.

Bake for about 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Let it cool, then use it to make your tincture.

If you want a non-psychoactive tincture with medicinal benefits, you can skip decarboxylation, but for the typical THC effects, decarbing is essential.

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