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AC EL CA TA CHAPTER II Cannabis Science 101
As examples of the decarboxylation process, consider the changes to THCA that result from heat and aging. If the nonpsychoactive THCA naturally present in raw cannabis is heated, it quickly decar- boxylates into psychoactive THC; this is what commonly occurs when cannabis flower is smoked or vaporized for its psychoactive effect. THCA may also be stored and aged to produce CBN.
Cannabinoid Boiling Points
Cannabinoids boil at temperatures lower than the temperature at which cannabis flower burns. Based on this property, vaporizers have been developed to heat cannabis flower to a point at which its active compounds boil and can be inhaled as vapor but at which point the flower does not combust and create smoke. The approximate temperatures at which select cannabinoids boil and cannabis flower combusts are shown in the following table.
Compound Boiling and Flower Combustion Temperatures
Compound/Flower Temperature (°F) THCA 220 CBDA 250 THC 315 CBD 355 CBN 365 Flower 450
Smoking cannabis flower remains the most popular form of cannabis consumption, even though it is believed to destroy as much as 30% of the active cannabinoids and is less efficient than merely heating the desired compounds to their boiling points. Vaporizers are becoming increasingly sophisti- cated, and those that can maintain temperatures which target the activation of specific cannabinoids are becoming popular.
= Terpenes
Terpenes are a class of organic compounds present in cannabis and many other plants; they are responsible for a plant’s aroma and flavor. The strong odors produced by terpenes are believed to be part of the natural defense of many plants. Cannabis contains more than 100 dif ferent terpenes, which are believed to interact with cannabinoids in a way that contributes to the medicinal benefits and therapeutic appli- cations of cannabis. Like cannabinoids, terpenes are present in highest concentration in the flowers of cannabis plants. (Terpenoids are certain chemical variants of terpenes, and this report uses the general term “terpene” to refer to both terpenes and terpenoids.)
Terpenes are believed to interact in various ways with the human
physiology: by acting on receptors and neurotransmitters, combining
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