The Differences
Cannabis Raw, Heated or Aged
Different
cannabinoids are created when the flower is exposed to UV light,
aging, oxidation and heat. Each cannabinoid has unique medicinal
effects.
Cannabis
is unique in that it is the only plant able to produce cannabigerolicacid (CBGa). The first cannabinoid the cannabis plant produces in
raw form is CBGa. Cannabis synthesizes through natural enzymes to
change CBGa into three main cannabinoid branches. CBGa is in an
unstable form and typically is converted to other cannabinoids
quickly. These three cannabinoids types are tetrahydrocannabinolic
acid (THCa), Cannabidiolic acid (CBDa) and Cannabichromenic acid
(CBCa).
Heat
changes cannabinoids into THC, CBD, CBG and CBN. This conversion
process is created by losing a carbon dioxide molecule (CO2). In
this state they are thought to be in a neutral form. When a strain
has a high CBGa content smoking it will add heat and change it to
CBG.
Raw
or heated cannabis can turn into different cannabinoids when it has
oxidation and age. THCa with oxidation will change to CBNa. Aged
THC will change into CBN or Tetra8 THC. When aged CBC will turn into
CBL. Raw CBCa turns into CBLa over time.
