Bifurcatio
Member
I think the exactness of the decarbox is very important; undecarboxylated compound doesn't have the anti-cancer activity that decarboxylated compound has. It looks like Skunk Pharm the Cannabis chemists and extract artists @ [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]http://skunkpharmresearch.com/decarboxylation/ [/FONT]also agree that precision is important. They point out that THCA & CBDA can't even pass the blood-brain barrier. But also these molecules are also too large to bond with C1 or C2 receptors, the proteins which begin the signalling for the anti-cancer steps taken by the body.
Here are some test results I got back from Analytical360 in Seattle on a QWISO RSO I made from the strain Kali:
http://analytical360.com/m/expired/108230
I made this oil with the QWISO method according to GrayWolf at SkunkPharm. I used a water distiller to cook it off (not recommended for ISO alcohol as it warps all the gaskets and you only recover 40 - 50% - I now use EverClear). Then I cook off the remaining solution over low heat either with a coffee warmer, or a rig I set up over a hot plate until the bubbles stop - and then some. None of this is very scientific, or temperature or time controlled.
Maybe I just got lucky, but as you can see from the results, my final oil was almost completely decarboxylated (activated) for both THC and CBD with only .01% CBN being created. I enjoy reading all the concerns and methods from fellow oil makers, but I am happy that my seat-of-the-pants methods seem to work pretty well without engaging my unscientific mind too much.
In about 6 weeks I will make some QWET RSO from a Harlequin plant I have brewing with the same methods and have it tested. If I get similar results, I won't worry too much about a separate decarboxylation step, as the heat from the water distiller, and the later heat from the final purge seem to do the trick. It's the BHO guys that truly need a separate decarb step, as their oil comes out very little activated (probably stoners who decarb with a Bic).
However, I will be using Everclear on the Harley because if you scroll down the test result page a bit, you will see that I had 16000 parts per million of the ISO left in the oil, which is 3 times over the acceptable 5000 ppm even after total activation of my oil. My liver gets enough of a work out with my 3 or 4 daily beers; no need to add ISO alcohol the the mix.
Cheers