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Delta-8-THC flower is a lot like traditional cannabis flower—you can smoke it, vape it, and you can even make homemade edibles with it. The question is, does Delta-8-THC flower need to be decarbed like traditional cannabis flower?
Thankfully, no, Delta-8-THC flower doesn’t need to be decarbed. The Delta-8 found in D8 flower already exists in an active form. That means that you can easily use it to infuse oils to create homemade baked goods or other DIY Delta-8 edible recipes, but there still may be some benefits to just using a Delta-8 concentrate for this purpose.
Let's touch on why Delta-8-THC doesn't need to be decarbed and why it's still may not be the best option for making edibles:
Delta 8 THC flower does not need to be decarbed – it already contains active Delta-8 thanks to the distillate infused onto the hemp flower.
You can use Delta-8 flower to make edibles, but it may be less efficient than using a Delta-8 tincture or concentrate for precise dosing.
Raw Delta 8 flower is technically edible, though not recommended due to texture and potentially weaker effects.
Smoking or vaping Delta-8 flower is the most common and effective consumption method, delivering quick-acting effects similar to traditional cannabis.
Delta-8 is federally legal but only in certain states, so check local regulations before buying online or in-store.
The process for making Delta 8 flower is much different than the process for making Delta 9 flower. With Delta 9, or traditional cannabis flower, the flower is grown and harvested at a point where it is rich in THCa. This tetrahydrocannabinolic acid is not yet active, so it needs to be exposed to heat, or decarbed, before it produces any psychoactive effects.
In other words, exposing cannabis to heat is what transforms THCa into THC. If you've ever made edibles at home with traditional cannabis flower, you know that decarbing your bud is a crucial first step to making potent edibles.
Alternatively, Delta 8 THC flower doesn't contain THCa. Instead, it's made by spraying Delta-8 distillate onto CBD-rich hemp flower.
Delta 8 THC distillate is a potent form of Delta 8 concentrate that is already fully activated and ready to go. It's actually the form of Delta-8-THC that's used to make most, if not all, Delta-8 products on the market.
So, why is Delta 8 flower different from Delta 9 flower in this regard? Because Delta-8-THC is hard to source in natural, unprocessed hemp material. Delta-8 is a natural cannabinoid, but because it's a byproduct of Delta 9 THC degradation, it's more easily sourced from high-THC cannabis material.
In order to make it legal according to federal hemp laws, manufacturers use hemp-derived CBD material and a special manufacturing process (called isomerization) to make Delta-8-THC concentrate. Thus, the Delta-8 material that is sprayed onto low-THC hemp flower is activated and will incite psychoactive effects without being heated.
Since Delta-8 flower is fully decarbed, the next obvious question is "Can you still use it to make Delta-8 edibles?"
The answer is yes, you can use Delta-8-THC flower to make edibles, and you could just skip the first step of decarbing the bud. In fact, you could actually just eat Delta-8-THC flowers straight and you would still get high, although we obviously don't recommend that route when there are perfectly good edibles available.
It's important to understand that Delta-8 is a product that's added to the hemp flower and is not part of the hemp flower. That means that while making edibles, like a Delta-8 infused oil that you could make brownies with, you're essentially just leaching the Delta-8 distillate out of the flower.
Of course, you'll also be able to extract some of the hemp's natural cannabinoid profile, like it's CBD and terpene content, which may be a benefit.
But if you're just after the Delta-8-THC, you may be better off using a concentrated form of Delta-8 oil, like a Delta-8 tincture, to make edibles. Not only does this avoid the redundancy of removing what's just been added to the hemp flower, but it allows you to more accurately control the dosage of your homemade Delta-8 edibles, and is likely the more cost-effective option.
Since Delta-8 doesn't need to be decarbed, you technically can consume raw Delta-8 flower. However, this isn't a recommended consumption method, and it may produce weaker psychoactive effects than if you made edibles or smoked the Delta-8 flower instead.
With traditional cannabis flower, the THCa is decarbed as you smoke it. That leads many people to wonder if Delta-8-THC is degraded as it is smoked since it already exists in its active form.
The answer is no, Delta-8-THC does not degrade when it is burned, at least not anymore than you can expect with any cannabis flower. In other words, combustion, or the act of burning cannabinoid material, will always result in some potency loss, but you shouldn't worry about any significant lack of potency.
In fact, smoking Delta-8-THC flower is one of the quickest ways to reap its psychoactive effects, and smoking enough Delta 8 flour can produce some seriously potent effects.
As we mentioned earlier, you could essentially eat raw Delta-8-THC flower to experience its effects because the Delta-8-THC on the flower is fully activated. Of course, this is far from the best way to consume Delta-8 flower, unless you're a huge fan of munching down on gritty hemp material. No? Didn't think so.
The best method for consuming Delta-8-THC flower probably isn't surprising. Most people prefer to just smoke it in a bowl or a joint. Both of these methods allow you to enjoy the fragrant, earthy bud in its most natural form.
In fact, smoking Delta-8 is incredibly similar to smoking traditional cannabis flower in terms of smell and taste. Of course, you can also put it in a dry herb vaporizer, which is a consumption method that is said to have fewer harmful effects because you aren't actually inhaling smoke.
Both methods will work just fine for reaping Delta-8 benefits, and the way you should consume Delta-8 flower is really just based on your preference.
Again, if you're hoping to use your Delta-8 flower to create homemade Delta-8-THC edibles we suggest you grab a Delta-8 tincture instead. That way, you can precisely control the potency of your homemade edibles without losing any control over the recipe itself.
While Delta-8 flower doesn’t require decarbing, that doesn’t automatically make it the ideal option for every use case—especially for edibles. Smoking and vaping remain the most efficient ways to enjoy Delta-8 flower’s effects, but concentrated products like tinctures offer more control for culinary uses.
Whether you're toking up or experimenting in the kitchen, it’s important to understand the nuances of how Delta-8 works so you can make the most out of your cannabinoid experience.
Because Delta-8 is federally legal, you can buy it online and in stores in any state where Delta-8 THC is legal. For more information on the Delta-8 laws in your state, you may want to read “Where is Delta 8 THC Legal? A State by State Guide to Delta-8 Laws.”
Shop premium selection of different Delta-8-THC flower strains, including popular strains like Pineapple Express and Gorilla Glue, in our Elev8 Collection. Or, opt for one of our delicious edibles, like our sublingual style Delta-8 Chews, which offer the benefit of fast acting effects.
You may also want to read:
No. Delta-8 flower contains active Delta-8-THC and doesn't require decarbing before use.
Yes, you can skip the decarb step and infuse it into oils or butter. Tinctures may still offer better control over dosage.
You might have a high tolerance or low-potency product. Quality and individual metabolism also play a role.
No, Delta-8-THC in Delta-8 flower does not need to be heated to become active. It’s already been decarbed during the distillate manufacturing process. Heating it (through smoking or cooking) can enhance absorption but isn’t necessary for activation.
Yes—for traditional cannabis or hemp flower, decarbing is essential to activate cannabinoids. But Delta-8 flower is an exception since it’s made with pre-activated Delta-8 distillate.
You may feel anxious, dizzy, or disoriented, especially if you’re sensitive to THC or took a high dose. These effects are usually mild and temporary. Practicing mindful dosing can help prevent this.
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