How Cannabis in Baked Goods Like Cookies and Brownies Retains Its Medicinal Powers
When it comes to consuming cannabis, people often wonder how baked goods like cookies and brownies can retain their medicinal properties without causing an immediate high. This mystique is rooted in a scientific process known as decarboxylation and the complex way THC is metabolized by the body.
Decarboxylation: The Key to Potency
The cooking process is essential in transforming cannabis from its initial raw state into a form that can induce a high. Raw cannabis, whether in the form of flower or buds, contains phytocannabinoid acids such as CBGa (cannabigerolic acid), THCa (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), and CBDa (cannabidiolic acid). These compounds are inactive and do not produce any psychoactive effects. They serve as the building blocks for the active cannabinoids, but they need to be decarboxylated to become bioavailable.
Decarboxylation is the chemical process that removes the carboxyl group (COOH) from these acids, converting them into their active forms. This can be achieved through heat application, most commonly through smoking, vaporizing, or heating food items like cookies and brownies.
Metabolism and Highs: Baker's Dozen Delights
When THC is consumed in foods like cookies or brownies, it undergoes a different pathway in the body compared to when it's smoked or vaporized. THC in such foods is primarily contained in fat molecules like cannabutter. Once ingested, the fat-soluble THC must be processed by the liver through a process of metabolism. This results in the formation of several metabolites, including hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC) and carboxy-THC (11-COOH-THC). This process is slower and often delays the onset of the high.
Not all THC is metabolized by the liver in the so-called first-pass effect. Some THC passes through the body without significant modification and reaches the brain in its original form, leading to a more potent high. However, the primary metabolite that reaches the brain is hydroxy-THC, which is 3 to 7 times more potent at activating brain receptors than THC.
Smoking vs. Eating: Two Different Experiences
Inhaling THC through smoking or vaporization bypasses the digestive and hepatic transformations, ensuring a rapid and potent high. This is because inhaled THC travels directly to the brain and does not undergo the first-pass effect or significant metabolic breakdown. The ratio of THC to its metabolites in the brain is higher (up to 80:1) when inhaled compared to when it is ingested (around 50:50).
Conclusion: Understanding the Decarboxylation Process
The science behind the transformation of raw cannabis into potent edibles is fascinating. Decarboxylation, combined with the unique metabolic process associated with ingesting THC, explains why edibles can produce a more intense and longer-lasting high compared to smoking or vaporizing. Understanding this process can help consumers make informed choices about how to consume cannabis for medicinal and recreational purposes.