The curing process plays a key part in the cultivation of cannabis and has several variants commonly used throughout the world. The main point of cannabis curing is to reduce the water content of the flower and develop an aroma/flavor or what is known as a terpene profile. The exact terpenes developed and their relative abundance compared to the other terpenes contribute to the potency, depth and distinctness that can be detected by the human nose.

It is true that cannabis is not the only plant with a terpene profile. Lemons have an abundance of Limonene, pine trees produce Pinene and mangos have high levels of Myrcene which contribute to their distinctive smells. Cannabis can express any or all of these smells at once when properly grown and cured. An improper cure can result in unusable product in the worst cases and low quality product in the best cases.

Labs can even refuse to test a cannabis sample if it has too much moisture still in it. The high moisture can mask other measurements that the lab is trying to make or may still be a viable host for mold growth. Once the moisture has been reduced to around 60-70%, it is ready to test and sell or use. Some people prefer a lower moisture ratio than others but getting it below 50% can result in broken trichomes and a reduction in overall potency while also burning instead of smoldering. Burning will damage the THC molecule more than a smolder so the smoke will be harsher.

How you cure your cannabis is very important! Below we have a few different curing methods for you to learn about.