- by cannakitchensoklahoma
Have you ever wondered how cannabis can be turned into edibles? Many people have questions about this process. And some may not know the medical benefits of using the cannabis plant for health.
Edibles is NOT as simple as just sticking the plant into food. Fun fact: Raw cannabis will not get you high!
Many people use edibles to boost their health because the endocannabinoid system directly interacts with all of the body’s organs, the immune system, and the nervous system.
Some may even argue that cannabis is much like a vegetable and has more essential compounds than broccoli, carrots, or kale.
It is not the leaves that cause healthy medical properties, but rather, it is the oils and the breakdown (decarboxylation) of cannabis that is helpful.
Decarboxylation is the chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group and releases carbon dioxide. In a simple explanation, that means decarboxylation converts THCA (non-psychotropic) to THC (psychotropic) using heat and time. This is why marijuana is smoked (heat) in order to get the benefits.
There are more than 100 known cannabinoids and THC and CBD are the primary two molecules we focus on for medical or therapeutic applications.
If you smoke cannabis the combustion converts THCA to THC as you inhale, with edibles, you heat the raw flower in the oven to cause the chemical reaction.
Once the cannabis has been broken down and decarboxylation has taken place, it can easily be transferred into basic foods such as brownies, cookies, candies, and more! This is how edibles are made!