Conversion temperatures Decarboxylation temperatures All cannabinoids listed here and their acids are found naturally in the plant to varying degrees. Upon heating, cannabinoid acids
decarboxylate to give their psychoactive cannabinoid. For example,
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive compound found in cannabis and is responsible for the "high" feeling when consumed. However, cannabis does not naturally contain significant amounts of THC. Instead,
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is found naturally in raw and live cannabis and is non-intoxicating. Over time, THCA slowly converts to THC through a process of
decarboxylation over the course of roughly a year, but can be sped up with exposure to high temperatures. When heated under conditions of 110 °C, decarboxylation generally occurs in 30–45 minutes. The decarboxylated THCA (THC) is added to
cannabis edibles, as THCA is not orally active. When consumed orally, the
liver breaks down and
metabolizes THC into the more potent
11-hydroxy-THC.
Vaporization temperatures Dry-herb
vaporizers can be used to inhale
cannabis in its flower form. There are 483 identifiable chemical constituents known to exist in the
cannabis plant, and at least 85 different cannabinoids have been isolated from the plant. The aromatic terpenoids begin to vaporize at , but the more bioactive
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and other cannabinoids also found in cannabis (often legally sold as cannabinoid isolates) like
cannabidiol (CBD),
cannabichromene (CBC),
cannabigerol (CBG),
cannabinol (CBN), do not vaporize until near their respective
boiling points. The cannabinoids listed here are found in the plant but only in trace amounts. However, they have also been extracted and sold as isolates online. Third party certification may help ensure buyers to avoid
synthetic cannabinoids. == Structural scheduling ==