What happens if you microwave cannabis?

Whatever the Internet (or Snoop Dogg) tells you, no matter what videos are trending on social media, microwaving cannabis is absolutely not necessary. Yes, you can microwave your weed. But like many things you can do, just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Will putting your cannabis in the microwave damage it? Maybe not - if you know the wattage of your microwave and how long you can leave your herb in there without it burning. But getting it right can take a bit of trial and error, and why mess with it?

How does a microwave work?

Microwaves don't cook food; they «excite» the molecules by vibrating the water molecules in the food. The outside of the food is heated by the microwave, while the inside is warmed by conduction of heat from the outside.

The standard wattage of a microwave oven is between 600 and 1,200 watts, but most people have a microwave oven between 900 and 1,000 watts. The wattage of your microwave directly affects the speed at which what you put in it gets hot, with higher wattage meaning faster heating.

Cannabinoids have a low boiling point. The THC boiling point is 157°C, while that of CBD is 180°C. Therefore, microwaving your weed can potentially cook cannabinoids such as THC and leave you with a dry, bitter grass that doesn't provide the experience you were hoping for.

Does microwaving cannabis make it stronger?

Not only does microwaving grass endanger the environment cannabinoids, But it can also dissipate terpenes, making the grass weaker overall. Microwaves raise the temperature of the herb by vibrating the water molecules. This can release volatile compounds, including terpenes, altering the aroma, flavor and potentially the effects of your cannabis.

Does microwaving cannabis eliminate mould?

No. Microwaves can help kill some molds, but molds don't have to be alive to cause problems in your body. Mycotoxins may still be present after microwaving. Don't smoke and don't use moldy cannabis, even if it's been microwaved.

To kill mold on cannabis without affecting the cannabinoids, you need to gamma radiation that microwaves don't use.

Can cannabis be decarboxylated in the microwave?

There isn't much scientific evidence to prove that a microwave in the home can decarboxylate your grass, but some commercial cannabis extraction processes use them for this purpose.

The heat produced by your microwave is high enough to initiate the decarboxylation process, transforming acidic cannabinoids into their neutral forms. But have you ever microwaved food only to find that it was hot in some places and still cold in others? The same applies to your cannabis. Microwaves don't always heat things evenly, and decarboxylation will be uneven if you use it for your weed.

Is it possible to prepare edibles in the microwave?

Again, using the microwave to heat cannabis will produce (at best) inconsistent results. You can either use the microwave to heat your cannabis, or infuse butter, But you won't get the best or most powerful results. Microwaves are notorious for not heating food evenly, and you can get cannabis butter burnt on one side and undercooked on the other.

You also risk heating up the precious cannabinoids and terpenes. Using a tried-and-tested infusion method or infusion machine is a much better way of preparing edibles that taste just right.

If you want to use the microwave to reheat an existing edible product, such as a cookie or brownie, don't hesitate. Just don't leave it in for long - less than 15 seconds should be enough. The herb contained in the edible product has already been decarboxylated, and a brief stint in the microwave won't radically change the chemical composition of the edible product.

What's all this about Snoop Dogg microwaving his joints?

Yes, Snoop Dogg allegedly microwaves his joints before smoking them. Every stoner is free to consume cannabis as they see fit, Snoop Dogg included. But there's no scientific evidence that microwaving cannabis is beneficial, and if it's left in the microwave too long, it may even reduce its potency.

Snoop claims that microwaves «tighten» things up and «lock in» flavor - and he's not entirely wrong. Since microwaves excite water molecules, any remaining water in his blunt will be evaporated in the microwave, making the blunt tighter. But the flavor he's talking about is probably due to the terpenes evaporating into the air, not into his lungs.

If you need to rehydrate your blunt wraps before rolling with them, don't put them in the microwave. You can either soften the blunt with your breath to make it more malleable, or hold it over a pan of boiling water to absorb some of the steam. Don't leave it above the water for too long, or you'll end up with a soggy sheet.