Curing to increase potency and enhance taste.

[Medical Marijuana]

Cannabinoid Conversion

Naturally, as the metabolic processes continue during curing, the conversion of cannabergerol to tetrahydrocannabinol will continue and the potency of the pot will increase. This is because cannabergerol (CBG) is the non-psychoactive precursor for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Of course, the exact change in THC content will necessarily be dependant upon the concentration of CBG in the fresh material at harvest. Of course any remaining precursors necessary to form additional cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids will also be consumed and converted.

Be aware though if curing is excessively prolonged (most connoisseurs would agree after 6 months no more benefit could be had from curing), the conversion of THC to non-psychoactive cannabinol (CBN) will occur. The exact rate of decomposition can vary widely depending on handling and storage conditions, but can be less than 10% to greater than 40% decomposition per year.

Storage tips:

Potency during curing and storage can be maintained by observing some basic precautions:

# The buds need to be kept in the dark, protected from light, which will quickly decompose the THC.

# Moderated temperatures should be observed during curing, 50-75F being ideal.

# Excessively hot temperatures will promote oxidation and the growth of mold and bacteria, and very cold temperatures can prolong curing and drying for up to several months.

During storage, buds should be stored as cold as possible, if temperatures of 0C or less are to be used, make sure the bud is dried to a very low moisture content before storage (to insure that cell walls are not burst by the freezing water).
Also, if prolonged storage is planned evacuating the oxygen and replacing it with carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, nitrous oxide, or any other inert gas will help slow oxidation, as well as the addition of antioxidants such as ascorbic acid packets or vitamin C tablets.

The most stable way to store cannabis is as whole unbroken buds or unpressed trichomes. Excessive rough handling or pressing can easily damage the protective cell walls and plant waxes that help protect cannabinoids from oxidation.

Continued Metabolism

Also as these metabolic process take place, the plant needs energy which leads it to consume the sugars, starches, nitrates, and minerals. Many of these compounds are metabolized and released as water and carbon dioxide, therefore removing what is essentially inert material from the pot increasing the concentration of cannabinoids therefore making it more potent.

Much of these positive metabolic processes can be most effectively begun with thourough flushing and stripping of the plant before harvest. This will help reduce the amount of time necessary for a good cure.

Curing will not only improve potency, but the color and look of most cannabis buds because as the chlorophyll is broken down purple, gold, and white coloration can emerge and the trichomes will appear more pronounced.

Decarboxylation

Some decarboxylization will take place during curing as well. This happens when the carboxyl group (COOH) located at C-2, C-4, or the end of the hydrocarbon chain at C-3 is destroyed leaving a hydrogen attached and liberating CO2.

Decarboxylization is necessary to convert cannabinoids to usable psychoactive forms; the plants (and your body) carboxylize cannabinoids to make them more soluble in water (for metabolic reactions and excretion).

Research indicates that this effect is fairly minimal during the curing process though. Decarboxylization will take place naturally very rapidly at temperatures of over 100C. So smoking and most any cooking will decarboxylize the cannabinoids. As decarboxylization occurs, the loss of CO2 will liberate a small amount of inert material making the pot more potent via concentration of the cannabinoids.

Taste & Odor

Terpenoids are the highly volatile compounds that give marijuana much of its’ characteristic odors, and therefore tastes.

The most current research also suggests terpenoids lend to the high, sometimes very significantly. Cannabinoids are phenolated terepenes so it’s not surprising that many hundreds of different terpenoids are synthesized as well.

As pot ages, some of the terpenoids go through polycyclic aromatization in the process of decomposition. This agglomeration of terpenoids will change the flavor; hence the ability of cured pot to show flavors that didn’t seem present in the original fresh material. Much of the very volatile terpenoids will also evaporate and or decompose, especially with prolonged curing or storage. This action will remove some matter from the pot increasing the cannabinoid concentration and therefore potency.

It must be noted that excessively long curing or storage, higher temperatures, or extremely low moisture content will cause such through evaporation of the terpenoids that the cannabis will generally loose almost all of it’s natural flavors.

Courtesy of DMT out of Cannabis Culture
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[Akornpatch]

Very nice read *****! Not sure which, but I've got the book somewhere. LOL Greg Green?

[User]

thanks *****. this one goes in my bookmark folder for grow info.

[Medical Marijuana]

Many questions have come up on this, so time to air it again.

[PFlynn]

Good *bump* *****

[Frog]

I got a few questions

Anybody ever notice the trichrome colors during drying and curing?
I don't see a color change after harvest.
In fact, Only change I've noticed, looks like cloudy turn clear.

Oh!!
Glandular and non-Glandular trichromes,
do glandular weep resin dropplets??
what is in the non-gladular trichs??

[Medical Marijuana]

Anybody ever notice the trichrome colors during drying and curing?
I don't see a color change after harvest.
In fact, Only change I've noticed, looks like cloudy turn clear. Same as my observation

Oh!!
Glandular and non-Glandular trichromes, Some produce a resin, and some are blanks lol
do glandular weep resin dropplets?? Yes
what is in the non-gladular trichs?? They look like a deflated football lol empty of resin

[Frog]

what is in the non-gladular trichs??
They look like a deflated football lol empty of resin

They have any cannabinoids or THC?

I've noticed even after you clean a bud,
there still a crap load left on the plant matter.

I love this hand held microscope.

[FreakNature]

I seem to notice a curing affect on raw trichomes. The Bubble Hash, (normally pretty fresh), over time, changes in character and affect. To have bubble from a certain strain and then to enjoy the changing effects over time is sublime. Then, the diversity in the bubble from the next / different strain is noticeably unique, enjoyable and dynamic as well.

[Medical Cannabis]

A friend of mine has a constant cycle of 6 month cured meds. Its pretty wicked. Cures in small mason jars, oz per month. each month he smokes his oldest strain and buys a new one.

[Shovelhandle]

I've noticed that the trics don't change much but maybe some do turn from cloudy to clear. I was just comparing 6 mo. old stuff to the new pickings and I thought, "this new stuff was picked more mature and the old stuff."

Yes, I agree that the taste and the buzz improves with curing over two months.

Shov

[Frog]

The Bubble Hash, (normally pretty fresh), over time, changes in character and affect.

I been meanin' to comment on this, musta' got stoned.

That stands to reason since BubbleMan's instructions are to use fresh, green plant matter.
Then it would cure after processing.

A price lowering point if there ever was one.
"But Dude,
I gota' cure this for at least a week or two more,
cain't give me a littl' price break here!!??" (smrk)

[Medical Marijuana]

Time to air this again.

[larryg420]

I also find that when i get towards the end of the last harvest it is smoother and stronger.
I did 3-4 month cycles before and would have enough for that time till the next harvest.
At 3-4 months old or longer it is a different smoke.Color and taste change and it gets a nice aroma.